Updated: 21st July, 2025
Created: 14th July, 2025
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.
This latest phase of the Net Zero Accelerator Programme, run by LocatEd on behalf of the Department for Education (DfE) and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) follows the successful Feasibility and Pathfinder phases, where Barker and its TEEAM alliance partners delivered valuable insights and innovative solutions.
Under this latest appointment, Barker will act as a Delivery Partner and manage decarbonisation interventions for 47 schools and colleges across the Northwest of England.
The Net Zero Accelerator Programme is spearheading the journey towards sustainable and energy-efficient educational facilities across the UK. It comes in the wake of the announcement from Great British Energy to cut energy bills for schools and hospitals. The Programme is a critical part of the broader strategy to meet the UK’s net-zero objectives. By focusing on education, the programme addresses one of the most influential parts of the public sector, ensuring future generations are educated in inspiring and sustainable environments.
This latest phase will scale up the delivery of the Pathfinder stage across a wider cohort of schools. There will be an increased emphasis on exploring community energy solutions whilst retaining a focus on practical implementations and real-world impacts for individual schools.
In awarding this contract, the tender evaluation panel noted that “Barker Associates demonstrated robust experience delivering educational, public sector and green-energy focused requirements, providing confidence in their ability to deliver at pace and scale. They showed an exceptional level of detail when it came to regional requirements and varying needs of stakeholders.”
In response to the award Tom Deacon, Partner at Barker, said:
“Being part of this pioneering programme is a testament to the hard work and expertise of the TEEAM alliance. We are excited to see our proposed concepts being tested and are confident that they will pave the way for sustainable transformations in the education sector. This programme is a critical step in achieving the government’s ambitious net-zero targets, and we are honoured to contribute to this vital cause.”
Simon Rule, CEO of Place Group, also shared his thoughts about the appointment:
“Delighted to be part of the Barker Consortium developing the next phase of the Net Zero Accelerator Programme with the Community Energy Project. We look forward to working with schools, colleges, trusts, councils, sustainability partners and communities to create the blueprint for change – generating energy, saving money and driving decarbonisation and sustainability, and with schools and colleges leading the way in this northwest alliance.”
About Barker Associates
Barker Associates is an integrated property consultancy that creates sustainable spaces through trusted partnerships and puts people first.
About TEEAM
TEEAM stands for Total Estate & Energy Asset Management. It is an alliance of industry-leading experts and organisations dedicated to transforming educational environments through innovative and sustainable solutions. By fostering collaboration and leveraging diverse expertise, TEEAM aims to create lasting positive impacts on educational facilities across the UK.
About LocatED
LocatED is a government-owned property company responsible for acquiring and managing sites for new schools in England. LocatED works closely with the Department for Education to ensure educational facilities meet the highest standards of sustainability and efficiency.
Our experience and vision have shaped over 300 projects across sectors, from energy and funding to architecture and design, helping bring ideas to life.
