Hard Facilities Management
Lighting and Electrical Systems
Proper lighting and electrical systems are the backbone of any facility's operation. We recruit professionals who ensure that all lighting, wiring, and electrical systems are maintained for optimal functionality, energy efficiency, and safety compliance.
Heating, Cooling, and Ventilation (HVAC)
Temperature control and air quality are critical for any facility. We provide skilled HVAC technicians and managers who maintain heating, cooling, and ventilation systems to ensure comfort and energy efficiency in every building.
Lifts
Our lift maintenance professionals specialise in ensuring safe, reliable vertical transportation across commercial buildings. From installation to regular inspections and repairs, our teams keep your lifts operational and compliant with regulations.
Security Systems (CCTV)
We connect you with professionals who design, install, and maintain state-of-the-art CCTV and security systems, providing 24/7 surveillance and ensuring the safety of your facilities and occupants.
Water Hygiene
Maintaining high standards of water hygiene is crucial for health and safety. Our experts manage water treatment systems, ensuring cleanliness, safety, and compliance with legal standards such as Legionella control.
Fire Safety
Fire safety is a top priority in facilities management. We supply fire safety officers, engineers, and maintenance staff who specialise in alarm systems, fire doors, extinguishers, and evacuation planning, ensuring your facility is always prepared.
Internet and External Decoration
From managing internet and communication systems to maintaining external aesthetics such as painting, signage, and building facades, our facilities management experts handle all aspects of external infrastructure.
Fleet Management
Our fleet management professionals specialise in ensuring the efficient and reliable operation of your vehicle fleet. From maintenance and compliance to optimisation strategies, our team ensures that your fleet stays on the road and fully operational.
Hard FM Recruitment: FAQ
What is Hard FM?
Hard FM covers the engineering-led services that keep a building's fabric and systems safe and working: HVAC, electrical systems, lifts, fire safety, water hygiene and security systems such as CCTV. These services are generally safety-critical or governed by law, so they sit above soft FM as a non-negotiable part of running a building.
What's the Difference Between Hard FM and Soft FM?
Hard FM protects the building itself, its wiring, plumbing, lifts, fire systems and air quality. Soft FM shapes the experience of the people working inside it, cleaning, catering, security staffing and grounds. Most FM contracts split the two, and most candidates specialise in one side rather than both. See our Soft FM page for the full picture.
What Qualifications Do Hard FM Engineers and Managers Need?
Requirements vary by discipline. HVAC and electrical engineers usually need a recognised trade qualification (City & Guilds or an NVQ) plus role-specific certification, F-Gas for refrigerant handling, 18th Edition wiring regulations for electrical work. Management-level roles increasingly expect IWFM membership (the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management) as the industry's recognised standard for competency.
What Compliance Standards Should Hard FM Staff Understand?
Three come up constantly: SFG20, the industry standard for planned preventative maintenance, L8, the Health and Safety Executive's guidance on controlling Legionella and water hygiene risk, and the Building Safety Act 2022, which introduced new statutory duties for higher-risk buildings following Grenfell. A candidate who can speak to these in a screening call is worth more than one who lists "compliance" as a CV keyword.
What Does a Hard FM Manager Earn in the UK?
Hard FM Managers with a strong mechanical and electrical background typically earn more than soft-services-only FMs, reflecting the technical risk they carry. Pay depends on region, sector and whether the role includes budget or P&L ownership. London and the South East sit well above the rest of the UK, and critical environments (data centres, healthcare, life sciences) pay a premium over standard commercial estates. Full breakdown in our UK FM Salary Guide 2026.
Do You Recruit Permanent, Contract and Interim Hard FM Staff?
Yes. Hard FM hiring often needs a mix of permanent engineers and managers for day-to-day operations, alongside contract or interim cover for mobilisations, projects, or unplanned gaps. Tell us which one you're solving for and we'll match the engagement type to it.
How Quickly Can You Fill a Hard FM Vacancy?
An engineer with a DBS registered to the Update Service can be verified online in near real time, so mobilisation often happens in days. A first-time applicant needs a full Enhanced DBS check plus reference and credential verification - with a dedicated support team, we can get you the right candidates within days. Tell us the vacancy and we'll tell you where the strongest available engineers already stand in the process.
Do You Cover Hard FM Roles UK-wide, or Just Certain Regions?
We operate UK-wide, and beyond. With offices in both South Africa and the UK, A24 Group FM Services runs comprehensive recruitment and search services worldwide, not just in London and the South East. So, whether it's a single-site engineer in a regional town or a multi-site Hard FM contract spanning several UK locations, coverage isn't limited by region. Tell us where the vacancy sits and we'll confirm reach for that specific site.