Behind every place of learning is an estate that has to work

From primary schools and academies to colleges and some of the UK’s most prestigious universities, andwis Group companies provide expert technical and compliance services to keep education estates safe, compliant and operational.

Schools, colleges and universities are some of the most complex estates to manage. A single site can combine buildings of different ages, uses and technical requirements, from historic college buildings to modern teaching blocks. No two establishments are the same. Each has its own buildings, risks and requirements, but all of them need dependable technical support and carefully planned work.

Keeping these buildings safe, compliant and operational calls for expertise across many disciplines. Often the work has to happen while thousands of pupils, students and staff continue to use the buildings every day or during the six week summer holidays. Both of these circumstances present a challenging timeframe for major works and routine maintenance.

Our approach: one group, every discipline

Across the andwis Group we self deliver education technical and compliance services across five core areas nationwide, including:

• Fire & Security
• Environmental Services
• Lifts & Entrance
• Maintenance & Response
• Mechanical & Electrical

For education estate operators, this means they have access to vast breadth of services, delivered by experts that have shared culture, processes and objectives – to keep building safe, sustainable, efficient, operational and compliant all year round.

Together, we give education providers a joined-up solution to technical and compliance.

Examples of education technical and compliance services delivered by our Group companies

The education sector demands that buildings and their assets meet statutory compliance, leading to added pressures on those responsible for maintaining ageing assets and buildings. Part of what we do is support our education estate operations customers navigate their compliance obligations and put in place the solutions they need.

Some of most common education technical and compliance solutions that our Group companies offer include:

• Mechanical, HVAC and electrical works
• Property care, such as refurbishment, service and maintenance
• Fire, security and access systems to ensure occupants remain safe and secure
• Asbestos management and remedial works for aging buildings
• Water and air hygiene and temperature control
• Physical safeguarding solutions

Across the andwis Group there are countless example of services we have delivered to the education sector. However, we have selected a few to showcase our capabilities across a range of service disciplines. Let’s take a look…

CPS Building Services: service and maintenance across a major education portfolio

CPS Building Services delivers service and maintenance across a significant portfolio of education sites. In Cambridge, this includes The Leys School, The Perse School, St John’s College and Robinson College, alongside University of Cambridge facilities.

The team also supports Sharnbrook School, Lincroft Academy, Nenegate School, Milton Primary, St Mary’s School in St Neots, Highfields in Ely, Ely College, Comberton Village College and Northstowe Secondary College.

ACE Fire & Security: a modern life-safety system at Kingswood Secondary Academy

ACE Fire & Security replaced an ageing fire alarm at Kingswood Secondary Academy with a modern Gent self-test addressable system.

The project included bespoke programming and integration with the school’s lockdown procedures, access control, plant and solar PV systems. The result is a modern life-safety solution tailored to the way the school operates.

WessexME: safeguarding at The Gryphon School

At The Gryphon School, WessexME installed 225 metres of high-security fencing and nine controlled-access gates, together with the trenching, infrastructure and reinstatement works needed to deliver them.

The project strengthened safeguarding across the site while keeping access safe and straightforward for pupils, staff and authorised visitors.

WessexME: a classroom transformation at The Forum School

At The Forum School, WessexME delivered an extensive classroom refurbishment that transformed the learning environment. The scope included:

• A new heating and hot water system
• Upgraded insulation
• Redesigned electrical services and LED lighting
• Accessible toilet facilities
• A new fire detection system
• Kitchen facilities
• Internal decoration
• Improvements to the external building envelope

The outcome: dependable support for the educational estates nationwide

From routine maintenance and classroom refurbishments to complex life-safety and security systems, these projects demonstrate a small sample of the routine technical and compliance solution that andwis Group companies can provide to support education estate nationwide.

By working andwis Group education providers can benefit from:

• Specialist expertise across every discipline, from M&E and fire and security to asbestos management and water hygiene
• One connected group means a relationship with one andwis company opens the door to the wider Group’s services
• Carefully planned delivery that keeps sites safe and operational while pupils, students and staff carry on with their day
• Experience at every scale, from primary schools and academies to colleges and leading universities.

The silent protectors of the education sector

Much of our work in education happens out of sight. Yet, the consistent high standards ensure that education environments remain safe, compliant, comfortable and efficient.

Looking after an education estate? Talk to andwis Group about how our specialists can support your site.