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Building Schools for the Future (BSF)

In any major programme or project there will be a range of potentially complex interfaces. These interfaces may relate to different business functions, different organisations, different suppliers or different systems/technologies etc. Rather than think about innovative ways of managing interface risks, the traditional approach adopted by suppliers (and, often, funders) has been to “ring-fence” or isolate areas which they perceive to be potentially problematic. Issues associated with ICT have long been regarded as a "problem area". As a consequence, there has been a tendency to seek to ring-fence ICT risk.

This is a problem which Bevan Brittan faced in advising a Central Government department in connection with the £-multi-billion Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. The challenge here was to ensure that the opportunities offered by ICT were not frustrated by inappropriate or inflexible building designs. The Authority also wanted to introduce contract mechanisms which would encourage builders and architects to take into account the changing nature of ICT and to design the schools accordingly. The objective was to create a structure (and underlying contract terms) which treated ICT as an integral component of the school’s design, not as an afterthought. This would both recognise the critical nature of ICT and create opportunities for fresh thinking.

The solution was the creation of a Local Education Partnership (“LEP”), a form of special purpose vehicle responsible for the management of integration risks. Bevan Brittan worked with other advisers (including PfS, KPMG and PUK) to ensure that the BSF ICT requirements were properly integrated into the LEP structure. This integrated approach was unusual, the traditional approach being to separate out ICT from other services.

The LEP approach has encouraged ICT suppliers and other suppliers to work more closely together, anticipating possible interface issues and fostering innovation. This has resulted in numerous potential benefits to local authorities including:

• improved use of ICT in the provision of security services (eg CCTV and electronic asset-tagging);
• building designs which facilitate possible changes in the mode of ICT provision over time;
• designs which accommodate opportunities for the deployment of wireless technologies;
• facilitation of “cashless” schools;
• an integrated approach to the commissioning of ICT systems (as part of the building);
• the possibility of a single helpdesk service dealing with ICT and non-ICT queries;
• achieving DfES objectives in relation to “anytime, anywhere” learning models;
• better packaging of insurance policies.

This approach has also required banks and funders to reconsider the risks posed by the ICT elements of major projects. The integrated nature of the risks means that funders have had to develop a better understanding of ICT risks (an area which they have traditionally sought to avoid or isolate).

For further information please contact:
Martin Carroll
Tel: 0870 194 1743
martin.carroll@bevanbrittan.com

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