We are proud to highlight a significant new initiative designed to support the next generation of workplace and Facilities Management professionals: the Deborah Rowland Scholarship.
Created in collaboration with Deborah Rowland, a highly respected leader within the FM profession who is living with a terminal cancer diagnosis, the scholarship aims to remove financial barriers, widen access to career development and help talented individuals from diverse backgrounds fulfil their potential.
The initiative reflects Deborah’s longstanding commitment to the profession and her determination to leave a meaningful legacy by creating opportunities for those who may otherwise struggle to fund their own development.
The scholarship will provide financial assistance and mentoring to aspiring Facilities Management professionals.
It is intended particularly for individuals whose personal, financial or professional circumstances may limit their access to education, qualifications and career development.
Potential applicants may include:
The scholarship is designed to give promising individuals a stronger start and help them compete for opportunities within a diverse and rapidly evolving profession.
Facilities Management offers a wide range of rewarding career paths, from workplace experience and sustainability to technical services, compliance and strategic leadership.
However, access to those opportunities is not always equal.
Professional qualifications, training and mentoring can make a significant difference to career progression, but the associated costs may prevent some individuals from taking the next step.
By providing practical and financial support, the Deborah Rowland Scholarship will help remove some of these barriers and enable recipients to develop the confidence, knowledge and professional networks needed to progress.
Deborah has built a distinguished career within workplace and Facilities Management and has served as Director of Public Affairs at Sodexo UK and Ireland since 2017.
Reflecting on the profession and her reasons for establishing the scholarship, she explained:
“The FM world has been an incredible environment for growth and learning. I highly recommend it to anyone starting their career journey. I have always worked to make this profession one to be proud of and appealing to future talent.”
She added:
“By establishing this scholarship, I hope to provide others with the opportunity to enhance their prospects and compete at a higher level. Regardless of their starting point, they just need the desire and passion to achieve their goals.”
Her message captures the purpose of the initiative: talent and ambition should not be restricted by someone’s financial circumstances or starting point.
The Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management will oversee the scholarship through the revitalisation of its Charitable Foundation.
This structure will support the fair and effective management of the programme while helping ensure that the scholarship continues to deliver lasting value.
The fund will also be open to contributions from individuals and organisations that share its commitment to social impact, inclusion and opportunity within the FM profession.
Further details about donations and the application process are expected to be announced separately.
Linda Hausmanis, Chief Executive of IWFM, emphasised the importance of widening access to professional opportunities:
“FM is a diverse and dynamic profession that offers rich career paths, but not everyone has equal opportunities to succeed.”
She added that the Foundation would help ensure the scholarship creates meaningful value both now and in the future, while establishing a lasting legacy for Deborah as a respected role model and trailblazer within the profession.
The FM sector continues to face a significant skills shortage, while buildings, workplaces and estates become more complex and technology-driven.
Attracting people from a broader range of backgrounds is therefore not only important for inclusion; it is essential to the profession’s long-term success.
The scholarship can help by:
It also demonstrates what can be achieved when individuals, employers and professional bodies work together to create meaningful opportunities.
Facilities Management professionals, employers and IWFM members are encouraged to help promote the scholarship and ensure it reaches people who could benefit.
This may involve:
The wider the message travels, the greater the chance that capable and passionate individuals will receive the support they need.
The Deborah Rowland Scholarship is more than a financial award.
It represents a commitment to opportunity, inclusion and the future of Facilities Management. It will help talented individuals develop their careers while preserving Deborah’s dedication to making the profession stronger, more accessible and more representative.
By supporting the scholarship, the FM community can help build a vibrant and inclusive future in which ambition and ability—not personal circumstances—determine how far someone can progress.
Together, the profession can create a lasting legacy and give the next generation of FM professionals the head start they deserve.
