NPS is actively involved in the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. We provide services to bidding consortia and local authority clients in the following key areas:
- Integrated design
- LEP development
- Educational consultancy
- Technical advice
- Scrutiny advice
All BSF opportunities in NPS are co-ordinated by the Group Business Development Director, in conjunction with the Group Design Director. This ensures consistency, both in our approach and in the quality of delivered services. Our design hub for BSF projects is our flagship architectural practice, Barron & Smith, based in central London. This highly experienced team is supported by multi disciplinary professionals within the wider NPS Group. Together they provide an integrated service of consistently high quality.
bsf experience
NPS are LEP partners in North Lincolnshire, providing design and other services for the council’s £90m BSF programme in partnership with contractors May Gurney and ICT specialists MASS Consultants. We are also actively bidding with May Gurney as partners in the Engage consortium for the Lambeth BSF programme.
We have designed two BSF ‘Pathfinder’ school projects, both of which are at the construction stage. One of them, Bideford College in Devon, won the ‘Most Sustainable School’ award at the prestigious Excellence in BSF Awards 2008. The awards are organised by Partnerships for Schools, the organisation that oversees the BSF programme.
Since the introduction of the BSF programme, we have provided strategic advisory services to the Department for Education (DfE) and more recently, to Partnerships for Schools (PfS). This includes assessing the value for money and financial risk of business cases submitted by local authorities. In addition, we have been appointed as design consultants on the DCSF Technical Advisor Framework for Academies.
We also offer a range of strategic, technical and design advice services (including DQI and BREEAM) to local authorities who are in the preparation or procurement stages of BSF.
understanding the principles
NPS fully understands the aims, drivers and constraints of the BSF programme. We are passionate about the importance of good design and know that BSF buildings must act as a catalyst for transformational learning, as well as provide a source of pride and focus for the local community. Functionality, adaptability, sustainability and quality of materials and construction are core requirements to ensure the needs of the community are met both now and in the future.
added value
NPS Group can demonstrate added value as a BSF bid partner or client advisor because:
- We have experience of winning a BSF bid as designers and LEP partners
- We have a pedigree of developing successful joint ventures with local authorities and providing a full range of integrated property services