Created: 24th July, 2025
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
The Department for Education (DfE) has released its updated 2025 guidance for Urgent Capital Support (UCS), introducing several important changes that schools, academies, and sixth-form colleges must understand when applying for emergency capital funding.
Urgent Capital Support (UCS) is a funding stream designed to help academies, sixth-form colleges, and Voluntary Aided (VA) schools that do not receive School Condition Allocation (SCA) and are facing urgent building condition issues that could lead to the closure of all or part of the school.
UCS is intended for situations that cannot wait until the next round of the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF). It is not a substitute for planned maintenance or strategic capital investment. Instead, it provides a lifeline for institutions facing immediate threats to safety or continuity of education.
Funding is primarily offered as a loan, subject to financial assessment, with grants available only in exceptional cases. Applications can be submitted at any time during the year.
Although the principle of UCS has not changed, the 2025 guidance introduces a more structured and rigorous approach to UCS applications that is more closely aligned to the latest CIF guidance. Key changes include:
The following table summarises the key differences between the 2024 and 2025 guidance.
To make sure your organisation can access the funding, you need to meet the following criteria:
To Apply, You’ll Need The Following Documentation:
At Barker, we support schools and trusts in navigating the complexities of capital funding.
If you would like to discuss your building issues and funding options, need help preparing your UCS or CIF application or aligning your estate strategy with sustainability goals, get in touch with our expert team.
Our experience and vision have shaped hundreds of projects across sectors, from energy and funding to architecture and design, helping bring ideas to life.
