Schools, Colleges and Universities

All educational establishments in the UK are facing new and difficult challenges, ranging from economic pressures on funding, to crumbling and unsafe infrastructure, and the impact of new technology and AI on methods of studying.

Ultimately, the universities, colleges and schools exist to impart knowledge and facilitate the process of learning. Everything else is a distraction. But without great infrastructure and efficient management of the property and facilities, the whole learning process can grind to a halt.

Educational Facility Management demands a special approach that can overcome these difficulties and is in tune with the unique, needs of the ultimate customers – the lecturers, teachers, students and pupils.

Key Challenges of Facility Management in Education and Academics

Even within the sector, FM must be flexible. Facility management for schools needs a completely different approach to university facilities management. Yes, in all cases the environment needs to be safe, welcoming, clean, efficient and compliant. But there is a world of difference between a school and managing campuses with accommodation blocks, science laboratories, libraries, sports and leisure facilities and lecture rooms and theatres.

Let’s work together to raise the standards of education

Q3 operates many education sector contracts in the UK, and we understand the need for flexibility, and designing a FM solution that meets both the specific needs of an educational establishment and its budget.

In partnership with the London Borough of Redbridge and Brighton and Hove Schools, Q3 delivers high quality, facility management for schools. Our teams work across the portfolio to create the foundation which allows schools to provide an exemplary level of service to its own students.

Our consultative approach will help us understand your needs, allowing us to consider every aspect of your organisation’s requirements, before we prescribe the solution. These include:

• Ensuring compliance with all current and upcoming standards and regulations
• Maintaining a clean, safe and compliant environment, encompassing fire safety and security, legionella testing, electrical safety and health and safety
• Managing facilities to stimulate an efficient, productive and safe learning environment which engenders a feeling of wellbeing for those who use it
• Fostering an enjoyable environment for teaching and learning that will help shape inquisitive minds
• Driving operational efficiency to minimise costs, freeing up funds for teaching
• Overseeing sustainability strategies to reduce energy and water use and supporting the organisation’s journey to Net Zero

The key objective is to shoulder the burden and allow staff to care for what really matters… daily teaching, development plans and creating educational excellence.

We plan our maintenance activities and service schedules to take account of academic calendar considerations, so classes, exams, vacations, and events are managed smoothly without disruption to teaching and learning activities.

Type of Educational Buildings Q3 Manage

Across the education sector, the type of institution, and its age, varies enormously. From a remote village primary school, through an inner-city technical college, to a massive university campus holding thousands of students, the critical challenge is to scale the facilities management solution accordingly.

We won’t force a square peg into a round hole or propose something off-the-shelf when a bespoke solution is more appropriate.

Our experience in maintaining educational establishments pulls on the knowledge and expertise of a team that knows the education sector inside out. Understanding the budgetary constraints that many clients face, we will work with administrators to prioritise maintenance activities and allocate resources efficiently, to balance cost-effectiveness with high standards.

School Clusters, Academies or Local Authority Schools

Single-line services such as cleaning delivered through a remote working team of cleaners, overseen by supervisors and an account manager. Other services such as mechanical and engineering services run as a separate contract, with mobile engineers.

Colleges

A small resident team of engineering and maintenance engineers, with an account manager and remote cleaning and security operatives in support.

University Campuses

With large populations and a wide range of building functions such as accommodation blocks, science laboratories, libraries, sports/leisure facilities, theatres, offices, and lecture rooms, we work with a hard and soft services, multi-disciplinary, onsite team supported by remote specialists.

We won’t compromise our standards, and neither should you

Q3 has the experience to hit the top grades in educational facilities management. You can trust us to transform the approach to the daily management of your school, college or university facilities, large or small.

Being proactive, working with you on shared objectives and goals, and adopting a partnership approach will make a positive and lasting impact on your organisation and its students.

Contact us now to see how that might work for you.