FRL: Annual salary survey results of FM industry in UK

23 July, 2010

Over 10,000 invitations and emails were sent to current candidates and companies along with registered candidates and client contacts of FRL, inviting them to participate in the survey. FRL Recruitment reviewed 33 different FM disciplines out of which 19 were related to Executives and Facilities Managers roles; nine to Hard Services (Building Service Maintenance) Personnel and five to purely soft services (front of house or administrative) roles. FRL received 18.2% response rate.

The results indicate a polarization of remuneration with majority of the executives experiencing either pay freezes or reductions. Middle management saw above average increases while operatives achieved minimal raises. The results also factored whether an individual is employed within the private or public sectors and in an executive or operative role.

Overall average increase in salaries was 3.01% with Private Sector receiving 3.36%, Public Sector 1.2%, Executive and Facilities Management roles 3.38%, Hard Services Roles 1.86% and Soft Services roles 2%. The average salary level for all respondents in June 2010 was GBP41, 427 ($62, 874 approx.) while the average salary level for all respondents in June 2009 survey was GBP40, 277 ($61, 129 approx.).

Results indicate that on an indexed basis, the volume of new vacancies being registered with FRL is currently at the highest monthly level since January 2009, which is also being replicated with other recruitment organizations. However, number of people with the relevant skills for the available vacancies is not in proportion with the increasing number of people seeking employment in the UK. This has presented a huge demand supply gap where it is becoming increasingly hard to source high caliber individuals for positions across the entire spectrum of roles.

Survey results show that the key roles where shortages exist are in Business development that considers individuals who have a proven track record of securing contracts and negotiating at main board level; M&E Engineering competencies that considers Controls engineers, BMS engineers and Air conditioning and refrigeration engineers; and Energy solutions specialists that requires individuals with skills to provide innovative carbon reduction schemes and energy efficiency solutions.

Results also indicate that with this gap, organizations have been under increasing pressure to raise remuneration to attract individuals from existing roles. The traditional Percentile of 10-15% for individuals changing employment in previous years has increased to 25-30%.

Other key data from the survey illustrated that the average commuting time to the normal place of work is 55 minutes and the average working hours of facilities managers have become 46.3 hours per week. The biggest issue that has emerged concerning employment is work-life balance with the second highest issue being continued fears over job security.