At Barker, our team of highly skilled education funding experts has secured millions of pounds in funding for our clients. We can advise you on the right funding avenue for your organisation.
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Unlocking financial support for education organisations is central to helping you achieve your goals. At Barker, we pride ourselves on being at the forefront of education funding in the UK. Our seasoned team of experts has successfully secured millions of pounds in grants for our education sector clients. Whether you’re a nursery, school, college, or university, we understand the critical role funding plays in realising your vision.
At the heart of our approach lies a deep understanding of the nuances of education funding avenues, including those provided by the Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). Our consultants are well-versed in the intricacies of primary, secondary and further education funding, ensuring that your school, college or university taps into the resources it needs to thrive.
Navigating the educational funding terrain in the UK requires more than just expertise—it demands strategic insight and a tailored approach. Our consultants provide precisely that, offering bespoke guidance tailored to your institution’s unique needs and aspirations.
Whether you’re seeking funding for education projects or support for ongoing initiatives, Barker is your trusted partner in securing the necessary funding. We understand the critical role that successful funding bids play in advancing educational outcomes, and we’re equipped with the tools and knowledge to maximize your chances of success.
Our commitment to excellence extends beyond education funding consulting. As education funding experts, we’re dedicated to providing comprehensive support at every stage of the funding process. From initial assessment to bid preparation and ongoing management, our team is here to ensure that your institution’s vision becomes a reality.
Partner with Barker and harness the power of experienced education funding consultants who are dedicated to your success. Let us navigate the complexities of educational financing while you focus on shaping the future of education. Together, we’ll unlock new opportunities and drive transformative change in the educational landscape.
Unrivalled experience. Unparalleled success. Our funding experts can help you secure funding from any available stream. We know how important successful bidding for funding is, and we have the right infrastructure to help. Our dedicated team works across energy, education, condition and emergency funding streams to help deliver your vision.
We do a regular update showing all the education funding streams, you can subscribe here:
We listen carefully to your needs. We assess your buildings and come up with solutions. Then we use our experience to align your objectives with the appropriate funding stream.
The landscape for funding is constantly changing with new initiatives, grants and schemes being launched daily. It’s our job to keep a handle on this, identify what’s current and pair these opportunities with your needs.
We write winning bids. Bidding is competitive and we help you stand out. We employ specialist bid writers and technical experts to increase your success rates and reduce your workload. We have an outstanding track record of successful funding applications across education, energy and heritage funding streams.
Securing funding is only the start. At Barker, we have the design and delivery capability to see your project through to completion. Our Architects, Surveyors, Engineers and Project Managers will work tirelessly with you to bring your vision to reality. We’re with you every step of the way.
At Barker, we specialise in unlocking vital grant funding opportunities for educational sector clients, particularly funding channelled through the Education and Skills Funding Agency, ESFA Funding. As seasoned experts in navigating the intricate landscape of education finance, we understand the significance of securing funding to drive your organisation’s growth and success.
Education funding is constantly evolving with new initiatives and funding opportunities being introduced to the sector. Those responsible for managing education estates are requiring ever more creative and professional strategies for income generation. Our education funding experts help schools, academies, colleges and universities to secure funding from any available streams to help create the best environments for learning.
Energy costs are variable and can easily be brought down through simple, conscious changes. We can help you to make small savings by changing energy suppliers or by getting a better tariff from your existing suppliers, however substantial reductions are possible by re-thinking your energy strategy. Funding is available to support your energy management transformation and we can help to secure this.
No win. No fee. Barker is the UKs leading CIF bidding consultant. We have an outstanding track record of successful CIF applications, securing millions of pounds for our clients. Our bid writing is done free of charge, giving a very low risk solution to academies who want to apply for funding but do not have the time or technical knowledge to develop their own bids. Join the hundreds of academies who have secured CIF funding through Barker.
We write winning bids. Bidding is competitive and we help you stand out. We employ specialist bid writers and technical experts to increase your success rates and reduce your workload. We have an outstanding track record of successful funding applications across education, energy and heritage funding streams.
Managing Partner
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Associate Data & Systems Strategist
Managing Partner
Stuart has over 25 years’ experience with Barker, having been appointed Managing Partner in 2007. He is accountable for setting strategic goals, overseeing daily operations, monitoring financial performance, and driving business growth. He has developed strong positive client relationships and continues to lead on any new business opportunities, strategic partnerships, and acquisitions.
