Background
The Diocese of Salford manages hundreds of heritage-rich ecclesiastical properties. Until recently, estate management relied on spreadsheets, local memory, and inconsistent inspections.
Challenges
- Fragmented data and manual records
- Frequent emergency repairs
- Difficulty maintaining compliance
- Lack of oversight and forecast visibility
Implementation Steps
Step 1: Data Integration and Standardisation
X-PAM imported legacy inspection records and spreadsheets, converting scattered property data into centralised, structured work categories. QI and H&S reports were digitised and linked to specific tasks with:
- Defined scopes
- Estimated costs
- Target dates
This gave Salford a standardised baseline across all parishes.
Step 2: Lifecycle Planning & Budget Forecasting
With all properties now using uniform work categories, X-PAM enabled:
- Multi-year capital forecasting
- Work grouping by category and region (e.g., roofing needs across 12 parishes)
- Programme-level budgeting, enabling Salford to offer longer-term commitments to contractors
This shifted the Diocese from short-term fixes to structured, proactive maintenance planning.
Step 3: Compliance Oversight and Risk Reduction
Each property was mapped with automated reminders for:
- Fire risk assessments
- Gas safety checks
- Electrical inspections
- Asbestos registers
- Legionella checks
X-PAM's compliance dashboard gave the central property team real-time visibility into inspection status, upcoming tasks, and outstanding issues—reducing compliance gaps and safeguarding both people and buildings.
Step 4: Empowering Clergy with Self-Service Tools
Local clergy were given tailored access to view and report property issues through a simple interface. They could:
- See planned works
- Upload photos
- View inspection schedules
Meanwhile, central teams retained control over approvals, budgets, and contractor assignments.
🌟 Outcomes for the Diocese of Salford
✅ 20% Maintenance Budget Efficiency: Structured planning and procurement scale helped lower emergency costs. Grouped tasks secured better pricing.
✅ Full Compliance Visibility: Real-time tracking of inspections and compliance. Audit-ready documentation builds confidence in stewardship.
✅ Increased Operational Efficiency: From QI to delivery, the lifecycle is digitised, reducing admin burden and freeing time for strategic oversight.
✅ Empowered Parishes, Centralised Control: Clergy now participate actively, while diocesan control and governance is upheld.
✅ Cultural Asset Stewardship: Historic and liturgical items are now catalogued and maintained as part of the estate lifecycle.
📌 Conclusion
By adopting X-PAM, the Diocese of Salford transitioned from reactive, spreadsheet-based maintenance to a centralised, proactive, and compliant estate management model. This not only reduced costs and risks but also reinforced their mission of stewardship, accountability, and service across one of the UK’s most culturally significant ecclesiastical estates.