Building for
Learning

Safeguarding is our primary concern on every education project. We develop construction phase plans that provide physical segregation between construction and occupied areas, controlled access with DBS-checked personnel, restricted working hours during teaching time, managed delivery schedules avoiding drop-off and pick-up periods, and maintained emergency escape routes throughout. Our approach is informed by DfE guidance on construction in occupied schools.

BB103 (Building Bulletin 103) is the DfE's area guidelines for mainstream schools. It defines the net and gross area standards for different school types and sizes, including teaching spaces, halls, dining areas, and circulation. Compliance with BB103 is required for DfE-funded projects and is used as a benchmark for all school construction. Our project management ensures designs meet BB103 from early stages to avoid costly redesign.

Yes. We help academies and sixth form colleges prepare Condition Improvement Fund applications by conducting condition surveys, developing project scopes, preparing cost estimates, and assembling the technical evidence required. Strong applications require demonstrated condition need, realistic costings, evidence of project readiness, and clear value for money. We can support from initial condition assessment through to project delivery if the application is successful.

Asbestos is prevalent in school buildings constructed between the 1950s and 1980s. We ensure asbestos surveys are completed before any construction work, that management plans are updated, and that refurbishment and demolition surveys are conducted in areas affected by construction. Where asbestos removal is required, we manage licensed contractor procurement, air monitoring, and clearance certification — always during school holidays or with full segregation from occupied areas.

CIF (Condition Improvement Fund) is a competitive annual grant for small academy trusts and sixth form colleges — you apply for a specific project. SCA (School Condition Allocations) is formula-based funding allocated directly to local authorities and large MATs based on condition data and pupil numbers — you decide how to prioritise across your estate. Both fund building condition works, but the application and governance processes differ significantly.

Yes. Many education projects span multiple academic years and require phased delivery aligned with term dates. We develop phased construction programmes that maximise progress during holidays, manage contained works during term time, coordinate temporary decant accommodation, and ensure each phase delivers a safe, functional environment before pupils return. Programme management across academic cycles is a core competence.

Yes. We provide project management and CDM advisory for higher education construction including new academic buildings, student accommodation, research laboratories, and campus infrastructure. University projects bring additional complexity around live campus management, research continuity, listed building constraints on historic campuses, and sophisticated stakeholder environments.

Education construction carries specific CDM risks: safeguarding requirements when working near children, asbestos in existing school buildings, working on occupied sites with maintained access and escape routes, restricted working hours, school kitchen and science lab decommissioning, and construction traffic management during school hours. Our Principal Designers ensure pre-construction information addresses all of these education-specific hazards.

Yes. We manage energy efficiency and decarbonisation projects in schools and colleges including heat pump installations, insulation upgrades, window replacements, LED lighting, and solar PV. We coordinate technical assessments, manage SALIX funding applications, and deliver construction works within the specific requirements of publicly funded decarbonisation programmes.

We implement quality management systems aligned with BB103, DfE output specifications, and Building Regulations. This includes inspection and test plans, hold point management for critical elements (structural, fire stopping, M&E), snagging management with systematic sign-off, and handover documentation including O&M manuals and CDM H&S Files. For DfE-funded projects, we ensure compliance with their specific quality requirements.