Service
Condition Improvement Fund (CIF)

Condition Improvement Fund (CIF)

T: 0161 518 8671

E: education@roger-hannah.co.uk

We have experience of putting together successful applications and know how difficult and time-consuming this can be for individual academies and Business Managers.

Roger Hannah take responsibility for putting together the applications, leaving your Academy to concentrate on your core activities but equally involve your key stakeholders where required.

Consultation Process

At Roger Hannah we believe in getting to know the needs of the Academy and how to be school-specific in our bids. We will consult you to assess your site and make recommendations for the priority of works and advise on those which are likely to be successful. As we can advise you on the best projects to bid for and guide you on the best strategy for submission, we are able to provide you with the best chance of success.

The CIF guidelines are very clear about the amount and level of detail required and we completely understand that this may seem daunting to some Academies. We will guide you through this entire process and submit comprehensive bids, which will be carefully targeted to the ESFA guidelines, ensuring the best possible outcome.

Much of our bid writing process is done upfront and FREE OF CHARGE, giving a low-risk option to Academies who want to apply for funding, but do not have the time or technical knowledge to develop their own bids.

Who can apply for funding?

Applications for CIF funding is available, based on two bids per school, per round, for the following:

A stand-alone academy.
A school in a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT), with fewer than 5 schools or fewer than 3,000 pupils.
A Voluntary Aided (VA) school, in a VA body or VA group, with fewer than 5 schools or fewer than 3,000 pupils.
A sixth-form college.
A school with a signed Academy order that DfE expects to convert to a CIF-eligible responsible body by 1 April.

Key Dates

The Department for Education (DfE) publish an annual guidance document which is made available for all to review to enable successful bids to be submitted. The guidance changes year on year in certain areas, whilst the base structure has remained consistent for several years.

At Roger Hannah we ensure that all the latest guidance is considered to ensure a robust bid is submitted with the best possible chance of being a success.

It is essential that suitable preparation and time is allowed to consider the CIF bid and to plan to include detailed back up and evidence for the bid, with previous years dates remaining consistent as follows:

19 October: Launch of CIF (Information for applicants published and online application window opens)
12 noon, 7 December: Deadline for new applicants to register for an account.
12 noon, 14 December: Deadline for applicants to submit applications with all supporting documents.
May (subject to change): Applicants notified of outcome.

Guidance from The Department for Education

How can we help?

Our education lead is involved throughout the process and brings valuable experience of the bidding process. They will collaborate with schools and Academies on all aspects of good estates management.
We have an in-depth understanding of each process and can guide you through this, producing the bids on your behalf, usually on a no win, no fee basis.
We help you to gather the crucial data and evidence required to support your bid and provide accurate project costings and programme information.
We manage successful projects with our resolute Project Management team.
We ensure that time, cost, quality and risk are all managed throughout the project, minimising disruption to the Academy.

Case Studies