Property management capability boosted in public sector

18 March 2010

Pan Government campaign launched to build the Property Asset Management (PAM) profession in the public sector.

Vice Admiral Tim Laurence, head of the Property Asset Management profession in government, has launched a campaign to strengthen property asset management capability across the wider public sector.
The Government estate is a major focus for significant cost and sustainability efficiencies, and a key element of the Operational Efficiency Programme. The initiative will aim to identify and build the necessary skills and capability to support the delivery of the Government’s High Performing Property strategy, which aims to reduce the annual running costs of the Central Government estate by up to £1.5 billion by 2013. As part of the campaign, the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) has published guidance for organisations on its Property Asset Management Capability Assessment Model (PAMCAM). The PAMCAM is a self assessment tool which poses a series of questions to identify where there may be skills and capability shortfalls and highlight where improvements could be made.
Speaking about the launch of the campaign, Vice Admiral Tim Laurence, said: "Given the scale of the Government estate, it is important we ensure it is being managed as effectively and efficiently as possible. We must deliver significant efficiency and sustainability savings. Building a sense of a broad professional community is a key objective of this new profession. The pan Government campaign will help develop our identity and our role in managing Government’s property assets to meet business objectives. I am delighted this work is now gathering pace, and that the foundations of the profession are being put in place. I would encourage those working in any aspect of property management across the civil service to ensure their Department completes the PAM census promptly and engages with us in initiatives aimed at improving the management of the Government estate."
In addition to publishing best practice guidance and developing a competency framework, the campaign will for the first time formally establish a professional community within Government. To encourage membership of this community a comprehensive census is being conducted across the civil service, to establish definitions for the profession and support the recruitment of professional membership. A Government PAM Profession launch event will also take place later in the year, to focus on collective goals and provide a platform to share common lessons and celebrate achievements in the profession. The approach mirrors methods adopted by the OGC to build the procurement and programme and project management professions in Government.
Commenting on the campaign Louis Armstrong, Chief Executive of the RICS said: "I warmly welcome this campaign to recognise and develop professional property asset management skills across the public sector. We are working closely with the OGC in this field, on best practice standards, guidance, training and qualifications. There is a real sense that the value of professionalism is increasingly being recognised by Government, as we strive to use property more effectively to reduce cost and improve the delivery of public services. Strategic asset management by skilled professionals will be essential if we are to emerge from the recession with the public finances in better shape, and the Government’s property holdings fit for the future."
Public sector individuals wishing to register an interest in joining the Government’s PAM profession should contact the OGC’s Service Desk on 0845 000 4999 or email http://ServiceDesk@ogc.gsi.gov.uk quoting "PAM".
To access the new PAMCAM guidance visit www.ogc.gov.uk