The Federation of Master Builders’ Northern Ireland campaign to attract more women and young people into construction highlights a workforce opportunity for facilities management companies. As reported by PBC Today, around three in ten adults in Northern Ireland said seeing more women in construction would make them more likely to encourage their child to enter the industry, the highest proportion anywhere in the UK. For FM providers competing for technical and operational talent, widening access to built-environment careers could help strengthen recruitment.

Facilities management relies on skills across building compliance, planned maintenance, health and safety, energy management and contractor coordination. As buildings become more complex to operate, employers need engineers, compliance specialists and facilities managers with the technical and organisational skills to maintain safe, efficient buildings. Construction career initiatives offer an opportunity to introduce more candidates to these roles.

The FMB’s case studies demonstrate how varied career paths can be. Breige Collins of Marlfield Joinery & Construction in Portaferry moved from nursing into office management and project support, while Jemma Catterson of Lowry Building & Civil Engineering progressed from a health, safety, environmental and quality role into business development. Their experiences show how transferable skills can support different functions across the built environment.

Attracting new entrants must be matched by opportunities for development and progression. The FMB’s work on barriers facing women in construction highlights the importance of representation alongside recruitment. FM employers can respond by making technical career paths more visible, supporting training and apprenticeships, and creating clear routes into operational and management roles. Initiatives such as Construction Futures NI also help connect young people with industry training and career opportunities.

For facilities management companies, the commercial opportunity is clear. Broader recruitment, structured training and visible progression routes can help develop the workforce needed to keep buildings safe, compliant and efficient. Northern Ireland’s construction careers campaign is a reminder that strengthening the built-environment workforce is a shared priority across construction and FM.