ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

UK and Ireland FM service provider SBFM has launched its own learning and development platform called Unify. This, it says, is part of renewed investment in training to help address long-term skill and labour shortages across the industry.

Designed to increase employee engagement, support career development and empower employee success, the platform provides colleagues with on-the-job training to build expertise in critical areas that form the foundation of the FM roles they perform.

The skills gap - particularly amid a huge loss in skilled and semi-skilled front line workers' post-Brexit - has been repeatedly cited as being an impediment to the FM sector's ability to attract and retain talent. A total of 87 per cent of UK companies say they are finding it hard to fill positions, with a third feeling the skills gap is widening.

SBFM says its new learning and development platform will addresses this gap by helping FM professionals to upskill and stay up to date with the latest environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives affecting the industry.

While at the same time promoting a culture of continual learning that ensures SBFM's employees feel supported and equipped with the knowledge, skills, and behaviour they need for long-term career growth.

The new digital training platform will offer a foot on the ladder to trainee professionals starting out in a new career in FM, while freeing up capacity for experienced industry professionals to bolster and refresh their training.

The new platform provides the SBFM team with critical education and guidance on topics including equality and diversity, mental health, self-care, work life balance, bullying and harassment, amongst others.

sb-fm.co.uk