CIF Funding

Providing the data on your estate you need to complete your application

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For several years, Sircle has supported clients in the education sector to help secure capital funding for important projects such as roofing, windows, heating, fire safety compliance, asbestos removal, and electrical safety.

Our range of services are  well suited to provide the specific information required for their applications, including work required legally under legislation such as the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety Order) 2005 and the more recently introduced Fire Safety Act 2022, we supply budget costs, recommended remedial solutions and suggested time frames for completion based on the perceived risk profile.

Our fire risk assessments can flag up any potential life safety issues with existing buildings as they will assess critical means of escape, existing fire precautions and if these are adequate, building design, and the management of fire safety practices.

Our compartmentation and fire door surveys provide a detailed insight into the suitability and compliance of any required fire doors and fire-rated construction and are invaluable in identifying any breaches or defects which can allow fire and smoke to spread.

Our surveys are exceptionally detailed and undoubtedly allow clients to make their buildings safer, protecting all relevant persons from harm.

Click here to view a case study where we have provided important surveying services to one of our clients and helped them secure vital funding to improve their compliance position and premises safety.

What is the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF)?

The Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) is an annual round of funding released by the Department for Education (DfE) to address significant condition needs for academies, sixth-form colleges and voluntary aided schools. This includes funding projects that address health and safety issues, building compliance and buildings in poor condition.

Are you eligible for CIF funding?

The following bodies are eligible for CIF funding:

  • Stand-alone academies

  •  Multi Academy Trusts (MATs) with less than five schools/ academies or less than 3,000 pupils

  • Sixth-form colleges

  • Schools with a signed Academy Order as of 1 September 2023

  • Schools currently in the process of converting to an academy (certain conditions apply)

How Sircle can help

The Government’s CIF guidelines for 2024 to 2025 say that “most applications require a condition survey” and an “independent suitably qualified person should carry out surveys”.

Sircle’s MEP, building and fabric surveyors are qualified and highly experienced in undertaking various types of building condition surveys, ensuring that the information you need is recorded and reported accurately. The surveys we provide include the following:

3D Laser Scanning / Point Cloud Survey
Building Elevations Surveys
Drawing Verification Surveys
Verticality Surveys
Measured Building Surveys
Schedule of Condition (SOC) Surveys
Fabric Surveys
M&E Asset Surveys
Drainage Surveys
Utility Surveys

Likewise, our experienced fire safety and compliance team offer a range of audits and surveys to ensure you meet all the necessary guidelines and regulations. These services include:

• Fire Risk Assessments 
• Fire Door Condition Surveys/Compliance Surveys
• Post inspection audits for fire stopping and fire door installations
• Active Fire Equipment Asset Surveys
• Fire Compartmentation and Passive Fire Surveys
• Window Condition Surveys
• Asbestos Re-Inspections

Following the surveys, we provide a clearly laid out report with supporting digital data dashboard outputs, enabling you to efficiently obtain the data you require for your CIF funding application without spending valuable time reading through pages and pages of material.

Speak to us today to find out how our range of services can help you with your CIF funding application.

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“We have worked with Sircle for a number of years and have always found their excellent service to be friendly, efficient and flexible while still maintaining competitive prices.”

The University of Sheffield