Education Brochure by fishergermanllp

How we can help you

Asset & Portfolio

Valuation

Business Rates

Advice

Property Management

Energy Sustainability

Lease Advisory

Planning Consultancy

Building Consultancy

Acquisition & Disposal

Geospatial Data Solutions (GDS)

Telecoms Consultancy

Strategic Estate

Asset Review

Case Study | Moulton College

Our solutions

Identified surplus non-core assets and advised on options of sale and lease.

Advised on property compliance, rent reviews, lease terms, and boundary and access matters and undertaken condition surveys.

Provided planning support for grant funding applications.

Assisted with strategic estate planning and business rates advice.

The benefits

Negotiated a commercial rent review saving the client £23.5k per annum.

Increased rent income by £30k per annum through letting surplus buildings.

Stabilised risks of tenancies with security of tenure rights.

Successfully submitted agricultural subsidy applications to bolster income.

Molly Skinner Senior Associate “ “

We make so students can thrive. property management effortless,

Service

Asset & Portfolio Valuations

Faced by a combination of profound economic and financial challenges, consolidation and expansion of ‘school groups’, the increasing acquisition of UK independent schools by overseas buyers and property investors, accurate valuations of educational assets and portfolios have never been so critical.

Our specialist valuers value assets or portfolios for:

• Acquisitions purposes

• Disposals

• Mergers

• Sale and lease backs

• Ground rent transactions

• Statutory accounts

• Charities Act

• Secured lending

• Landlord and tenant

• Inheritance Tax and Capital Gains Tax

Our experienced national team of RICS Registered Valuers has earned a reputation for providing accurate and impartial valuations of both operational and non-operational property, which are underpinned by a robust valuation process.

Every Valuation Report we produce:

• Complies fully with RICS regulations

• Is undertaken by an RICS Registered Valuer

• Is peer-reviewed by an RICS Registered Valuer

• Complies with the RICS approved professional indemnity policies

Whether valuing an asset or portfolio for statutory accounts, secured lending or for new capital projects each Valuation Report is tailored, designed to meet the Client Team’s unique reporting protocols and produced in a timely manner to meet (often tight) deadlines.

But above all, our Valuation Reports allow clients to make informed financial and strategic decisions.

We had an excellent service from Emily and her team. We would happily go back to Fisher German for any future valuations.

“

Our solutions

Inspection of the property within a short timeframe from instruction with minimal disturbance to the operation of the school.

Consideration of comparables to support our opinion of value.

Undertake a Depreciated Replacement Cost to cross check against the comparables.

An RICS Red Book report to comply with the requirements of the RICS and financial reporting standards.

The benefits

A robust and compliant report which supports the valuation for financial reporting requirements.

Provides an overview of the school and where its strengths and weaknesses lie with regard to value.

Highlights any alternative uses which may be possible should the school become vacant.

Case Study | Dinnington School

Case Study | Chatsworth Schools

Our solutions

Inspection of the property within a short timeframe from instruction with minimal disturbance to the operation of the school.

Consideration of comparables to support our opinion of value.

Consideration of the trading position to further support our opinion of value.

RICS compliant Red Book report to submit alongside the submission to HMRC.

The benefits

A robust and compliant RICS report which supports the clients position with HMRC.

Minimises tax liability and reduces costs in negotiating values with HMRC.

Provides an overview of the current education market.

They have a methodical approach and provide a professional robust report. They managed to turn the report around in a very efficient timeframe. “ “

Fred Knipe Chatsworth Schools

Planning Consultancy

Are you considering:

• Extending, replacing or altering an existing building

• Works relating to a listed building or other designated heritage asset

• Building a new structure on land the educational facility already owns

• The possibility of disposing of a surplus building or unwanted land to a developer and you want to sell it with planning permission (as this will add a premium to your ‘asset’)

• Acquiring a building or piece of land that may require a change of use?

Our experienced team of Planning Consultants can help you review your options and decide on the best strategy to achieve the strategic, financial and occupational goals of your educational facility.

We can:

• Advise you on the opportunities and risks, as well as the most viable strategy for your ‘Planning Appraisal’ - to help you make informed decisions

• Develop appropriate strategies to adopt for public consultation and pre-application discussions, as well as prepare and submit a planning application

• Monitor and manage the progress of your application through the planning process

Our team has a 97% approval rate on planning applications and, when asked, our clients have told us that they would use us again – and they do.

Scott O’Dell

Associate Partner

Case Study | Uppingham School

Our solutions

• Minimising planning risk during the development of strategies.

• Early engagement with Conservation Officers.

• Pre-submission consultation with key stakeholders including the Local Planning Authority and Town Council.

• Collaborating with a project team to prepare planning and listed building consent applications.

