The latest MSCI Capital Trends report reveals that commercial real estate investment across Europe rose by 11 per cent in the final quarter of 2024. In total, over 188 billion euros was invested across the year. The UK was the standout market, with a 26 per cent uplift in activity, especially in industrial and logistics assets. These numbers are eye catching in themselves but it is the sentiment behind them that deserves our attention. Investors are looking at the built environment with fresh eyes. They are thinking more strategically, more long term, and more about function than form.
This is where our profession comes in. Facilities management has always played a vital role in ensuring buildings operate effectively. But now, the opportunity is bigger. We are increasingly central to how assets perform, how occupiers experience space, and how organisations meet their environmental goals.
Industrial and logistics sites are a perfect example. With deal volumes up 11 per cent and demand rising, the sector is expanding rapidly. That’s echoed by data from IWFM’s 2025 Market Outlook survey, Facilitate the Future - keep on growing. We saw 42% of WFM organisations reporting an increase in workspace investment and 33% increasing the area of space managed. These are high-functioning, technically demanding environments that rely on strong WFM support to succeed. Energy efficiency, uptime, compliance and safety all rest on how well facilities are managed day to day.
Sustainability is another major theme. The report highlights growing concerns about outdated, energy-hungry buildings. These so-called brown assets are becoming liabilities unless they are transformed. This is a space WFM understands intimately. Whether through energy optimisation, retrofitting, or behavioural change programmes, we can help real estate owners navigate the journey from brown to green. In doing so, we do not just improve buildings, we protect their value and support ESG strategies.
'We have the knowledge. We have the insight. And now, we have the opportunity.'
I was also encouraged to see momentum building around alternative sectors like student housing, healthcare, life sciences and data centres. These are all growing areas of real estate that demand specialist operational knowledge. Facilities managers with the right skills can become indispensable partners in these sectors, offering insight and expertise that go far beyond maintenance alone.
Yes, the traditional office market remains under pressure, with investment volumes continuing to fall. But I see this not as a risk, but as a challenge to evolve. Our role in shaping the future of workspace is critical. We can support organisations in rethinking layout, technology, experience and flexibility. The workplace is no longer just a destination, it is an enabler of performance, culture and wellbeing.
What is clear from this analysis is that facilities management is no longer a backroom service. We are at the table, and the decisions being made now will shape how real estate is used and valued for decades to come. It is a moment that calls for confidence, leadership and collaboration.
We have the knowledge. We have the insight. And now, we have the opportunity.