Maybe you’ve heard of the PAM Forum. Maybe you’ve even attended one. But unless you’ve been in the room, there’s a good chance you’re missing what makes it different.
It’s not just another industry roundtable. The PAM (Property Asset Management) Forum, arranged quarterly by Remit Consulting, is where some of our sector's most quietly influential conversations take place. Less about performance metrics, more about mindset shifts. Less about the surface-level trends, more about the underlying direction of travel.
Ahead of UKREiiF, I wanted to share a few things you might not know about the PAM Forum, and why I think they reflect where property asset management is heading next.
1. Social value is no longer just a CSR tick-box
At last September’s PAM Forum, the focus was squarely on social value, and how it's moved from the margins to the mainstream. What stood out was just how seriously institutional investors are taking it. They’re actively looking for asset management partners who can deliver real social impact, not just polished case studies.
That means delivering real outcomes, investing in the right people and tools, and being able to evidence long-term benefits to communities. It’s no longer about doing the minimum for compliance, it’s about doing the right thing as a core part of the business.
2. The supply chain matters more than ever
It’s easy to think of social value as something delivered on-site. But discussions at the forum showed how deeply it’s being embedded throughout the supply chain. Property managers are working with contractors to offer mock interviews, apprenticeships, and skills training, particularly in areas like facilities management, where many workers face barriers to progression.
These are not headline-grabbing initiatives, but they’re making a real difference. And increasingly, they’re being scrutinised and expected by investors.
3. Residential property management is more complex (and undervalued) than many realise
In January, residential property took centre stage at the quarterly forum, and rightly so. What emerged was a clear message: managing residential assets is emotionally demanding, heavily regulated, and chronically underappreciated.
From dealing with neighbour disputes to navigating the Building Safety Act, it’s a far cry from managing commercial leases. Yet, residential also offers stable income, long-term demand, and real social impact. With affordability high on the national agenda, the value of well-managed housing is only going up, and investors are taking note.
4. Specialisation is no longer optional
One recurring theme across recent forums is the need for specialisation. Trying to manage residential and commercial property with one team often means compromises on both sides. The skill sets, regulatory environments and expectations are just too different.
The rise of Build-to-Rent schemes and the increasing complexity of mixed-use developments has only made this more obvious. Those who invest in dedicated teams are better placed to deliver high-quality service and meet the expectations of both occupiers and investors.
5. The real value? Peer honesty.
What sets the PAM Forum apart isn’t just the topics; it’s the tone. People speak candidly. They share the difficult bits, the tensions between head office and on-the-ground teams, the challenges of evidencing social value, and the things that didn’t work.
It’s a space where peers can be open, challenge assumptions, and hear what others are dealing with behind the scenes. That honesty is what makes it valuable, and, I’d argue, what makes it rare.
Let’s talk
I’ll be at UKREiiF later this month, and I’d love to carry on these conversations. Whether you’ve been to the PAM Forum or not, if you’re thinking about where asset management goes from here, let’s talk. Because it’s often the quieter conversations that shape the biggest shifts.