The facilities management (FM) industry is entering a transformative phase in 2025, driven by economic stability, technological advancements, and a greater focus on human-centric workplaces. According to CBRE’s Top Facilities Management Trends for 2025 report, FM professionals are poised to play a crucial role in shaping the future of workspaces—optimising costs, improving sustainability, and harnessing data to enhance decision-making.
As CBRE predicts markets stabilising and investment confidence returning, FM will shift from reactive problem-solving to proactive innovation. The CBRE report outlines the key drivers shaping the industry, offering insights into how organisations can maximise the value of their FM strategies in the year ahead.
Economic Stability Sets the Stage for FM Growth
CBRE forecasts a more stable economic environment in 2025, with inflation broadly on target and base rate cuts driving economic growth of 1.8%. While changes to National Insurance Contributions (NICs) may affect costs, government investment could positively impact the sector.
The UK’s outsourced FM market, currently valued at over £35 billion, experienced 4.1% growth in 2024, according to CBRE’s analysis. With inflation easing and financial conditions improving, a more measured 3.2% growth is predicted for 2025. As organisations seek cost-effective, high-value FM solutions, outsourcing expertise remains a key strategy for managing commercial estates.
CBRE’s Workplace PHD: Physical, Human, and Digital
CBRE’s report highlights three critical pillars shaping FM strategies in 2025:
- Physical – Enhancing building functionality, efficiency, and sustainability.
- Human – Prioritising employee well-being, engagement, and workplace experience.
- Digital – Leveraging technology to improve FM operations, automate processes, and drive data-driven decision-making.
These elements underpin the nine major trends CBRE has identified for FM in 2025:
- AI-Optimised Facilities Management – AI-powered solutions will streamline maintenance, reduce costs, and improve workplace efficiency.
- Connected FM technologies – The use of IoT, sensors, and digital twins will provide real-time insights into building performance.
- The data and insight economy – Data analytics will drive FM decision-making, leading to smarter, more efficient workplaces.
- Human-centred workplace strategy – Organisations will prioritise well-being, collaboration, and flexible work environments.
- Simplification of ESG – Clearer, more actionable sustainability goals will become a key focus in FM.
- Cost savings – Efficiency remains paramount, with 77% of industry experts citing value for money as the top driver in FM decision-making.
- The next-generation workforce – FM professionals will need to upskill as digital transformation reshapes the industry.
- Rethinking workplace metrics – Traditional FM success measures will evolve to include well-being, sustainability, and employee engagement.
- Supply chain designed for strategic impact – FM providers will need to deliver more resilient, innovative solutions to meet evolving business needs.
A positive outlook for facilities management
The CBRE report paints an optimistic picture for the FM industry in 2025. Economic conditions are improving, organisations have access to more actionable data than ever before, and the sector is brimming with technological advancements.
Ultimately, success in 2025 will be driven by facilities managers who embrace innovation, digital transformation, and strategic partnerships. As organisations demand greater value from their FM budgets, those who can deliver cost savings, workplace experience, and sustainability solutions will thrive.
As CBRE’s report concludes:
“People are the heart of facilities management. In 2025, organisations will demand more from their facilities budgets, and FM professionals will rise to the challenge—bringing expertise, innovation, and value like never before.”
You can read the full CBRE report here:
Content Team
Work in Mind is a content platform designed to give a voice to thinkers, businesses, journalists and regulatory bodies in the field of healthy buildings.
