The Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) can benefit schools and academies striving to balance constrained budgets and deliver estate upkeep. But, as government funding is squeezed by wider economic pressures, the threshold for successful applications is more rigorous than ever.

CIF grants can support a wide variety of essential estate improvement projects, including roof renewals, heating system upgrades, rewires, fire alarm and safety upgrades, kitchen refurbishments, safeguarding, and asbestos removal works. The fund can also be a resource to reach sustainability targets, as more schools and academy trusts seek support to help decarbonise buildings.

For many education providers, a CIF grant is a vital step towards creating an inspiring learning environment. Indeed, such is the positive impact that a CIF grant can make, failure to secure funding can have a detrimental impact As application scrutiny intensifies, so too does this risk of bid failure. Schools and academies will need to ensure a bid is forensically proven to meet the criteria to be successful.

Holding a bid success rate equal to or above the national average, RLB's specialist CIF team provides comprehensive support to schools and colleges embarking on a CIF funding application. We have secured over £200m of capital funding for long-standing projects, refurbishments, and alterations. Drawing on our sector knowledge and expertise, we understand the Capital Funding procedures and schemes most likely to receive approval.