Apply, donate, engage: the Deborah Rowland Scholarship returns 

News

On National Careers Week, an opportunity to celebrate workplace and facilities management (WFM) professionals and inspire the next generation of talent, we’re delighted to announce that the search is on for a fresh cohort of Deborah Rowland Scholarship recipients. 
 
Introduced last year to provide disadvantaged young talent with financial and mentoring support, the Deborah Rowland Scholarship, backed by the IWFM Foundation, offers recipients the opportunity to become tomorrow’s leaders. Those selected by the scheme’s judges receive funding to study for and obtain an appropriate IWFM regulated qualification. 
 
For 2025 the scheme is boosted by support from Xenon Group, an IWFM Recognised Centre. Director Chris Morris said, “We’re thrilled to support the Scholarship with a contribution of two regulated qualifications and four annual subscriptions to XenZone - our new online training portal. We look forward to seeing how the entries and assessments progress, and to welcoming our first two scholars onto the programme later this year!”   

The Scholarship is the brainchild of Deborah Rowland, Director of Public Affairs at Sodexo UK and former IWFM Facilities Manager of the Year. Rowland, who has been diagnosed with an advanced cancer, instigated the initiative with a donation of her own money. Of the scheme’s 2024 launch Rowland said: “I was astounded by the support given by the WFM community and from my employer, Sodexo.   
  
“We were able to award two winners - TJ Robinson, an armed forces veteran looking to enter the world of WFM, and Paige Watts, who is at the beginning of her WFM career. Both have since begun their work towards IWFM qualifications with the support of their mentor, Liz Kentish.   

“Addressing the widest possible audience of potential recipients is key. Getting information about this opportunity to the people that need it the most is the important part.   

“This year we can widen the net. We have more time and more Scholarships to award. We need to get the message out far and wide to those not necessarily part of the WFM community but who wish to be. I need help to spread the news to colleges, carers, SMEs, VCSEs, veterans, ex-offenders, care leavers etc.”  
  
“Thank you again to everyone involved, I am looking forward to the applications for 2025. It is truly the best legacy someone can have.”  

Linda Hausmanis, IWFM CEO said, “I was both humbled and honoured to have worked with Debi last year to launch the Scholarship, helping to cultivate some of WFM’s most promising talent, helping some to get a foot on a rung of their WFM career ladder which will ultimately benefit the sector. Having seen the progress of last year’s recipients, it’s again an honour to support the Scholarship and to see it grow and expand to create an even bigger impact. I encourage prospective applicants to apply, for willing donors to contribute what they can and for the community to spread the news of this exciting scheme far and wide.” 

Calls to action 
 
Applications close on Monday 30 June.  
 
Click here to read about the origins of the Deborah Rowland Scholarship, eligibility criteria and how to apply.