Skip to main content
Facilitate Magazine: Informing Workplace and Facilities Management Professionals - return to the homepage Facilitate magazine logo
  • Search
  • Visit Facilitate Magazine on Facebook
  • Visit Facilitate Magazine on LinkedIn
  • Visit @Facilitate_Mag on Twitter
Visit the website of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management Logo of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management

Main navigation

  • Home
  • News
    • Comment
    • People
    • Reports
    • Research
  • Features
    • Analysis
    • Features
    • Round Tables
    • Webinars
  • Outsourcing
    • Contract Finder
    • Contracts
    • FM Business Models
    • Interviews
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Opinion
    • Procurement
    • Trends
  • Know-How
    • Explainers
    • Legal Updates
    • White Papers
  • Jobs
  • Topics
    • Workplace Services
      • Hospitality
      • Catering
      • Cleaning
      • Front of House
      • Grounds Maintenance
      • Helpdesk
      • Mailroom
      • Manned Guarding / Security
      • Pest Control
      • Washroom Services
      • Disaster Recovery
      • Specialist Services
    • Professional Performance
      • Behavioural Change
      • Continual Professional Development
      • Education
      • Management
      • Recruitment
      • Training
    • Workplace Performance
      • Benchmarking
      • Health & Wellbeing
      • Operational Readiness
      • Procurement
      • Security
      • Workplace User Experience
      • Workplace Culture
    • Compliance
      • Health & Safety
      • Risk & Business Continuity
      • Standards
      • Statutory Compliance
    • Building Services
      • Architecture & Construction
      • Asset Management
      • Building Controls
      • Building Fabric
      • Drinking Water
      • Fire Protection
      • HVAC
      • Landscaping
      • Mechanical & Electrical
      • Building Security
      • Water, Drainage & Plumbing
    • Technology
      • Building Information Modelling
      • CAFM
      • Data & Networks
      • Document Management
      • Information Management
      • Internet of Things (IoT)
      • Software & Systems
    • Energy management
      • Energy Management Systems
      • Electricity
      • Gas
      • Solar
      • Wind
    • Sustainability
      • Environmental Quality
      • Social Value
      • Waste Management
      • Recycling
    • Workspace Design
      • Agile Working
      • Fit-Out & Refurbishment
      • Inclusive Access
      • Lighting
      • Office Interiors
      • Signage
      • Space Planning
      • Storage
      • Vehicle Management / Parking
      • Washroom
    • Sectors
      • Corporate Office
      • Education
      • Healthcare
      • Manufacturing
      • International
      • Retail
      • Sports & Leisure
      • Regions
  • Buyers' Guide
Quick links:
  • Home
  • News
  • Comment
Health & Safety

The asbestos industry needs to start succession planning now

Open-access content Thursday 18th November 2021
Authors
Aaron Dodd
web_©Stephen Allard_Aaron-Dodd.png

Aaron Dodd – (c) Stephen Allard

More and more people are leaving the asbestos industry.  It’s a hard one to work in with early starts, driving long distances and working unsociable hours in dirty environments.  

In the past, it was a well-paid industry but since the pandemic, wages aren’t rising as fast and trainees can get jobs with better hours and similar wages in other sectors.

Attitudes to work seemed to have changed during lockdown and many working from home have enjoyed their work/life balance – they’re not so driven by overtime.

In addition, over the last five to six years, an agency workforce that enjoys continuous work at a high day rate has taken over. These people won’t be the project and technical managers of the future. It means we need to think about succession planning now to ensure we have employees working their way through ranks, with the skills and experience to take over the reins. 

There’s an immediate need for succession planning in the industry and while there are no hard and fast answers, what we need now is to consider the softer side of HR to meet these challenges.

If the pandemic has led to people considering their priorities, then a top car, high salary and overtime are possibly a thing of the past. What we can start to do is look at offering improved working terms and conditions, including a better work/life balance, flexible working hours and perks such as health plans. 

It’s also imperative that we offer trainees the opportunity to become multi-skilled in an industry where, in years to come, asbestos management won’t always be needed in the UK.  Give them the chance to diversify into legionella, fire and gas so there’s a clear career path for them long into the future.

We have no magic wand to wave here, but collectively we should be worried and collectively we should find solutions.

Aaron Dodd is director at health, safety and environmental compliancy consultancy OHS.

Read more opinions on the industry

Martin Read

NHS operations and estates & facilities: a partnership of astronomical importance

NHS Ops and estates & facilities: a partnership of astronomical importance
Friday 17th June 2022
Open-access content
web_Nic-Marks.jpg

Measure employees’ happiness not their engagement

Measure employees’ happiness not their engagement
Wednesday 8th June 2022
Open-access content
web_Ian-Jeffries-EEVS.png

Now > Next > How? Ian Jeffries on how energy saving partnerships will tackle high energy prices

Now > Next > How? Ian Jeffries says energy saving partnerships will help with high energy prices
Tuesday 7th June 2022
Open-access content
web_10-Downing-Street_credit_pcruciatti_shutterstock_145853606.jpg

Sector leaders ‘appalled’ at treatment of facilities staff at No. 10

Facilities management industry leaders have said they are "appalled and upset" after civil servant Sue Gray's report said there were "multiple examples of a lack of respect and poor treatment of security and cleaning staff" at 10 Downing Street during the coronavirus lockdown partygate affair. 
Thursday 26th May 2022
Open-access content
web_Janet-Young.png

World FM Day 2022: Leading a sustainable future

World FM Day 2022: Leading a sustainable future
Wednesday 11th May 2022
Open-access content
web_©Thrive_Chris-Head-Shot.jpg

Social value procurement: reacting to Jacob Rees-Mogg’s comments

Social value procurement: On Rees-Mogg’s proposals
Friday 29th April 2022
Open-access content
Filed in:
Comment
Also filed in:
Health & Safety

You might also like...

Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linked in
  • Mail
  • Print

Today's top reads

 

Latest Jobs

Project Leader (Maternity Cover One Year Contract)

Cambridge
Circa £50,000 Pro Rata + Benefits & Opportunities
Reference
56378

Maintenance Supervisor

Surrey
Up to £43,000 + Excellent Package & Opportunities
Reference
56376

Regional Facilities Manager

South West England
Circa £40,000 + Benefits & Opportunities
Reference
56375
See all jobs »

 

 

Sign up to our newsletter

News, jobs and updates

Sign up

Subscribe to print

Sign up to receive our bi-monthly magazine

Subscribe
Facilitate magazine cover, June 2020
​
FOLLOW US
@Facilitate_Mag
Facilitate Magazine
Facilitate Magazine
CONTACT US
Contact us
Tel: 020 7880 6200
​

IWFM

About IWFM
Become a member
Qualifications
Events

Information

Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
Cookie Policy
Think Green

Get in touch

Contact us
Advertise with us
Subscribe to Facilitate Magazine
Write for Facilitate Magazine

General

IWFM Jobs
Help

© 2022 • www.facilitatemagazine.com and Facilitate Magazine are published by Redactive Media Group. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any part is not allowed without written permission.

Redactive Media Group Ltd, 71-75 Shelton Street, London WC2H 9JQ