Department for Education
CLIENT ADVISER
Sarah Williams
2013 – 2019
CLIENT
Department of Education
SERVICES PROVIDED
– Strategic and detailed Brief development
– Developed schedules of areas
– Design review at all stages: quality and compliance
– Decision making and liaison with stakeholders
– Procurement and process oversight
– Selection of building contractors
– Advice at design, tender and during construction stages
– Regular reporting to central department
– Advice on requirements, guidance and statutory documents
– Design and compliance sign off
Challenges
Why was a Client Adviser required?
Expert client design advisers were required to oversee the design and support a multi-billion-pound programme of work for new and refurbished primary and secondary schools in the UK. These expert clients were needed for all stages of the process from outline business case, the design and procurement stages through to site and Post occupancy evaluation. Sarah undertook this role for 6 years as a consultant working on a number of building programmes in London and the South East.
Working on the new Priority schools building programme, Sarah was responsible for 4 large programmes which included numerous nursery, primary, secondary, SEN and all-through schools that required either complete new build or refurbishment of the existing buildings and external landscaping and sports facilities. This included work in conservation areas, areas of outstanding natural beauty, in listed buildings and with many other built environment and planning constraints.
Outcomes
What value was created
Sarah ensured that all designs were as high quality as they could be within the project and budgetary constraints and that designs were compliant with all the numerous building regulations and specific requirements and specifications of the DfE. This involved working closely with the technical advisers, architects, contractors and client teams.
Good relationships were developed with the school’s leadership teams , design teams and other advisers enhancing communication and progress. The advice enabled effective decision making which in turn gave reassurance and delivered speedy progress, required to meet the challenging timescales. Input was required initially on development of the schools specific brief with the school and then advice and support during the feasibility study by the technical team in order to set constraints, areas and budgets.
Once the contractor had been appointed, Sarah advised at each engagement meeting enabling speedy decisions based on robust information and advice. Programmes were very challenging and often the school leadership team did not have experience with the process of delivering a new or refurbished school so an expert client was critical to achieving success. Design evaluation was ongoing with recommendations made and changes undertaken at all stages of the process.
Progress was also regularly reported back to the central department and agreement sought on designs, accomodation requirements, areas, programmes and budgets. Although the technical advisers checked on compliance with regulations and output specifications, client design advisers were expected to sign off all schemes, having evaluated and reviewed at every stage. This included working drawings and advice once on site . All schemes were delivered on time and on budget. Sarah also inputted effectively into the successful procurement framework for the contractors.
Education Projects
