The British Institute of Facilities Management’s (BIFM) Ireland Region has announced the establishment of a new Southern Branch in the Region - the Institute’s first branch outside the UK.

The announcement was made by BIFM’s CEO Gareth Tancred at the ‘Trends and Developments in FM’ conference in Dublin on 23 January 2013. The over subscribed event was attended by over 100 facilities management professionals.

The new Southern Branch aims to be fully operational by spring 2013 and will benefit thousands of facilities managers across Ireland. The branch forms part of the well-established BIFM Ireland Region, which has over 240 active members who benefit from networking and CPD events run in the region throughout the year as well as the hugely popular annual Ireland Region Conference.

Gareth Tancred said, “This new development comes in response to market demand, with many in the region looking for the professional support structures to progress themselves and the industry and Ireland. BIFM already has considerable membership in Ireland, but as an Institute we recognise the very distinct needs between the two branches. By establishing this new Southern Branch we will be in a much stronger position to serve more facilities management professionals.”

The Chairman of the BIFM Ireland Region, Stephen Welch said, “The time is right for a new branch as demand for the kind of support we offer has grown and the committee to take on this work is taking shape.”

The BIFM has nine regions across the United Kingdom, serving almost 13,000 BIFM members.

Groups can be found by visiting www.bifm.org.uk/groups.

Photo caption: left to right:  Gareth Tancred, CEO of BIF; Wilton Farrelly, Member of BIFM Ireland Region; Stephen Welch, Chairman of BIFM Ireland Region; Danny McAuley, Member of BIFM Ireland Region