Since 2023 we have used Ashley Consultants for building fabric and M&E services capital works requirements. They helped us lodge both CIF and UCS bids and recently delivered a £1.2m heating distribution project. We have been particularly impressed with their attention to detail and ability to think outside the box. Be that to secure funding, ensure successful delivery of works on site, or to simply offer the most appropriate advice. Further, Ashley Consultants added great value to our estate master planning and strategy exercise that we conducted in-house.
We plan to continue our working relationship for the foreseeable future and have no hesitation in recommending them to other Academies and Trusts.

Chris Jeffery, Head of Estates - Knole Academy

We are very pleased to have been working with Ashley Consultants since 2016. As a single Academy at the time, Ashley Consultants have since assisted us with numerous successful CIF bid applications. Through their continued technical knowledge, attention to detail and due diligence on site we have achieved successful funding and completion of project works, including most significantly Fire Compliance throughout our extensive site, and most recently completing a phased programme of boiler and heating distribution upgrades. Our partial listed status often adds complication to condition works that Ashley Consultants have remained sympathetic to in the planning and delivery of works.

Now, as a large Multi Academy Trust, we are very much looking forward to continuing to work with Ashley Consultants who are currently assisting with the development of our Trust Estates Strategic Plan and Condition Surveys across our now extensive schools’ estates.

We would have no hesitation in recommending Ashley Consultants to other Academies and Trusts.

Jill Wyman / Sean Hayes, Chief Financial Officer / Trust Estate Programme Manager - Inicio Educational Trust

At Carshalton Boys we had two buildings that effectively needed to close for several weeks of the year due to leaking. We had tried several different repairs and applied unsuccessfully for CIF funding ourselves many times. One of the visiting leak detection contractors introduced us to Ashley Consultants, who showed from the very first meeting that their knowledge and expertise was well worth considering for assisting us with a CIF bid. I wasn’t disappointed! The detail and precision applied on all aspects of the bid, including design proposal, the tender process, securing the funding and delivering a successful build on time were all exceptional. We are definitely going to be working with them again.

Phil Brittain, Assistant Principal: Finance and Premises - Carshalton Boys Sports College

We have used Ashley consultants to advise us on and help prepare Condition Improvement applications (CIF) for the past 8 years. We have found the service proved by Ashley Consultants, to be top notch. The advice and the input from their Steve and Jayne (both Ashley Consultant colleagues) to be invaluable in terms of organising the rational for the application, collating the evidence, putting together and submitting strong well-argued applications. We have been very successful in the past with our CIF applications to the DfE because of quality of the applications prepared – all facilitated by Ashley Consultants.

Sunil Chotai, CEO - Charles Darwin Academy Trust

Ashley Consultants have developed a strong working relationship with MARK Education Trust working on a number of projects over the last 6 years for all of our schools. They have successfully secured Condition Improvement Funding to ensure continued fire safety at two schools including combustible cladding removal and failed window replacements. In addition to this vital safeguarding works have taken place where the school’s site security was compromised. Ashley Consultants supported with the local parish council to ensure this came to fruition. More recently they have provided valuable assistance with the onerous task of a due diligence process regarding the potential onboarding of new schools to the trust carrying out obligatory condition surveys. This has provided much needed knowledge for budgetary considerations to be made and a five-year maintenance plan to be adopted. We continue to be pleased with their sound professional advice and understanding of working in a school environment with minimal disruption to the curriculum.

Anna Robinson / Amanda Dennis, Chief Executive Officer / Head of Estates - MARK Education Trust