Shaping the Future of Estates Management – Together
This week, Concerto joined forces with GovNews to host a roundtable event exploring one of the most pressing questions facing public sector estates teams:
How can we lead smarter, more strategic estate management in an ever-changing world?
The event, See the Bigger Picture: Enabling Strategic Leadership of the Public Sector Estate, brought together a diverse panel of estates and facilities leaders from across local government, healthcare, emergency services, higher education, and central government. Their mission? To tackle today’s toughest challenges, share ideas, and build a clearer path forward.
Throughout the day, five big themes emerged. Here’s what we learned:
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Making hybrid work – Redesigning space, rebuilding culture
Public sector estates are changing and so are the people who use them. Leaders at the roundtable shared their approaches to supporting hybrid working, from reconfiguring space to measuring real impact.
Collaboration zones. Quiet areas. Smarter booking systems. The message was clear: it’s not just about desks and floor plans, it’s about creating environments that boost productivity and wellbeing.
Estates teams aren’t just managing space, they’re curating experiences. And in doing so, they’re playing a vital role in shaping the culture of work.
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We need to talk about AI – Opportunity, with a side of caution
Generative AI is no longer science fiction, it’s here, and it’s starting to make waves in estate management. From predictive maintenance to space optimisation, leaders explored how AI can make estates smarter and more efficient.
But it’s not all smooth sailing. The panel also raised important questions around trust, transparency and cost. If AI is going to work for the public sector, it needs to be ethical, responsible and above all, useful.
The takeaway? AI is full of promise, but getting it right means getting everyone on board.
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Net zero now – Sustainability starts with strategy
Sustainability isn’t a future goal. It’s a present-day priority. Public sector organisations are already taking bold steps toward net zero, whether it’s retrofitting buildings, installing solar panels, or switching to energy-efficient systems.
But challenges remain: tight budgets, aging infrastructure, and the need to show tangible return on investment. For many, the solution lies in starting small but thinking big, focusing on quick wins that lay the foundation for long-term change.
Net zero isn’t just a climate target. It’s a leadership opportunity.
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Operational efficiency – Doing more with less (and smarter)
Operational pressures are nothing new, but today’s solutions need to be smarter. Attendees shared how they’re using data to audit assets, consolidate spaces, and address the growing burden of backlog maintenance.
From digital twins to shared services, innovation is helping teams do more with less, without compromising on quality or compliance. The key? A clear strategy, backed by the right tools and the right people.
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Data-driven decision-making – Turning insight into action
It’s one thing to collect data. It’s another to use it. The conversation ended with a deep dive into how data can support smarter, more strategic estates decisions.
Leaders shared how they’re harnessing occupancy metrics, energy usage stats, and user feedback to unlock new opportunities, from reducing waste to reshaping how space is used.
But data alone isn’t enough. Success depends on breaking down silos, investing in integration, and perhaps most importantly, building a culture of collaboration across teams.
Shaping the future, together
The roundtable wasn’t just a discussion. It was a reminder of the shared commitment across the public sector to do things differently, to lead estates that are not just functional, but flexible, forward-thinking, and fit for purpose.
For us at Concerto, it reaffirmed the role of estates professionals as strategic leaders, not just operational enablers. These are the people helping public services adapt, thrive, and deliver lasting value.
Get the full picture with Concerto
If you’re a UK local authority looking to get more from your estate, more insight, more control, more impact. We’d love to show you what Concerto can do.
Our platform gives you the tools to manage your assets with clarity and confidence. And it starts with a conversation.
Book a demo today and discover how to manage your estate more effectively:
