How can a facilities management company help your business?
You may not always recognise an excellent facilities management service when you enter a building, but they do a lot to generate an overall positive impression. It could be security workers providing a sense of reassurance, or cleaning operatives making every surface gleam. Perhaps electrical engineers are working behind the scenes to keep the space ticking over, or chefs are curating delicious menus in the background. A facilities management company prides itself on making a space run smoothly, inside and out – but how do you find one that aligns with your needs? Here are six key things to look out for to make your partnership successful.
1. Seek integrated FM services
Integrated facilities management takes all the components that a traditional facilities management company provides and rolls them into one holistic contract. So, instead of sourcing distinct providers for engineering, security, or cleaning services, for example, you only need to deal with one. This also means that a lateral perspective can be applied across the whole business, facilitating better timing for a more efficient and cost-effective process.
2. Have access to soft and hard FM
Soft and hard FM services are two very different, yet equally useful, resources that a facilities management company can provide. Hard FM covers the physical elements of a building and how it functions. It is often tied to services related to its infrastructure, such as plumbing, heating and cooling, safety systems, and electrical work. Soft FM, on the other hand, encompasses services that maintain the upkeep of a space, ensuring it’s pleasant for those who visit. This includes food at work, cleaning, groundskeeping, and security. Ideally, you want to be able to access both overarching services.
3. Work with companies that look forward
If you’re going to work with a facilities management company, it never hurts to match with one that embraces innovation.
The facilities management sector is currently in a period of transformation, as cutting-edge technology and new equipment emerge to improve efficiency and enhance cost-effectiveness.
We’re committed to staying up to date on the latest trends and leveraging technology that works in harmony with synergising – rather than replacing – human efforts, such as cobotics.

4. Find a partner that supports your goals
There are many advantages to partnering with a facilities management company that prioritises your best interests. By ensuring cleanliness and order, providing delicious and nutritious food, and maintaining smooth operations, your workforce will be happier, and productivity is more likely to thrive. More broadly, it’s also beneficial for the planet to collaborate with a facilities management company that is as passionate about sustainability as yours. Finding a partner that supports your business goals won’t just save you time – it’ll save money too.
5. Don’t underestimate flexibility
You want to be assured that you can access the services you need when you need them, regardless of your location. Our teams, for instance, can assemble anywhere in the UK and work across various sectors in line with your requirements. Working with a facilities management company that provides performance reviews is also helpful, as it allows you to cherry-pick the services that will benefit you and make contractual adjustments according to your business needs.
6. Let industry recognition do the talking
Finding a facilities management company with third-party validation matters, as it shows that others have the same confidence in them as they do in themselves.
In the 14forty family, we’re proud that our CEO of Business & Industry, Morag Freathy, was named Business Leader of the Year at the Edie Awards 2025.
We were also thrilled to recently win the RoSPA Gold Award for health and safety performance. Results like these not only reflect our hard work but also highlight our ongoing commitment to effective business practices.
