STRATEGIC ASSET MANAGEMENT Diploma in Strategic Asset Management Collaborative approach between ACES/CIPFA – A continuing story

Malcolm Williams

Malcolm is ACES Course Coordinator and a member of ACES’ Council.

This article outlines the history and success of the collaboration between ACES and CIPFA to run the modular Diploma in Strategic Asset Management. It includes an interview with Graham Tombs Property and Space manager, Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, who has recently completed the Diploma course. Details of the course can be found on the back page of this ACES’ Terrier. 

Evolution of a course for public sector asset managers 

The course is now in its eleventh iteration and as I write this article, some 250 candidates will have completed the Diploma in Strategic Asset Management. 

It has had a long gestation period and the need for a better understanding of the principles of strategic asset management in the public sector was first mooted in 2012 with a chance conversation between the then president of ACES Heather McManus and a senior lecturer from Leeds Beckett University. 

I volunteered to coordinate ACES approach with the university and produced a broad outline/skeleton of seven modules which could form the basis of a distance learning course for post graduate students. Over a number of months, the content was refined and finessed. The course was approved by both the faculty and the academic board of the university, but the appointment of a new Pro-vice Chancellor put the course on the back burner. 

A second approach to offer a course was pursued with Sheffield Hallam University in 2017 and, although there was interest, restructuring and budgets adjustments meant that the potential course was again put on the back burner. 

In late 2019 ACES’ members Neil Webster and Jeremy Pilgrim were having a conversation with a number of CIPFA colleagues who were in the early stages of thinking of offering a course in strategic asset management to the public sector. 

Neil said that ACES had a course that, although not quite oven ready, was certainly one that could form the basis of a collaborative approach to bringing a suitable course to the marketplace. 

Over a number of months the course content was further refined by CIPFA and ACES members, to offer a product to the marketplace that provided a recognised diploma via CIPFA accreditation status. The 7-module course was designed and targeted at property professionals and service managers. 

To offer maximum flexibility, single modules could be undertaken to enhance or fill gaps in people’s skill base/understanding. 

A formal business arrangement was entered into via a memorandum of understanding between the parties regarding basis of profit share, marketing, presenting, course adjustments and the furnishing of case studies/best practice for the final module. 

The course goes live 

Covid did mean that the whole diploma has been run and presented online, which in hindsight has probably appealed to an even larger audience. 

The first iteration of the course was run September through to Christmas 2020, with ACES and CIPFA colleagues collaborating to present each module. 

The course received favourable feedback from the participants and after each iteration of the course, a detailed review wash-up session was undertaken to see if improvements could be made to delivery and the course content. 

The course initially drew interest from predominantly local government, but is now finding traction with a wider audience from central government and the emergency services. 

How is it for you? 

It is generally recognised that the continuing success of the course is still exceeding expectations and as course coordinator I am writing this third “how was it for you” article with Graham Tombs Property and Space manager, Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust. The first “how was it for you” article with a senior local government officer was published in 2022 and the second “how was it for you” piece was published in 2023 after a joint interview with ACES and CIPFA course presenters, Neil Webster and Mark Poppy, ACES and CIPFA respectively. 

Malcolm - How and where did you hear/learn about The Diploma in Public Sector Asset Management (Dip in SAM)? 

Graham - I heard about The Diploma in Public Sector Management from a property colleague in a sister Trust. 

Malcolm - What attracted you to the course? 

Graham - I was attracted to the Diploma in Public Sector Asset Management because it offers a strategic and structured approach to managing public assets, which is particularly relevant in the NHS, where estates and facilities play a critical role in supporting clinical outcomes and service delivery and face tighter budgets and rising expectations for value, sustainability, and accountability. 

Malcolm - How did you find the online learning experience? 

Graham - I found the online learning experience to be well-structured, engaging, and accessible, particularly valuable given the demands of working in the NHS, where flexibility is essential. The online format allowed me to fit study around work commitments, which was crucial in a busy NHS. The modules were clearly laid out, and the platform made it easy to track progress. 

Malcolm - Did you think the course content of the 7 modules was particularly relevant to you? 

Graham - Yes, I found the content of all 7 modules to be highly relevant to my role in healthcare asset management. Each module offered practical insights that directly aligned with the challenges and responsibilities I face in the NHS. This set a solid foundation, helping me see how asset decisions support long-term clinical strategies and organisational goals, a crucial perspective in healthcare planning. The emphasis on high-quality asset data was especially relevant. In the NHS, accurate data is vital for compliance, safety, and strategic planning. The diploma deepened my understanding of linking estate needs with service planning, especially under financial constraints. It supported our efforts to align estate development with patient demand and clinical models. 

Malcolm - There are significant changes on the horizon for both local government and the NHS which will present challenges to both property professionals and service managers. Do you believe that taking the Dip in SAM has better equipped you for those challenges? 

