BIFM Level 5

Course Information

Welcome to the first day...

...of the rest of your career

If you’re reading this, it means you’re already considering the possibility of studying for a BIFM accredited Facilities Management

Qualification.

Before I go any further, I’d like to congratulate you for having the motivation to take your career into your own hands and to learn how to be the best Facilities Manager that

you possibly can.

It is a well known but accurate cliché in FM circles that the role of the Facilities Manager is often undervalued or overlooked by the

mainstream business world.

Organisations such as the BIFM are constantly striving to improve this perception, but the first steps must be taken by people like you; facilities Managers working at the

sharp end of FM service delivery.

You are probably dealing with customers and clients on a daily basis — taking the rap when things go wrong whilst barely being

noticed when it’s all going to plan.

There are a multitude of ways to try and raise the profile of Facilities Management within your organisation, many of which we cover as part of the qualifications, but ultimately raising your profile is only worthwhile if the service you are delivering is second-to-

none.

That is where the beauty of a BIFM Qualification lies. Whether you study for an Award, Certificate or the full Diploma, you will learn new ways to improve your service, manage your budget and ensure that the work you are doing is in sync with the overall business plan

of your employer. You will meet other like-minded FMs, both online and in person, from a range of different backgrounds and sectors, and learn from them as well as from our tutors. You’ll then consolidate everything you have learned in your assignments and ultimately achieve the qualification as proof that you are on the road to becoming not just a good Facilities Manager, but

a great one!

At the Xenon Group, we’ve been turning good Facilities Managers

into great ones for over 10 years. We hope you’ll be the next to join us in our mission to make a more productive, more efficient, more recognised and above all more valued Facilities Management

industry.

I look forward to welcoming you

onto a course in the near future.

David Morris

FBIFM FFA FinstLM MinstD MIMgt

Managing Director

I can't put a value on the

knowledge I've gained while

studying with The Xenon

Group but I know it has helped

me turn a job into a career.

Naomi Crossan Ernst & Young

David Morris FBIFM

Xenon Group Managing Director

One of the most pound for

pound, best value

qualifications I’ve attained

Rob Ratcliffe

Aberystwyth University

You’ll consolidate your knowledge by completing

assessments.

At an ‘attend only’ master-class, there is no way of checking that you h a v e u n d e r s t o o d everything that you have been taught. With a ‘qualification’, you’ll be required to complete detailed assessments which will consolidate your knowledge and check

your understanding.

Why study for a qualification?

Isn’t experience enough?

The experience vs qualifications debate in Facilities Management has been a hot topic for some time. Of course, there is no substitute for experience, but in our opinion there is no substitute for a qualification either. Rather than wonder which of the two is better, we have always been of the opinion that both are key for a Facilities

Manager to be able to do their job to the best of their ability. We’re not alone in this mind-set, which is why when BIFM developed these qualifications in 2009, they structured them in a way which allows you to draw on your own experience in order to complete the assessments, thereby helping you

apply all that you have learned into your own working practices. Of course, there are many training options available and you may feel that simply attending master-class workshops is

enough.

Many of these ‘attend only’ courses are very good - some are exceptional - but here’s 4 reasons why we feel you’ll get

more out of studying for a qualification. BIFM CEO Gareth Tancred presents Darren

Shiels with his hard-earned Diploma

The assessments will encourage you to apply your knowledge to your

own role.

By asking you to draw on your own experience in order to answer the questions, the assessments will help you use the knowledge gained from your course to improve the way you go about your

work.

You’ll receive proof of your understanding when

you complete the course.

The certificate that you’ll gain on successful completion acts as proof that you haven’t just slept your way through your course! It can also inspire confidence in employers and clients by showing that you have the underpinning knowledge

required to do the job.

Q u a l i f i c a t i o n s a r e

completely accountable

As a BIFM recognised centre, we’re monitored and audited by BIFM to make sure we’re doing our job well. BIFM is, in turn, monitored by OfQual, so if you’re not happy with the service you receive, you have plenty of options to get something done about

it.

A range of qualifications...

...and a range of different options

The Size After choosing your level, you need to decide on the scale of your course. BIFM Qualifications can be studied as

an Award, Certificate or Diploma. The only difference between them is the number of modules.

The Diploma includes 8 units, covering a range of topics giving you a wide breadth of knowledge. The Certificate includes 4 units. This is appropriate for those with less time or perhaps constrained by budgets.

