Understanding the detail behind successful CIF applications
When the latest Condition Improvement Fund results were announced in May, they represented a notable change for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
The area had received comparatively limited investment through the previous funding round. This time, 37 projects were successful, supporting much-needed improvements across schools and academy trusts in the region.
Make Consulting secured almost half of those successful applications.
The result provides a strong indication of what can be achieved through well-developed, evidence-led applications. It also reflects the importance of understanding the wider circumstances surrounding each project, particularly where responsibility for maintaining or replacing parts of the estate is not straightforward.
CIF applications within PFI estates
A number of the schools we worked with were operating within PFI arrangements and approaching handback.
For these schools, demonstrating that a building component was defective was only part of the case. The application also needed to address whether the proposed work was already covered by the PFI agreement or formed part of the provider’s handback responsibilities.
This distinction is important. CIF should not fund work that sits within an existing contractual obligation, and any uncertainty around responsibility has the potential to weaken an otherwise credible application.
Each project therefore needed to be considered within the specific context of the school, its PFI arrangements and the scope of the proposed work. A general explanation of the condition issue would not, on its own, have addressed the potential overlap.
Establishing a clear case for investment
For the applications supported by Make, considerable work went into understanding the relevant PFI handback commitments and establishing where responsibility for the proposed works sat.
The applications needed to demonstrate clearly that the proposed CIF projects were separate from the work covered by the existing PFI arrangements. This allowed the condition evidence, project scope and case for funding to be considered against a clear explanation of the school’s contractual position.
We believe this detailed, project-specific work contributed to the strength of the applications.
The same principle applies beyond PFI. Schools and academy trusts may have leases, warranties, maintenance agreements, previous funding commitments or other arrangements that affect the case for investment. These issues need to be identified and addressed rather than left open to interpretation.
Looking beyond the condition issue
A strong CIF application cannot be developed solely from photographs of defects or a description of a failing building component.
It needs to explain:
• why the work is required;
• why it is the responsibility of the applicant;
• how the proposed scope responds to the identified risk;
• why the project represents an appropriate use of public funding; and
• how it fits within the wider management of the estate.
This requires an understanding of the building, the proposed technical solution and the circumstances of the responsible body.
The Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent results demonstrate the value of bringing this information together into a clear and well-evidenced case. They also show why applications need to be tailored to the individual project rather than approached as a standard funding exercise.
Preparing for the next funding round
The strongest applications begin well before the funding window opens.
Early project identification creates time to investigate condition, clarify areas of responsibility and resolve potential gaps in the evidence. This is particularly important where PFI handback, leases or other contractual arrangements may affect the proposed project.
With the next CIF round approaching, schools and academy trusts should now be reviewing their estates, identifying their highest-priority condition issues and considering whether any wider responsibilities could influence their eligibility or case for investment.
If your organisation is considering a CIF application, or has a potential project involving PFI or other complex estate arrangements, please contact Make Consulting’s Education Funding team to discuss how we can help.