This report looks at the changes that have occurred over the last two years and in particular at the growth in the trend towards outsourcing. There has been a fundamental shift in the approach to many business relationships, which has facilitated the ability to work in partnership rather than in the traditional adversarial supplier client relationship. This better working relationship has allowed facilities management to flourish.

The prevailing political climate supports the modernisation of government through strategic service partnerships and the building and running of public infrastructure through PFI deals. Facilities management is at the heart of many of these deals and this has been fundamental in driving awareness and recognition of the profession. In many ways the public sector has been an early adopter of a more progressive approach to the outsourcing of facilities management.

The scope of the industry is very broad and continues to expand so this report examines the main segments of the market and highlights the major influences occurring within each. The facilities management market has become increasingly complex as enterprises have more readily defined the difference between core and non-core business services.

The rapid growth of the industry has brought both strengths and weaknesses which, now it has achieved a higher profile, are even more vital to its future development. These factors are examined with a view to determining the likely future prospects for the market.