Tess Flynn
After more than 30 years in hospitality, catering, and management, Tess Flynn started to consider what the next chapter of her career could look like. Facilities management (FM) offered a new direction in which she could apply her existing skills.
By returning to education and completing the IWFM Level 4 Certificate in Facilities Management at Portobello Institute, Tess has moved closer to a role in FM and gained the confidence to continue her studies at degree level.
Seeing the Possibility in Facilities Management
Tess trained as a chef in Galway in the early 1990s and spent years working her way up through hotels and restaurants. Driven, ambitious, and entrepreneurial, she went on to open a daytime restaurant, two retail shops, and an outdoor catering business.
After the economic downturn, Tess began again with a pop-up business selling baked goods, teaching children’s baking classes, and making novelty cakes, and in 2013, moved to Cork in search of a better quality of life.
Over the next 13 years, she worked in industrial catering and retail management, eventually becoming a Head Chef and Manager for a facilities company. It was here where she became interested in FM.
At 52, Tess was proud of what she had achieved in a demanding, predominantly male profession. She also knew that the physical nature of the work meant she needed to think carefully about the future.
“I knew it was not a role I would be doing in my late 50s,” she says. “My knees and joints had a different idea. The current economic climate does not allow for early retirement, so I knew I had to get my ducks in a row and upskill, preferably staying in the industry.”
Working alongside facilities managers helped her recognise how much of her existing experience could transfer into FM.
“There was a lot I knew, but there was also a lot I needed to learn. It was important to learn the right way with a good qualification, as daunting as the idea was.”
Discovering Portobello Institute
Like many, Tess began her research with a simple Google search. She typed in ‘facilities management courses’ and Portobello Institute was the first result.
The website was clear and easy to navigate, making the idea of returning to education feel more manageable. Even so, after more than 30 years away from formal study, the thought of online learning, assignments, and unfamiliar systems was daunting.
As Tess considered enrolling on the IWFM Level 4 Certificate programme, self-doubt began to creep in. However, that uncertainty began to ease after she contacted Portobello Institute and received a prompt call from FM Career Pathway Consultant Niall Downey.
“That phone call made my decision,” she reflects. “I got the impression they were not going to just take your money; they genuinely wanted people to succeed.
“Niall spoke highly of everyone and was aware of how nervous I was. He reassured me that help was around every corner.”
A Supportive Start to Student Life
When Tess commenced her studies at Portobello, she quickly found that Niall had been right: the help and guidance she had been promised were there from the very beginning.
She recalls joining an introductory session with Gerry Kelly, Portobello Institute’s FM Programme Lead, and quickly slipping into what she describes as “complete panic and self-doubt” mode.
“After hearing everyone’s jobs and qualifications, and the idea of Harvard referencing (I thought that was a movie), I thought I was out of my depth,” admits Tess.
“I texted Gerry and asked him if it would be okay to call, and within a few minutes, he rang me back. He said, ‘I knew you would be the first to ring’. He could sense by the few questions I answered that I was nervous and feeling overwhelmed.
“He immediately put my mind at ease. Little did I know, a few of us had our own concerns about being back in education, as for a lot of us, it had been years since we were in college.”
Real-World Examples and Connection
Once the programme got underway, Tess found the delivery clear and engaging. Although it was fully online, the live tutorials created a strong sense of connection through regular interaction, practical discussion, and access to one-to-one support.
“The tutorials were fantastic,” she says. “The constant use of analogies just made it easy to understand. Henry Sheahan, our tutor, encouraged us to interact, and quite often he called on us for our opinions. Silence on a Teams call usually meant someone was eating biscuits.”
Tess felt comfortable asking questions and reaching out while working on assignments, and she valued how the tutors explained ideas in a way that connected with real working life.
Alongside the core FM content, she particularly enjoyed the programme’s focus on sustainability, legal responsibilities, and business continuity.
The Human Side of Learning
Tess continued working as a Head Chef throughout the programme, setting aside a few hours each day to stay on top of her studies.
This steady routine suited her well and helped her strike the right balance, and when she lost momentum on one assignment, her tutors stepped in with the encouragement she needed to refocus.
Tess explains: “Help was always there, even out of hours. Calls, texts, or emails were always answered. Everyone was rooting for us to do well.
“My story might seem light-hearted, but the human side of this experience is as important as the education itself. The people who got me through it, and allowed me to be vulnerable without judgement, are the reason I did not give up.”
A New Perspective
The IWFM Level 4 Certificate gave Tess a clear understanding of FM and changed how she viewed her own work and leadership. In her position as a Head Chef and Manager, she became more conscious of the importance of supporting the people behind the tasks, rather than focusing only on whether the task had been completed.
She was also able to apply what she learned about sustainability and health and safety in her working life. Although Tess had already completed an IOSH course, the programme helped broaden her understanding and encouraged her to look more closely at the standards and practices within her own workplace.
“Though I am not yet in a facilities role, I can take so much of what I learned and use it daily,” she notes. “I was able to take sustainability that bit further in my own work, and that made such a difference.”
What Comes Next?
One of Tess’s biggest takeaways was the sheer breadth of facilities management and the range of directions it can lead to. Sustainability emerged as a particular area of interest, shaping both her plans for further study and her longer-term ambitions.
“My primary focus now is to gain practical experience in facilities management,” she explains. “I hope to continue on to do a degree in FM, but my path has slightly changed. A role in sustainability is where I see myself aspiring to go.”
As she works towards progressing in FM, Tess is keen to encourage others who may be questioning whether they are ready to return to education.
“Education is daunting at any age, and combined with working and not forgetting families, it’s quite a juggle,” she reflects. “But trust me when I say, if I can do this, anyone can.”
Tess concludes: “This course gave me more than just a certificate. Knowledge is power.”
Looking to Change Direction and Progress Your Career?
Like Tess, you can take the next step in facilities management with a qualification designed to strengthen your skills and enhance your career prospects.
Explore Portobello Institute’s full range of accredited facilities management pathways by visiting the faculty page.
