As Maintenance Manager (now Facilities Manager!) at Flat Iron, Lily oversees the maintenance function across hospitality sites where uptime, safety, and guest experience are non-negotiable. From urgent reactive issues to planned upgrades, refurbishments, and contractor performance, her role sits right at the intersection of operations, finance, and people management.

In this episode of The FM Fix, we talk about what it really takes to keep busy hospitality spaces running smoothly behind the scenes. We unpack how to balance reactive maintenance with long-term improvements, how to build contractor partnerships that actually deliver value, and how communication can make or break day-to-day operations. Lily also shares lessons from working in fast-paced, multi-site environments, managing budgets, and staying calm when downtime simply isn’t an option.

If you’re good at FM, why isn’t that translating into job offers? In this episode of The FM Fix, we sit down with Chris Sycamore, Associate Director at Cobalt Recruitment, to pull back the curtain on how FM hiring really works in 2025.

With over a decade recruiting across facilities management, Chris shares what recruiters and hiring managers are actually scanning for in those first few seconds, from CV red flags and interview deal-breakers to the soft skills that now matter just as much as technical credentials.

We talk salary expectations, why experience and qualifications are both under scrutiny again, and why many FMs struggle to articulate their value in a way senior leaders understand. Chris also breaks down why hiring feels slower, riskier and more competitive than ever, and what candidates can do to stand out without overselling themselves.

If you’re applying for roles, aiming for a step up, or wondering why the market feels stacked against you right now, this episode offers a rare, honest look at FM hiring from the other side of the table.

In this episode of The FM Fix, we’re joined by Leanne, Facilities Manager at Oliver Bonas, whose decade-long career spans retail, manufacturing, and health & safety. 

Leanne has built her career from the ground up, from coordinating maintenance for 150 Screwfix stores to managing complex manufacturing facilities at G&H Photonics and now leading FM for one of the UK’s best-known retail brands. Along the way, she’s implemented CMMS systems, driven preventive maintenance programmes, and built strong contractor networks all while keeping people and safety at the heart of operations. 

We talk about what FM really looks like behind the scenes, the misconceptions that hold the profession back, and how FMs can raise their voices and visibility across their organisations. Leanne also shares her take on the metrics that matter, the growing importance of ESG, and how to build a career in FM that’s both people-first and future-focused. 

Whether you’re new to FM or deep in the day-to-day, this one’s a candid, relatable look at the reality of the job and how to make it more valued. 

Michael has built and scaled businesses that make smart buildings simpler, with a clear focus on outcomes that matter: healthier spaces, reduced costs, and measurable ROI. His mantra, “start with objectives, end with outcomes,” cuts through the jargon and helps FMs make technology deliver real value. 

We dig into what smart buildings really mean in practice, how to turn the data you already have into actionable insights, and why indoor air quality and wellbeing are climbing fast on the FM agenda. Michael also shares practical advice on linking technology adoption to financial outcomes, future skills every FM will need, and how AI and automation are reshaping the built environment. 

Michael is offering FM Fix listeners 10% off any Smart Building Bootcamp course. Which offers practical, self-paced training designed to make smart buildings simpler and more actionable. Use code EXPANSFM at checkout.

In this episode of The FM Fix, we’re joined by Grant Burrows, a senior property and FM leader with extensive experience managing complex estates, driving performance improvement and leading multi-discipline teams across the private sector.

Grant brings a rare mix of strategic vision and operational depth, having delivered national FM programmes, developed compliance frameworks and implemented data driven systems that improve efficiency, safety, and service quality. He has also lead new restaurant opening and refurbishment programmes for well know brands. Known for his calm, people-first leadership style, he’s built high-performing teams that thrive under pressure and deliver measurable results. 

We dive into what great FM looks like in practice: how to balance cost and compliance, measure what really matters, and empower teams to perform at their best. Grant also shares his perspective on leadership, technology, and sustainability and what needs to change to give FM the visibility and recognition it deserves. 

For FMs navigating the realities of modern estates management or aspiring to lead with both strategy and empathy, this episode is full of practical lessons and human insight.