Leading Change in FM: People, Performance, and Place

Leading Change in FM: People, Performance, and Place

In this episode of The FM Fix, we’re joined by Stacey Kelly, Director of Facilities Services at Apleona Ireland, who oversees more than 150 sites across retail, manufacturing, corporate, and public sector portfolios. With over a decade in FM and leadership roles spanning everything from Aldi stores to pharmaceutical plants, Stacey brings a unique perspective on what it takes to manage large, multi-site operations while keeping people and performance at the centre. Her approach combines strategy with empathy, aligning client goals, team development, and service excellence to create seamless, scalable FM solutions. We explore how to lead through change, build trust across teams and clients, and keep standards high in a 24/7 operational world. Stacey also shares insights into mentorship, upskilling, and creating pathways for new FM talent, proving that great leadership isn’t just about process, but about people. For any FM aiming to step up into senior leadership or manage multi-site complexity with confidence, this episode is packed with lessons in culture, communication, and continuous improvement.

Lessons in Leadership and Growth

In this episode of The FM Fix, Tom chats with Sonia Murton, founder and managing director of Westbury FM, a company that has rapidly scaled to become one of the Sunday Times 100 fastest-growing private companies. Sonia shares her inspiring journey from project management to launching her own FM business, revealing the challenges she faced and the strategies she employed to earn client trust and enhance ROI. Tom and Sonia discuss the crucial balance between adopting technology and maintaining that essential human touch in facilities management. Tune in to gain insights from Sonia’s real-world experiences, and discover how she transformed obstacles into opportunities in the ever-evolving FM landscape.

Inside Currys FM: Delivering Compliance, Cost Control, and Change

In this episode of The FM Fix, we’re joined by Tom Gardener, Senior Facilities Manager at Currys, one of the UK’s largest and most recognisable retail brands. Tom oversees facilities for hundreds of properties across the UK, managing an operational FM budget of around £14 million and CAPEX projects up to £2.7 million. With experience spanning retail, banking, logistics, and the public sector, he brings a rare combination of commercial strategy and on-the-ground operational insight. We dive into how Tom has driven tangible results, from cutting compliance risks by nearly half and saving £746,000 in annual energy costs, to delivering major remediation and sustainability programmes across a national estate. He shares what it really takes to balance cost, compliance, and customer experience at scale and how data, technology, and teamwork come together to make it work. For FMs managing large portfolios, tight budgets, or complex compliance challenges, this episode offers real-world lessons on delivering results that matter.

Day in the Life of FM: Real Work, Real Impact

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.

Turning Building Data into Business Value

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.