The benefits

• Favourable consents obtained within tight timescales on constrained sites.

• Creating positive working relationships with stakeholders.

• Diversification of school places with greater accessibility locally.

• Delivering high quality learning environments.

Ready to turn your vision into reality?

Discover how else we can help

Fisher German Planning Consultancy

Bespoke planning consultancy delivering exceptional results.

Fisher German Property Agency

In a crowded education market, standing out matters. Let’s shape a campus that attracts the best.

Review the contractor’s test valuations and pursued appeals against the Valuation Office Agency (VOA).

Our appeals considered the various parts of the valuation process including age of buildings, allowances for flat roofs, extent of external landscaping as well as general calculation errors.

Successfully pursued appeals against several existing assessments achieving either a reduction to a nominal value or deletion of the assessment respectively.

The benefits

Following negotiations with the Valuation Officer, we achieved reductions on a total of 56 schools (both primary and secondary) totalling approximately £250,000.

Resulting in a total saving in rates liability to the Council of approximately £550,000.

Case Study | Sir y Fflint Flintshire

Building Consultancy

RAAC, which affects less than 1% of UK schools and colleges, has raised public awareness and interest in the condition of the fabric of school buildings and the subsequent risks to pupils, employees and visitors.

What the issue has also highlighted is the importance of comprehensive and scheduled condition surveys for all school, university or college buildings.

In addition to undertaking full condition surveys (for acquisition and reporting purposes) and prioritising deficiencies which have to be addressed, our experienced team of Building Consultants also implement tailored services such as:

• Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPMs) which helps reduce unplanned operational interruptions, lowers repair costs in the long run and reduces safety risks

• Providing decision makers with professional building regulations advice

• Helping to plan and manage occupational reconfigurations to meet the changing operational requirements of an educational facility in order to ultimately improve the learning environment

• Undertaking repairs and maintenance work

• Acting as the ‘Employer’s Agent’ - an agent acting on behalf of the client as the contract

administrator for design-bid-build contracts

• Project managing construction projects to ensure that the work is completed on time and within the agreed budget

• Undertaking building insurance valuations and reinstatement cost assessments

• Heritage consultancy work to lead the design process for alterations, repairs, refurbishment and change of use of heritage buildings

• We prepare Heritage Impact Assessments to explain the designs, how the solutions place conservation at the centre of our plans and explain any impact on special heritage value. These get submitted with applications for planning permission and listed building consent

• We work closely with supply chain consultants in the ‘heritage sector’ including engineers and archaeologists

• We design, tender and contract administrate works to specialist contractors and oversee the implementation of our designs

But ultimately, we add value by combining our technical skills with creative problem solving and an unremitting focus on meeting agreed budget and delivery schedules.

We will help you future-proof your assets and portfolio.

Property Management

To us, Property Management focuses on ensuring that the educational facility:

• Is a safe place to learn, work and visit

• Complies with all applicable property laws, regulations and guidelines

• Is optimising its property assets

• Operates efficiently – in terms of operational, occupational and energy consumption

We know this because our experienced Property Management team understands the education sector’s unique operational requirements and occupational cycles.

The team’s proven combination of technical skills includes:

• Strategic advice - our senior counsel includes:

• Ensuring the short and medium-term property strategy is aligned with the strategic, occupational and financial goals of the educational facility

• Advising on options for diversification and alternative uses for non-core assets to generate new income which can be re-invested in the educational facility

Robyn Dearden Associate Service

We complement your educational facility’s maintenance team by focusing on the more strategic aspects of property ownershipissues which go beyond the day-to-day maintenance plan. “ “

• Understanding the property and land portfolio in detail allows us to identify potential operational efficiencies, savings and/or potential income streams and help decision makers to make informed strategic decisions

• Property management:

• Selecting, appointing and managing contractors

• Advising on access and rights matters effecting the educational facility and its portfolio whether that be boundary disputes, rights of way or wayleaves and easements

• Managing third-party occupation arrangements and day-to-day tenant relations

Case Study | Independent School

The schools non-core assets were subject to a secure Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 tenancy agreement–which granted the tenant lifetime rights to occupy the land at a lower than market rent.

Following a review of assets suitable we identified some tenanted land that fitted the school’s requirements. We reviewed the tenancy and advised the school on options to move forward, each with their own benefits to provide the optimal outcome.

The benefits

• Transformation of asset for greater use to the school.

• Increase in capital value.

• Increased income–the asset could be relet to the previous tenant when not in use.

• Unlocked asset for future use.

• Maintained relationship between tenant and the school. Our solutions

Discover how else we can help

Acquisition & Disposal

Acquiring or disposing of buildings or land requires a unique combination of experience and expertise, underpinned by deep local knowledge and understanding of national trends.

