Government boosts property professionalism

10 March 2010

The government wants a register of property asset managers within the civil service as part of a campaign to boost professionalism and share best practice.

A comprehensive census is being conducted across the civil service to establish definitions for the property asset management (Pam) profession and support the recruitment of professional membership, a government statement said.

A government “Pam Profession launch” event will be held later this year to set collective goals and provide a platform to share lessons and celebrate achievements in the profession.

The approach mirrors methods adopted by the procurement advisory body the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) to build the procurement and project management professions.

Vice Admiral Tim Laurence, head of the property asset management profession in government, launched the campaign, noting that 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 “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 £1.5bn by 2013”.

As part of the campaign, the OGC has published guidance on its Property Asset Management Capability Assessment Model (Pamcam). The self-assessment tool poses questions to identify where skills and capability shortfalls can be found and highlight what improvements are possible.

"The pan-government campaign will help develop our identity and our role in managing government’s property assets to meet business objectives,” said Laurence. “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."


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 ServiceDesk@ogc.gsi.gov.uk.