All Articles

Kim Grieveson of Avison Young led an ACES National Conference panel discussing how to attract and retain young talent in public sector real estate. The discussion, featuring voices from academia and local government, highlighted barriers like the "local authority badge" perception and suggested solutions like ACES-coordinated university presence, promoting work-life balance and work breadth, and the development of pan-local authority graduate schemes.

An anonymous "insider" explores the government’s dual plan for devolution and Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in England, which aims to create new Mayoral Authorities and Unitary Councils. The article focuses on the critical, practical impact these changes have on property professionals, detailing key challenges like property asset transfer, system updates, and preparing for the Structural Change Order.

Malcolm Williams, ACES Course Coordinator, recounts the successful evolution of the Diploma in Strategic Asset Management, a collaboration between ACES and CIPFA now in its eleventh iteration. The article features an interview with recent graduate Graham Tombs of Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, who praises the course for shifting his mindset from operational fixes to using assets as strategic enablers for better public service outcomes.

Richard Allen, a former ACES President, questions whether Community Asset Transfer (CAT) is a policy "inherently destined to fail," given the struggles of high-profile cases like the Lenton Centre and St Ann’s Allotments in Nottingham. He argues that while CAT is vital for community empowerment, success hinges on robust local authority support, long-term leases, and addressing the growing challenge of volunteer shortages in community groups.

Chartered Surveyor Laura Boutle argues that the public estate is a powerful lever for resilience and growth, challenging the status quo by insisting on aligning property with purpose. Following on from Richard Gawthorpe’s article, she identifies two "golden threads" for unlocking potential: regular, structured stakeholder engagement to define community need and investing in a comprehensive asset register—the "engine room of effective estate strategy."

Richard Gawthorpe of Local Partnerships explores how public sector organizations can reimagine urban asset management to unlock value from their estates, focusing on collaborative working, data-driven strategies, and aligning property functions with service delivery.

Richard Allen, a long-serving honorary member and former President of ACES, reflects on his 35-year career at Nottingham City Council and the "legacy" he left, exploring themes of leadership, knowledge, and the evolving role of chief estate surveyors in the public sector.