The Award is a basic introduction to strategic FM and consists of 2 units. The Award is appropriate for those with tight time or budget constraints or who do not work directly in an FM role but require an understanding of

the industry at an operational to strategic level.

I know I could not have

achieved what I have

within my role at work if

it were not for the

knowledge I have gained

whilst on the course.

Dawn Marshall Sodexo

The Level The first step is to choose which level of qualification you wish to study for. At the Xenon Group, you can study for

BIFM qualifications at levels 3, 4, 5 and 6. It’s important to choose the correct level as the content of the course will correspond to your own job. Too high a level and you will not have the experience required to complete the assessments, too low and you will find the

course easy and less worthwhile. If you’re reading this brochure, you’ve probably identified the BIFM Level 5 as an appropriate option, however if you’re unsure, a good first step is to try our ‘One Minute Leveller’ an online tool that will ask you a series of

multiple-choice questions and recommend a level based on your answers.

So now you know why gaining a Facilities Management Qualification is worthwhile, the next stage is to choose which level and which size of qualification you’d like to study.

Distance Learning Although our workshop sessions offer the most complete learning package, we realise that not everyone is able to commit to regularly attending workshops in Leeds or

London. That’s why we’ve developed our Distance Learning option.

As a Distance Learner, you’ll be given access to workbooks for all of the individual units in your course. These workbooks contain all of the information you will need,

as well as activities and exercises to test your understanding.

You’ll also have access to online learning resources, including articles of interest and discussion forums which allow you to ask questions of your fellow students. Although you won’t get the same level of face-to-face contact with our tutors, help is never far away. You can contact us at any time to ask questions by e-mail, phone

or Skype. You’ll receive detailed guidance notes for your assessments and constructive feedback before final submission.

Training for FM professionals…

Delivered by FM professionals

Even though I was studying on

my own, I never felt alone. Help

was only a phone call away.

Kevin Brady

University of Sussex

Workshops Our workshop courses offer the most comprehensive learning experience available. You will participate in tutor-led sessions offering plenty of opportunities to learn from our tutors, who are all experienced Facilities Managers who have been there

and seen it all, as well as from other students who come from diverse FM backgrounds across a range of sectors.

As a workshop student you will also have full access to our Distance Learning material, so you don’t need to worry if you get

home and realise you can’t read your own notes!

Workshops are run as monthly, two-day sessions in our Leeds office or as weekly evening classes in London.

Once you’ve decided on a Level and Scale, all that is left to decide is how you’d like to study. At the Xenon Group, we offer three options -Workshops, Distance Learning and Blended Learning

Blended Learning Introduced in 2012, Blended Learning gives you the best of both worlds. If you opt for the Blended Learning option, you will be able to attend workshops for up to half of the units for your course, with the remainder being studied by

Distance Learning.

This combination of Workshops and Distance Learning allows you to focus in on your strengths and weaknesses, and

then make use of the face-to-face sessions for subjects you are less confident in.

NB: Blended Learning not available for the Level 5 Award

So what will I actually learn?

BIFM Level 5 Award Organisational & Facilities Management Strategy This unit considers how FM strategy aligns with the overall business strategy & what the drivers are for setting both. You will evaluate the impact of business strategy on FM services, then consider the contexts within which FM services are offered and compare approaches to d e v e l o p i n g a p p r o p r i a t e strategies. Managing FM Projects This unit focuses on planning FM projects including how to prepare project briefs, manage budgets & assemble & manage a project team. You will look at the pros & cons of cross functional teams & learn about the roles of specialists. Finally, you will consider project close down processes & Post Imple-mentation Reviews.

BIFM Level 5 Certificate Award units plus: Managing People in FM The Facilities Manager will usually have a team to manage & this unit considers a range of impo r tan t i s sues when managing teams. You will consider everything including r e c r u i t m e n t , w o r k l o a d p l a n n i n g , m a n a g i n g & deve lop ing you r t eam, communication skills, stress management & key employment and equality legislation. Managing Procurement & Contracts in FM This unit considers the importance of ethical & robust procurement procedures, including tendering & bidding for contracts as well as recent advance s i n te rms o f e-procurement. The different t yp e s o f co n t ra c t s & specifications will be studied along with pros & cons of each.

By now you’re probably raring to go out and achieve a qualification, so to whet your appetite even further, here’s a breakdown of the

different units that comprise the BIFM Level 5 Award, Certificate and Diploma. The Level 5 qualification is aimed practicing middle

managers, usually with around five years experience in an FM role, or those progressing from the Level 4.

