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Free support with your 2024/25 CIF Bids!
What is Condition Improvement Funding? – The Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) is an annual bidding round for eligible academies, sixth-form colleges and non-diocesan VA schools to apply for capital funding. The priority for the fund is to address significant condition need, keeping education provider buildings safe and in good working order. This includes funding projects to address health and safety issues, building compliance and poor building condition.
Who can apply?
Academies and sixth-form colleges, free schools and multi-academy trusts (MAT) can apply for this type of funding. The CIF aims to keep the buildings’ safety and good condition.
What is CIF Funding For?
The Condition Improvement Funding focuses in three main areas:
- Condition Projects
- Condition with Expansion Projects
- Expansion Projects
Examples of projects can include, roofing, windows, doors and cladding, safeguarding, heating and pipework, fire safety, replacement modular buildings, asbestos removal and more.
RAM have an outstanding track record of achieving successful CIF applications with millions of pounds secured for our clients. Our success rate exceeds 81% of all applications submitted on behalf of our clients. We can provide FREE bid support for your Academy this year!
We have unrivalled knowledge of how to put together successful applications and also know how difficult and time-consuming this can be for individual academies and Business Managers.
At RAM Building Consultancy we take responsibility for putting together the applications, leaving your academy to concentrate on your core activities.
- Write entire bids, or offer support to help Business Managers write bids
- Go out to the market for competitive quotations during the CIF bid stage
- Write Specifications, Produce Drawings and Prepare Contract Documentation
- Manage the project on site if the bid is successful using our in-house Building Surveyors
- Complete and submit progress reports on the EFA portal
- Provide in house H&S/Principal Designer Services
- Provide in house Cost Management Services
- Procure expert advice from specialists such as structural, Fire and M&E Engineers
You need to act now. Important dates for the 2024 to 2025 CIF round are likely to follow previous years.
In order to be successful, you must prepare high quality bids and it is essential academies start this process as soon as possible - it is important that you do not wait for the announcement.
| OCTOBER 2023 |
| Information for applicants published & online application form opens |
| DECEMBER 2023 |
| Registration deadline for new applicants |
| DECEMBER 2023 |
| Technical helpline opens for help with CIF portal access |
| DECEMBER 2023 |
| Deadline for submitting applications |
| SPRING 2024 |
| Notify applicants of outcomes |
CIF's core priority is to support condition projects and the focus of the fund is to keep school and college buildings safe and in good working order.
In our experience, every academy should be looking to submit two CIF Bids per year unless you are in a very modern and well-maintained building. In order to prepare high quality bids, it is essential that academies start this process as soon as possible and in September/October at the latest
The works are prioritised as:
| HIGHEST PRIORITY - Legislation Compliance and Health & Safety – where there is a risk of school closure, including: |
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| HIGH PRIORITY - Life Expired Condition Replacement – where there is a risk of school closure, including: |
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| MEDIUM PRIORITY - Life Expired Condition Replacement, including: |
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