Urgent Capital Support (UCS)
Book a free UCS consultation
Talk to our education team about your estate, the project you are considering and whether it could be suitable for UCS funding.
Free and without obligation.
Successfully completing your UCS Bid
Unlike the Condition Improvement Fund, UCS funding can be applied for at any point. Our specialists pinpoint any urgent condition issues across your estate, carrying out all required investigations and associated surveys for your team in line with the DfE bid criteria to deliver a successful result.
- We determine your need for UCS funding with specialist surveys, accurate costings and detailed risk assessments
- Our team collate all necessary reports into a single, well-constructed bid, to be submitted to the DfE via email from your responsible party
- Following a successful bid, we meet with your decision-makers to review every aspect of your project, before the scheme commences
- We take responsibility for all Contract Administration and Project Management, ensuring seamless delivery and the DfE is kept up to date on all progress
Why do you need UCS funding?
Urgent Capital funding can be quickly made available to academies, small MATs and sixth forms to back critical projects, where there is a risk of closure or a significant impact on site health & safety. We help you identify notable risks in your estate that require external funding, apply to the DfE on your behalf, and guide successful projects from start to finish.
Projects that may qualify for Urgent Capital funding include:
- Urgent H&S or Insurance Compliance Issues
- Serious Structural or Asbestos Issues
- Fire Protection
- Leaking Roofs
- Boiler and Pipework Failure
- Water Compliance Concerns
We take care of your requirements on a no funding, no fee basis
This means we prepare, develop and submit your bid for funding without an upfront charge, and our professional fees are covered within the grant you receive. If your bid is unsuccessful, there is no cost to you. It’s that simple.
Why choose AEC?
Our industry-leading specialists have extensive knowledge of the Urgent Capital Support fund and what’s required to secure a successful bid.
Our UCS funding specialists have secured over £30m for clients in the past 5 years, with an unrivalled success rate. We understand what’s required to create compliant, effective bids, helping you meet urgent demands not resolvable through cost-effective maintenance.
What our education clients say
Our work is built around giving school leaders and estates teams clear advice, practical support and confidence throughout the project.
We have had an excellent experience working with AEC. Their support in drawing up comprehensive plans and costings for a new SEN centre on our campus has been invaluable. Their expert advice has enabled us to navigate complex regulations with confidence, and we have found them extremely responsive and adaptable during our many back-and-forth discussions. We couldn't be happier with their service.
AEC has provided us with high quality support during each stage of our project. A collaborative, patient approach was taken with our stakeholders which helped to ensure that the designs of our space were able to evolve to support our overall vision. Communication has been clear throughout the project and we have felt that AEC have acted in our best interests at each and every stage of the project.
AEC have been nothing short of exceptional in supporting the school through the disruption that comes with (multiple) roof changes, including those imposed externally at short notice. They offered our team full reassurance that complex, and potentially dangerous projects were well thought through, managed to time (in some cases ahead of time) and safe. I cannot recommend them highly enough.
Explore education funding and estate support
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Condition Improvement Fund
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School Condition Allocation
Guidance and estate support for larger academy trusts.
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Capital funding advice
Understand the funding options available to your organisation.
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Estate strategy
Plan future investment across your school buildings and wider estate.
Start preparing your UCS application
If your school has a building issue or improvement project that may be suitable for UCS funding, it is worth starting the conversation early. We can help you understand:
- Whether your school is likely to be eligible
- Whether your project could be suitable for UCS
- What supporting evidence may be needed
- How much preparation is involved
- What you should do next
Free and without obligation.
