Healthcare Engineering and Facilities Management Conferences in Europe - 2025 and 2026
Author
Paddy McDonnell
Date Published
Healthcare engineering and facilities management are two of the fastest-growing professional disciplines in Ireland and across Europe. The ageing building stock, increasing regulatory requirements, sustainability targets, and the lasting impact of the pandemic on how buildings are designed and managed have all contributed to rising demand for qualified professionals in these fields. European conferences provide the opportunity to learn from peers across the continent, access the latest research and best practice, and build the professional networks that support career development.
IHEEM Healthcare Estates Conference and Exhibition - Manchester
The Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management (IHEEM) hosts its annual Healthcare Estates Conference, Exhibition and Awards at Manchester Central each October. This is the UK's largest event for healthcare estates, engineers, and FM professionals.
Healthcare Estates 2025
The 2025 conference took place on 21-22 October 2025 under the overarching theme Prevention Is Better Than Cure. The theme reflected the need to plan proactively to avoid repeating mistakes, reduce risk, and ensure that new and existing healthcare facilities meet the needs of patients, staff, and communities. The multi-stream programme featured presentations and workshops covering the full range of healthcare estate challenges, from capital planning and energy management to compliance, maintenance, and infection prevention.
The annual IHEEM Healthcare Estates Awards Dinner provided networking opportunities with colleagues, peers, and major names in the delivery of healthcare engineering and estates and facilities management across the UK and Ireland.
Healthcare Estates 2026
The 2026 event is scheduled for 13-14 October 2026 at Manchester Central. For IIESMS members working in healthcare engineering or facilities management in the healthcare sector, this is the most directly relevant annual conference in these islands. The combination of technical sessions, trade exhibition, awards programme, and networking events provides comprehensive CPD value.
IIESMS members attending Healthcare Estates can record attendance as structured CPD towards the 25-hour annual requirement. The IIESMS Healthcare Sector Group can provide guidance on making the most of the conference for professional development purposes.
EuroFM Conference - Trondheim, December 2025
The European Facility Management Network (EuroFM) held its annual conference from 1-3 December 2025 in Trondheim, Norway, organised in association with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). EuroFM is the leading European network for facilities management education, research, and practice.
The conference brought together FM practitioners, academics, and industry leaders from across Europe to discuss current challenges and future directions in facilities management. Topics included sustainable building management, digital transformation of FM services, workplace experience, and the evolving role of the facilities manager in organisational strategy.
For Irish FM professionals, EuroFM conferences provide exposure to European research and best practice that may not be readily accessible through national networks alone. The academic partnership model - bringing together universities and practitioners - ensures that conference content is both research-informed and practically applicable.
IWFM Workplace Futures - London, February 2026
The Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM) hosts its flagship Workplace Futures conference annually. The 2026 edition was held on 26 February 2026 at One Great George Street, London, with a live stream option for those unable to attend in person.
Workplace Futures explores how to navigate the facilities management industry over the coming years, examining what the sector has done successfully and what can be learned for continued progression. The conference attracts senior FM professionals from across the UK and Ireland and provides a strategic overview of the direction of the profession, as distinct from the more technical focus of events like Healthcare Estates.
The FM Forum - London and Manchester, 2026
The FM Forum provides two events in 2026: 26-27 January at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Centre in London, and 29-30 June at the Manchester Deansgate Hotel. These events combine conference sessions with structured networking opportunities designed to connect FM professionals with service providers, technology companies, and potential partners.
The FM Forum format is particularly useful for FM professionals looking to understand the commercial landscape - what products and services are available, what technologies are emerging, and what other organisations are doing to address common FM challenges.
IWFM Scotland Region Conference - Edinburgh, November 2025
The IWFM Scotland Region Conference was held on 20 November 2025 at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, running from 08:00 to 15:00. Regional conferences provide a more accessible entry point for FM professionals who cannot attend the major London-based events, and often feature content with a particular focus on issues affecting Scotland and the wider UK regions.
IFMA World Workplace Europe - Antwerp, 2027
The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) hosts World Workplace Europe biennially. The 2026 edition has concluded (held in The Hague), and the next event - World Workplace Europe 2027 - will take place on 2-3 March 2027 in Antwerp, Belgium. This event provides a global perspective on facilities management, drawing speakers and delegates from IFMA's worldwide membership.
Building Your Professional Development Through European Conferences
For IIESMS members in the Healthcare and Facilities Management sector groups, European conferences offer CPD opportunities that go beyond what is available through national events alone. The cross-pollination of ideas, the exposure to different regulatory frameworks and operational models, and the professional relationships built through international engagement all contribute to deeper professional competence.
When planning your annual CPD, consider including at least one European event. The structured learning hours from conference attendance, combined with the unstructured learning that comes from professional conversations and follow-up reading, can form a substantial portion of your 25-hour annual requirement.
IIESMS membership grades relevant to healthcare engineering and facilities management include Maintenance Engineer (MaintEng.IIESMS) and Certified Maintenance Engineer (CMaintEng.IIESMS). To explore which grade matches your qualifications and experience, use the Find Your Grade tool or contact us for guidance.
Sources and Further Reading
IHEEM - Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management