Facilities management plays a vital role in keeping buildings safe, compliant, and welcoming. Within this, operations are often divided into hard and soft services. Hard services relate to the physical fabric of a building. Whereas soft services focus on the people who use the building day to day.
Defining soft services
Soft services in facilities management help improve the wellbeing and comfort of occupants. They focus on daily experiences, not just the building’s structure. These services are typically people-centred and visible, shaping first impressions and ongoing satisfaction.
Hard services include electrical infrastructure, heating systems, and structural building maintenance. They ensure a building functions safely from a technical perspective.
Common examples of soft services include:
· cleaning
· security
· catering
· waste management
· pest control
· grounds maintenance
Compliance and wellbeing
Soft services may seem less technical than hard services, but they are just as important. They help meet health, safety, and welfare needs.
Laws like The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 set basic rules for cleanliness and hygiene. They also cover waste removal and the state of shared spaces. Failure to meet these obligations can result in risk to occupant health, legal action, and reputational damage.
Beyond compliance, soft facilities management services directly influence wellbeing and productivity. Clean, well-maintained environments reduce illness, improve morale, and demonstrate duty of care. Security and reception services help people feel safe and supported, while effective waste and environmental services contribute to sustainability goals.
Why soft FM services matter
Soft services are a key part of facilities management. They greatly affect how visitors and users feel. They also influence how people see the brand. High-quality cleaning services, attentive front-of-house teams, and well-managed environments reflect professionalism and care.
At Churchill Group, we deliver soft services with a focus on people, compliance, and adapting to new technology. Soft services can be very valuable. They combine operational skills with a good understanding of rules and customer needs. This makes them more than just a support function.
If you would like to discuss how we can assist with your business’s soft service needs, please reach out. You can email us at helppoint@churchillservices.com or call us at 0845 345 1576 today.