Barker

Barker

Effective estate management is central to delivering the best education outcomes. Barker is one of the country’s leading education property consultants. Our award-winning team provides a complete range of services from condition surveys to major projects including the redevelopment of entire sites. We maintain a detailed knowledge of funding streams, government policy, education guidelines and initiatives related to the Multi-academy Trust sector.

Discovery Webinars

Electric Vehicles: A Briefing for Trust Leaders
19 May 2022

Understanding the electric vehicle market is increasingly important for school trusts as part of the decarbonisation journey, in recognising staff concerns about rising fuel costs and in helping to address ongoing issues of recruitment and retention.

CST’s finance and estates management partners have teamed up to deliver this practical briefing session for senior leaders in school trusts. Phil Herriott, Education Specialist Manager at Lloyds Bank, Marc Taylor, Business Development Manager from Lex Autolease and Rob Gould, Partner at estates consultancy Barker Education provide an overview of the issues and opportunities around using electric vehicle leasing schemes in education.

Our panel consider how electric vehicles can contribute to your trust’s environmental strategy and employer brand, give insight into the benefits that provision can offer to your staff and develop your awareness of the implications of different schemes for wider tax and pensions.

View slides

Watch recording

Creating Your Trust Energy Strategy & Managing Rising Energy Costs
24 March 2022

CST Platinum Partners, Robert Gould and Jonathan Coyles from Barker, consider how trusts can respond to rising energy costs by developing an energy strategy. Steve Bradford, Director of Resources Greenshaw Learning Academy Trust, share the journey that his trust has taken and the learning and savings that they have achieved.

The session explores:

  • Why you need an energy & sustainability strategy
  • Where do you start?
  • Strategic planning vs delivery roadmap with example content and case study
  • Managing rising energy costs

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Watch recording

Q&A

Further guidance from Barker related to this topic:

Energy strategy sample document

Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting Presentation

Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting Template

Air Quality and Ventilation
1 February 2022

Seminar leaders: Robert Gould, Partner, Barker Associates and Matt Isherwood, The Trust Network and Estates Director, Brooke Weston Trust

Following the DfE Guidance and issuing of CO2 sensors during end of 2021 CST Platinum Partner Barker ran a seminar on air quality and ventilation for CST members. Barker was joined by Matt Isherwood from The Trust Network and Estates Director at Brooke Weston Trust to explain how trusts are implementing these guidelines in schools. The recording of this session will cover the following;

  • How to use CO2 sensors and the data they provide
  • How to use risk assessments to manage air quality
  • How to use operations/management protocols to manage air quality
  • When and where to use air purifiers
  • Other longer term solutions and considerations

View slides

Watch recording

Guidance

Phase Three Low Carbon Skills Fund and Barker support (May 2022)

The third phase of the Low Carbon Skills Fund was announced. This phase is focused on decarbonising heating, with up to £14million available from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to provide grants for public sector organisations to engage specialist and expert advice to put in place, or improve, a heat decarbonisation plan.

The Application Portal for Phase 3 LCSF will open on Wednesday 15th June at 14:00 for all eligible public sector bodies to apply.

Barker Associates have previously supported Trusts applying for this funding. Barker has produced a briefing note, and will be hosting a webinar on Thursday 26th May at 11:00 to provide an overview of the scheme. Register to attend here.

Safety Advice & Guidance: Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) Roofing in Schools

The Department for Education issued an alert recently drawing attention to Reinforced Autoclaved Concrete Roofing in schools. DfE advices schools to identify RAAC and take necessary steps if it is found to be present. You can read the guide HERE.

Platinum Partner Barker have produced a briefing note and created a simple process map to help Trusts identify initial steps to address RAAC. If you'd like to discuss this in detail please contact Barker.

Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme

On 1st October 2020 the Government announced that the public sector can now bid for two new funds to deliver energy efficiency and heat decarbonisation measures.

  • Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS)
  • Public Sector Low Carbon Skills Fund

The funds are worth up to £1billion. PSDS is for capital works and the Skills Fund is to pay for technical support to enable energy strategies to be developed and delivered.

CST Platinum Partner Barker has produced a briefing note.

For further information on energy transformation for schools and Trusts, download the Barker Energy 360 Brochure here.

Estates and facilities management - compliance guidance from Barker

In response to CST member queries on estates and building compliance matters, CST’s Platinum Partner Barker has written an article and prepared a checklist with links to key guidance from industry bodies. This covers areas such as cleaning protocols, ventilation, safeguarding and movement of personnel.

Read the full article here

Download the checklist here

Click here to watch our insightful webinar on Streamlined Energy & Carbon Reporting.


"Their bespoke service is personable, thorough and has exceeded our expectations.” – Academies Enterprise Trust

Barker plays a proactive role in assisting schools and trusts to gain funding from any available streams and helps you to manage your property portfolio in the best possible way.

"Barker ensured a fantastic end result and a well-managed project.” – Leigh Academies Trust

Our EO Portal solution has been adopted by many of the country’s leading trusts to help them collate, analyse and report their estates data to enable better decisions.

"EO Portal presents key metrics in simple to understand dashboards. This enables us to make informed decisions that have a positive impact on what we can provide in the classroom.” – Brooke Weston Trust

We are pleased to offer CST members a no-obligation free initial estates and energy review.

Visit Barker here

Visit Barker's EO portal here

View Barker's blog about our partnership with them

Contact Barker to discuss your building, estate, energy or compliance needs.
Web: www.barker-associates.co.uk
Tel: 01279 647111
Email: mail@barker-associates.co.uk

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Company no: 05303883
Charity no: 1107640

Contact details

Confederation of School Trusts (CST)
Suite 1, Whiteley Mill
39 Nottingham Road
Stapleford
Nottingham    NG9 8AD

0115 9170142

admin@cstuk.org.uk

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