Eric Wright Professional Services, the Eric Wright Group’s dedicated property management and maintenance division, has helped two academies in the North of England secure funding for building improvement projects.
The Preston-based education property specialist accessed £380,000 for Lancaster Royal Grammar School to replace its heating system and hot and cold water services to the main teaching block. Work at the grammar school for boys aged 11-18 is currently underway and due to complete mid-September.
Harden Primary School in Bingley, Yorkshire, will shortly undergo a flat and pitched roof renewal thanks to a £130,000 grant, which is due to complete later this year.
Eric Wright Professional Services secured the grants through the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) – a Government initiative set up by the Education Funding Agency (EFA) to help academies and sixth-form colleges address significant condition needs and keep buildings in safe and good working order. Eric Wright’s team of chartered building surveyors, engineers and energy managers were responsible for writing the bid, and will now procure and project manage the works.
Richad Gittins, Bursar at Lancaster Royal Grammar School, said: “Eric Wright Professional Services provided valuable technical expertise and professional guidance to help us to develop a successful 2017-18 CIF submission. They continued to deliver an excellent level of service, support and advice in addition to proactive project management support during completion of a complex and challenging programme of heating system and boiler replacement works, working in partnership with the school to ensure the project was delivered on time and within budget. We have already commissioned them to help develop our 2018-19 CIF projects and I have no hesitation in recommending their expertise to other potential clients.”
Nicola Fear, Business Manager at Harden Primary School, added: “Eric Wright Professional Services have provided Harden Primary School with valuable support, technical expertise and professional guidance whilst developing our 2016/17 CIF bid to replace and repair our roof, resulting in a successful outcome. We highly recommend Eric Wright Professional Services and look forward to working with them again on future CIF projects.”
Andrew Hird, Head of Professional Services at Eric Wright, concluded: “Funding is vital for school building repairs to make sure they’re fit-for-purpose and can deliver modern day learning needs. The improvements will enable both academies to maximise their budgets, without having to worry about allocating funds for building words.
“Our skilled team have been delivering Property Management and Maintenance Services in the education sector for decades and we’re urging other local academies to seek help. CIF bids require a significant amount technical input in addition to the time and effort, we take away this stress to leave school staff to concentrate on their core activities.”
