Lewisham BSF programme

By gaining entry to Building Schools for the Future programme, Lewisham Borough Council secured the investment necessary to transform its secondary education provision. With £227m to spend, the Council needed to establish a Local Education Partnership (LEP) to implement an extensive programme that would see 12 schools refurbished or remodelled, a new-build school, and an ICT strategy delivered across the entire estate. Mace worked closely with the council over three years, from developing the business case to achieving financial close, and then as the implementation stage of the BSF programme got underway. With Mace's involvement, Lewisham became only the 15th council to close its BSF deal.

The LEP is a joint venture company formed from the private sector, the government and the council. In addition to spending on capital works, ICT equipment and facilities management for the estate, the LEP also committed to generating project and lifecycle savings of £25m. Mace provided a genuinely multi-disciplinary service to the client as the LEP was formed, from programme and project management to procurement, as well as technical, commercial and facilities management advice. The client acknowledged the value of the service provided: "Mace has been vital in helping the council close the deal and get the programme underway. From the very outset, the whole Mace team has shown incredible professionalism and commitment to achieving a successful partnership."