Rewarding institutions with the best story to tell
The Outstanding Estates Strategy at the THE Awards is another opportunity to recognise exemplary work across all estates department functions.
The 2020 winner, the University of Birmingham, impressed judges with a “broad range of projects” and the way that they created major benefits for the local economy and the community.
The projects, which the university says constitute the biggest renewal of its estate since the institution’s establishment in 1900, included a new conference centre, a sports club, almost 5 hectares of parkland and an extension to the business school.
Our judges highlighted the team’s approach to collaboration, education and training, including skills workshops for more than 500 local children, 10 apprenticeships, 70 weeks of work experience, 10 new jobs to local people and 205 weeks of on-site training.
The team also developed its own procurement framework to create a more efficient and cost-effective route to working with business, and they have made the scheme available to others in the higher education sector.
Environmental credentials were also notable. The team achieved a 20 per cent cut in carbon dioxide emissions four years ahead of target and a 10 per cent reduction in water consumption.
“Balancing the delivery of a number of capital build projects with the creation of a significant public realm project has seen major improvements in the estate, thus supporting the university’s objective to deliver a world-class university experience,” the judges said.
“Positive engagement with industry [has] allowed the integration of best practice from outside the HE sector to become embedded within the estates department.”
Watch Sadie Janes, director of development at Savills, talk to Trevor Payne, director of estates at the University of Birmingham, above or on the THE YouTube channel.