BIFM Level 5 Diploma Award & Certificate Units plus: FM Developments and Trends This unit considers developments and trends within the FM industry You will consider how the scope and extent of the facilities management industry has changed, including changes within the three main sectors & changes to the role of the Facilities Manager, including the impact of CSR and sustainability. Risk Management in FM This unit covers risk management both in terms of the business as a whole and FM in particular. You will consider a variety of potential risks, including financial, strategic, operational & environmental, & understand how to develop, implement, evaluate & improve risk criteria & risk management policies. You will also study strategies to communicate responsibilities & develop a risk aware culture.

Financial Management in FM This unit looks at the principles of financial accounting & the purpose of financial policies. You will evaluate the use of codes of ethics & how true & fair value of assets can be represented. You will consider how to develop & manage capital & revenue budgets. You will also consider financial appraisals & how these are used to aid decision making. Finally, you will consider how to manage cash flow & prepare financial cases. Property and Asset Management for FMs This unit considers a range of elements involved in Property & Asset Management, including developing property strategies, when to use specialists & costs involved in managing property. You will also consider property & asset registers, building designs & the implications of property relocation.

Next Steps...

By downloading this brochure, you’ve already taken the first step towards becoming a great facilities manager. You’ve probably already got a

good idea of which level, size and delivery method you’d like to go for. Once you’ve made this decision, all that’s left to do is enrol onto your

chosen course.

To enrol on a course, you need to fill out our online enrolment form. This is a simple step by step process and shouldn’t take more than a few

minutes. Once it’s done, we’ll contact you to make the necessary arrangements to start your course.

Of course, it would be remiss of us to leave you without pointing you in the direction of some further information.

For information on fees, have a look at our online price checker.

To double check whether the Level 5 is the right level for you, try our One Minute Leveller

To find out more about the BIFM, visit their website. Here you can find more information about the qualifications, as well as about the organisation

as a whole, the benefits of membership, and up to date news from the leading UK FM industry body.

Of course, if you have any further questions that haven’t been answered, or if you’d just like to speak to a human being before committing, you

can call us during business hours on 0845 474 0054, or e-mail enquiries@xenongroup.co.uk. We’d be happy to give you any more information you

need.

Meet the Team

This is Paul. If you call us to enquire

about a course, it’ll be Paul or one of

his team who you’ll most likely be

dealing with.

You can see from the picture how

happy he is to help with enquiries!

Paul was horrified to learn his

picture was to be included in this

brochure - he claims not to be very

photogenic.

This is Chris. If you attend workshops

in London, you’ll see him nearly

every week.

No-one is really sure what Chris’

actual role in the company is, but he

seems to get involved in nearly

everything! Look out for him at BIFM

events, particularly those organised

by the Rising FMs group for which he

is a committee member.

This is Aneta. You’ll be dealing with

her regularly when submitting

assignments and dealing with any

administrative issues.

In keeping with her Polish

nationality, Aneta has a fantastic

work ethic but also an almost

completely unpronounceable

surname.

This is David, our Managing Director,

FM Consultancy Director and

principal tutor. David is the driving

force behind the Xenon Group. David

wrote the original course material.

A vastly experienced Facilities

Manager, David was once credited

with providing FM services for

Noah’s Ark. Just watch out for his

sense of humour in classes!

The Permanent Staff...

This is Sue, who will be your main

point of contact when it comes to

critical feedback for assessments.

Sue is a former teacher and nurse, so

has the perfect skillset to coax you

through your assignments. Don’t be

fooled by the friendly exterior

though - if your work isn’t up to

standard, she’ll be sure to let you

know!

And the Tutors...

Samantha Bowman

FBIFM

BIFM Board Member

Over 20 yrs FM Experience

Victoria Glover-Ward

CBIFM BEng CEng MIMechE

Over 20 yrs FM Experience

Wg Cdr Geoff Johnson (Rtd)

Over 20 yrs FM Experience

Founder member of Trillium FM (Now Telereal Trillium)

Jules Rutt

CBIFM

Over 10 yrs FM Experience

Mark Griffiths

CBIFM MSc(FM)

Over 20 yrs FM Experience

John Bowen

MBIFM MCIPS MCILT

BIFM Recognition Award Winner 2009

Over 25yrs FM Experience

Paul Carder

BSc (Hons) MRICS

Chartered FM Surveyor (RICS)

Over 20yrs FM Experience