Stuart leads a fast-growing multi-disciplinary consultancy, which offers a full range of services, from project inception to post-completion assessments. His cross functional depth of knowledge and experience is primarily channelled within the education sector, delivering energy management and construction projects for schools, academies, and higher education establishments. He is a strategic advisor to the Multi Academy Trusts on estates and facilities management. In recent years his expertise in this area has afforded Barker, the Premises and Facilities Management award for Partners in Consultancy.
Email: swhite@barker-associates.co.uk
Tel: 01279 648058
Partner
Robert joined Barker in 2002 and is a Partner based in our Braintree office. A Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, he has over 20 years’ experience of all core building surveying services and provides strategic estates advice to key accounts in the education, commercial, ecclesiastical and public sectors.
An education specialist, he provides the following services: estates and energy strategy, asset management planning, project management and capital funding applications.
Robert works closely with clients to plan and implement energy efficiency and sustainability strategies to save money, reduce carbon emissions and meet ESG objectives.
As a RICS Certified Historic Buildings Professional he provides conservation consultancy for clients with listed and historic buildings.
Robert is an experienced APC Assessor and Chairman and is also an external examiner for Anglia Ruskin University
As a Partner Robert leads the Business Development and Marketing function at Barker, builds relationships with key sector bodies and helps steer the strategic growth of the company.
Email: rgould@barker-associates.co.uk
Tel: 01279 648057
Partner
Tom joined Barker in 2020. He is a Partner based in our London office. Tom has over 15 years of experience in the built environment offering strategic and technical advice to a wide variety of clients across the UK.
Highly experienced in strategic estates advisory services, project management, estates planning, decarbonisation, net carbon zero strategy and funding solutions.
Tom’s key focus is to support Barker’s clients as they transform their estates and decarbonise. He works across the education and public sectors and advises a number of sector bodies on estates management and energy reduction best practice.
Email: tdeacon@barker-associates.co.uk
Tel: 0203 9127812
Partner
Will joined Barker in 2003 and is a partner heading up the project management, cost consultancy and commercial team. Will became a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in 2000 and has over twenty years’ relevant experience across all sectors of the construction industry. He is responsible for overseeing project management on all major schemes.
Previous project management experience includes major medical facilities, university buildings in Cambridge, aircraft facilities and extensive experience in educational buildings.
Will works with a cross section of clients from private individuals through to development companies and commercial organisations to provide project management services on new developments and opportunities.
Will is a principal designer under the CDM regulations and provides guidance and support for colleagues regarding health and safety on projects.
Email: wbidewell@barker-associates.co.uk
Tel: 01223 297244
Partner
Michael joined Barker in 1998, achieving partner status in 2010. He manages a team of surveyors heading up a key part of our educational sector as well as wider management duties across the practice.
An experienced chartered surveyor, Michael has a hands-on role in the design, project management and contract administration of refurbishment and new-build schemes for public sector, education, commercial and private clients.
With the majority of his professional life spent working in the education sector Michael is an education specialist delivering projects from inception to completion including: feasibility/development planning, identifying funding streams, bid writing, project management of new build and refurbishment schemes and condition surveys/works.
Email: mmerrill@barker-associates.co.uk
Tel: 01279 648068
Partner
James joined Barker in 2004 and is a Chartered Surveyor and Partner heading up the Building Surveying projects team at our Head Office.
James specialises in design, specification and contract administration of refurbishment and new-build schemes for public sector, education, commercial and private clients.
An education specialist, he provides strategic advice/management, securing funding and the delivery of projects to the educational sector.
Email:jjohnson@barker-associates.co.uk
Tel: 01279 648099
Partner
Edwin has over 15 years extensive experience in delivering built environment and sustainability services across the planning, development and building occupation lifecycles of major public sector education and commercial estates.
As an Energy & Sustainability specialist with extensive knowledge of the public and education sectors, Edwin brings a wealth of experience to the Practice including the areas of Carbon Reduction & Energy Efficiency Measures, Energy Policy & Strategy, Project and Programme Management, as well as Sustainable Design Advice.
Edwin’s key focus is to support the Barker’s client base with achieving their carbon reduction and energy efficiency aims across their education and commercial estates.
Email: eoconnell@barker-associates.co.uk
Tel: 0203 9127811
Associate Data & Systems Strategist
Philippa joined Barker in 2009 and is a Chartered Surveyor and RICS Certified Historic Building Professional.
Philippa has been developing our estates and energy programmes. Combined with her experience in project and estate management she is assisting clients effectively collect and analyse their estates and energy data to facilitate bespoke client focused data driven estates and sustainability strategies.
As a Certified Historic Buildings Professional she provides conservation consultancy for private and municipal clients, advises on conservation strategies and works to listed and historic buildings.
Email: pgould@barker-associates.co.uk
Tel: 01279 648051