Behind the scenes at Chelsea FC with Facilities Management apprentice Keighley Luff

To mark National Apprenticeship Week (9-15 February 2026), Facilitate spoke to Keighley Luff – a facilities manager apprentice at Premier League heavyweights Chelsea FC since 2023.

With the support of the club and its partnership with Capital City College Group, Luff began her Level 4 apprenticeship, which she has since passed, and has progressed steadily, even earning the prestigious Mayor of London Learning for Good Work Award.

Facilitate caught up with Luff to hear her take on being an Facilities Manager and working behind the scenes of the beautiful game.

1. What inspired you to choose facilities management, and how did you come to be a facilities manager apprentice?

I initially gained exposure to facilities management through my technical and administrative duties at Chelsea, with responsibility for supporting maintenance activities, compliance documentation, and contractor coordination.

Having worked closely with the facilities management department, I gained an understanding of how facilities operate, which led me to pursue a facilities manager apprenticeship with the club.

During my apprenticeship I worked four days a week at Chelsea and also attended virtual lessons with Capital City College.

Apprenticeships are appealing because it gives you the opportunity to earn while you learn and blends on-the-job and classroom learning.

This has helped me become much more rounded in my knowledge and skillset, and I have a qualification at the end of it, which supports my career long-term.

2. What is it like being an facilities manager at a Premier League football club?

It is fast-paced and high-profile. The facilities are under constant review, and everything must operate safely, efficiently, and to a very high standard.

On match days, facilities management service delivery is focused on readiness and response. This includes ensuring critical systems – power, lighting, water and safety systems – are fully operational, and being prepared to respond quickly to any issues that arise with large crowds present.

On non-match days, the focus shifts to planned maintenance, compliance checks, project work, and continuous improvement. This is when more in-depth work takes place to ensure the stadium and associated facilities always remain match ready.

3. Could you tell us the main challenge you’ve encountered in facilities management and how you have dealt with it?

At first, one of the main challenges I encountered in facilities management was balancing competing priorities.

My apprenticeship experience helped me massively in this regard, as the club, college, my tutor Rod and awarding organisation iCQ Awards were all super supportive in enabling the development of my communication and time management skills.

As a result, I’m more confident using systems to track tasks, building rapport and working with engineers, contractors, and management to prioritise more effectively. Being proactive and keeping accurate records has been key to ensuring issues are addressed efficiently without impacting operations.

4. Given your experience so far, what key learnings or experiences have shaped your understanding of what faciltiies management involves?

My experience has shown me that facilities management is about much more than just buildings and maintenance. It involves compliance, health and safety, stakeholder management, budgeting and service coordination.

Supporting audits, managing documentation, and liaising with contractors has helped me understand the importance of planning, attention to detail, and communication.

I’ve also learned how facilities management plays a critical role in supporting the overall operation and reputation of an organisation.

5. How do you see your current cohort shaping the future of facilities management?

I believe my cohort represents a more modern and forward-thinking facilities management workforce. We are learning the facilities management profession alongside rapid developments in technology, sustainability, and data-driven decision-making, which will help improve efficiency and compliance across the industry.

Apprentices bring fresh perspectives, adaptability, and a willingness to challenge traditional ways of working that will help shape a more innovative and resilient future for facilities management.