Graham - Yes, I strongly believe that taking the Diploma in Public Sector Asset Management has better equipped me to navigate the significant and complex changes ahead in the NHS. With growing pressures around funding, integration of services, decarbonisation targets, and changing models of care, the ability to manage assets strategically, not just operationally, is more important than ever. The Diploma course strengthened my ability to think beyond short-term fixes and take a longer-term, whole-life view of asset planning. This is particularly important as we move towards more Integrated Care Systems and joint NHS–local authority service delivery models. 

Malcolm - From your point of view what is the most important learning point/experience you have taken away with you from taking the diploma? 

Graham - From my point of view, the most important learning I’ve taken from the Diploma in Public Sector Asset Management is the shift in mindset, from managing assets as isolated buildings or costs, to understanding them as strategic enablers of public service outcomes. In the healthcare context, this means seeing the estate not just as infrastructure to maintain, but as a critical tool for improving patient care, enabling service transformation, and achieving wider health system goals such as integration, accessibility, and sustainability. 

Malcolm - Coming back to course content and traction with NHS colleagues the diplomas course content is purposefully quite generic. Do you think that changes could be made to make it more attractive relevant to your colleagues? If so, I am interested to take on board you’re thinking. 

Graham - Yes, I believe the core principles of the Diploma are highly relevant to NHS estate and asset professionals, but to increase traction among NHS colleagues, some tailoring or contextualisation could make it feel more directly applicable to our everyday challenges and environment within the NHS. Real-life NHS examples could include hospital reconfiguration, backlog maintenance planning, strategic estates partnerships, and net zero planning which would help ground the learning in familiar territory. Case studies and options appraisals could include capital planning, repurposing the NHS estate for community care, or managing PFI assets. These changes wouldn’t need to overhaul the structure of the Diploma but would help NHS colleagues feel the course speaks more directly to their world. 

Malcolm - Finally, would you recommend the diploma to your NHS colleagues? 

Graham - Yes, I would definitely recommend the Diploma in Public Sector Asset Management to NHS colleagues, particularly those working in estates, capital planning, finance, or service transformation roles. The Diploma provides a solid foundation in asset management principles that are directly applicable to the complex challenges we face in the NHS. While the content is designed to be cross-sector, the core themes, strategic alignment, lifecycle planning, risk-based maintenance, and performance measurement, are all highly relevant to the healthcare environment. It helps professionals move from a reactive, operational view of asset management to a more strategic, outcomes-focused approach, something that’s essential as the NHS evolves under increasing financial, environmental, and service pressures. The flexibility of the online delivery also makes it manageable alongside a demanding NHS role, and the credibility of a CIPFA/ ACES qualification adds real professional value. 

Module outlines 

1. Strategic Asset Management Organisation 

This module introduces the role of strategic asset management in the public sector and identifies its vital importance in delivering a fit for purpose public estate. It will explore the principles of asset management; the linkages between corporate policy and asset management; the role of governance in making effective decisions and the importance of strong relationships between the property function and other parts of the organisation. 

2. Development of Documentation and Asset Management Challenge 

This module introduces the concept of a structured approach to developing an asset management policy, strategy and action plan. In addition, it explains the need for and development of robust asset challenge processes and procedures using a step by step approach. 

3. Business Case Development and Option Appraisal 

This module explores the importance of well developed and robust business cases related to asset management initiatives. In covering how to develop a business case it will explain the role of option appraisal; assessment of risk and sensitivity; capital prioritisation; price and quality evaluation techniques and an introduction to whole life appraisal. 

4. Capital Projects and Maintenance 

This module leads you through the pre and post contract process ensuring a firm understanding of how to approach the market and manage the team and their delivery and subsequent evaluation of projects. In addition, it explores the role of condition assessment in establishing maintenance need and the related importance of prioritised budget development for both planned and reactive maintenance. 

5. Data and Performance 

This module explains the need to measure performance and suitability of our assets. It will explore specific performance indicators, how and when they should be selected and used, and ways in which different reporting and monitoring models can be developed. It introduces the concept of social value and its measurement as well as providing an overview of data systems available for asset management purposes. 

6. Operational vs Non-Operational Property 

This module covers the various types of operational property asset, their importance from a strategic perspective and the key considerations to be taken account of when developing and implementing an asset management policy, strategy and plan such as office strategy and workspace planning. It explores types of non-operational property including tenanted non-residential property and investment assets looking in particular at the development of commercial property investment approaches. 

7. Asset Management Today 

This module places asset management in the contemporary environment through the exploration of current issues and factors in today’s society. It will detail the way in which external factors such as climate change, sustainability, pandemics and politics all have an impact on an approach to effective asset management. Through case study examples it will highlight various service delivery models and the ways in which collaboration can overcome many of the challenges we face in providing today’s public sector estate in good order.