Site: Marshland St James Primary School, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire

Client: Diocese of Ely Multi Academy Trust (DEMAT) – (Employer’s agent,
DJ Designs, Norwich

Project: a serious roof leak resulted in a classroom being unusable. This became an
insurance project, which was initially tendered in December 2019. Aspire won the work because we offered the most competitive bid. The project started during the summer holidays 2020. (Unfortunately, the pandemic meant it was not viable for the school to allow us on-site during the Easter holidays.)

Works: in brief, the works included installing entirely new ceilings in the classroom, adjoining storeroom and related circulation areas. Furthermore, we fitted new blinds and flooring throughout. Finally, we decorated all affected walls and ceilings.

Before works started, we arranged an asbestos survey, which was undertaken following the end of the summer term. In line with HSE (Health & Safety Executive) requirements, Aspire operates a strict policy to seek clearance of asbestos prior to any works taking place. Importantly, this process includes specific laboratory testing of any materials subject to disturbance.  Once professionally cleared of asbestos, the works within the school could safely begin.

For safety reasons, we also undertook electrical testing of the school. The results of this flagged up multiple electrical issues requiring urgent attention. Furthermore, this increased Aspire’s workload by 30%. Yet, utterly committed to our deadline of having the works completed ready for the next school term (in September 2020), Aspire will still meet this deadline. Importantly, despite the additional works and the pressure to complete the project in time, Aspire has successfully rescheduled and reorganised the supply chain to adapt, therefore ensuring project is completed on time.

Also noteworthy, these works have all been undertaken against the backdrop of a global pandemic. Therefore Aspire’s operatives have also met all the related COVID-19 procedures in line with Government advice. These include social distancing, limiting number of trades in each area, providing hand sanitiser stations and so on… While completely understandable and necessary, these procedures have also slowed progress. Likewise, we have been faced with other constraints during this unusual time. For example, limited availability of some materials, such as finishing plaster and appropriate dust masks. Nevertheless, we used the depth of our supply chain to successfully overcome these issues.

Above all, despite all the challenges, we will complete the works on time. The school will be ready in good time to prepare for the start of the autumn term.

Finally, it is worth mentioning that owing to school staff and the caretaker being away on leave, Aspire has been entrusted with the keys and alarm details to maintain progress. This is the kind of level of responsibility we can be trusted with. Moreover, we take pride in offering this level of service.

Duration: five weeks (throughout summer holidays) with eight operatives on-site.

We can help with your education construction project

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Many thanks for your time and we look forward to learning more about your education project.