Our team of Acquisition & Disposal experts will:

• Review what is/about to come to market to ensure we know and understand current competitive and pricing trends

• Negotiate the best terms

• If disposing of an asset, our integrated marketing strategy will include a multi-tiered marketing campaign which will include leveraging our extensive network of contacts and a targeted digital marketing campaign

• If acquiring an asset, we will interrogate and understand your occupational requirements, financial objectives and geographic specifications before we start reviewing all appropriate on and off market opportunities

• Liaise closely with your team at every stage of the transaction

• Work seamlessly with your legal and financial advisors to ensure the process is efficient and timely

Our technical skills are complemented by our understanding of how to work with a client team whose core focus is on educating bright young talent, not managing property transactions.

Understanding those nuances dictates how we manage our relationship with the client team.

Oliver Deme Associate

“ “

Our focus on not only yields financial rewards but also fosters healthier work environments. highly efficient buildings

Energy Sustainability

Energy sustainability is a multi-benefit concept.

It can help your educational facility:

• Save money

• Create potential new income streams

• Be a differentiator in a highly competitive market in an era when net zero carbon emissions and ‘being green’ dominates almost every agenda

How energy efficient are your buildings? Highly efficient buildings offer significant fiscal benefits and create better working environments.

If you are thinking about assessing and improving the efficiency of your buildings, as well as considering how to reduce your energy costs, talk to our green energy and sustainability specialists.

Clean energy generation could also prove a valuable income opportunity and enhance your environmental credentials. However navigating that path does require informed counsel from specialists who know and understand that:

• Choosing the correct technology solution and most appropriate installation partner is critical

• Agreeing suitable contract and payment terms can prove complex

• Ensuring appropriate servicing and maintenance agreements are in place – which is key to longevity and productivity

Our recommended starting point would be:

• Undertake a feasibility audit

• Consider all alternative solutions

• Produce a tailored cost/benefit analysis

This will allow your decision-making team to ascertain if a green strategy is appropriate for your educational facility.

Darren Edwards Head of Sustainable Energy

Service

Geospatial Data Solutions (GDS)

Defining a educational facility’s boundary is critical to help prevent conflict and disputes, as well as avoid encroachments, trespassing and overlapping claims with adjacent landowners.

Accurate geodata has also proved a critical part of the acquisition/merger due diligence process.

Our capability includes profiling neighbourhoods in terms of demographics such as population stats (i.e. households with children) within a school catchment area, or certain drive or walk times from the schools. If required, the report can also include a review of planning applications within a defined distance from the educational facility – to help our clients’ strategic planning.

We know from experience that even straightforward boundary disputes can often lead to contentious and expensive legal proceedings.

Our data-rich maps can help you make critical decisions early, or deal with Land Registry compliant plans to support any development or transactional (acquisition or disposal) projects you might have.

The team combines experience and expertise with proven technical skills in geospatial mapping and data evaluation.

We will provide you with accurate and validated data to help you reach an early agreement, as well as avoid any potential expensive, disruptive and time-consuming (boundary related) activity.

Lease Advisory

Whether you are a landlord or tenant; contemplating renting or letting a building (or part of one), you might find that the world of ‘commercial’ leasing presents a wide range of potential challenges and uncertainties.

If so, we can help because we know that mistakes can prove expensive – financially, as well as reputationally.

Sometimes the nuances of lease renewals, lease extensions, lease restructures, “Inside the Act”* and “Outside the Act”* can prove daunting for the uninitiated. That is why our team of Lease Advisory specialists advise a wide range of education providers – from private schools, academies and nurseries to universities.

*The Landlord & Tenant Act (1954)

Rupert Collis Head of Commercial Lease Advisory Service

Equitable and sustainable are our watchwords, which is why our focus is on:

• Providing a smart, strategic and responsive service

• Securing the best terms

• Negotiating firmly but equitably, be it–

• New leases

• Rent reviews

• Lease renewals

• Restructuring/regearing leases

• Advising on education lease terms and surrenders

Our expertise lies in a combination of the depth of our market knowledge and our:

• Understanding of the law

• Technical skills

• Clear and regular communications with our clients

Our experienced team of Telecoms property specialists has leases, licences and wayleave agreements on behalf of land and property owners across the UK. negotiated over 10,000 “ “

Strategic Estate Asset Review

We can offer a full holistic strategic portfolio review, asset class review or consider specific assets. Whether your educational estate includes commercial, mixed-use, residential or rural assets we have the expertise to assist you.

Future-proof your property investments and explore alternatives that meet your future goals.

Strategic Portfolio Review:

• Statistical review and analysis

• Defining objectives including compliance with Charities Act regulation and operation

• Formulating portfolio strategy including incorporation of additional assets through mergers and acquisitions

• Capital and revenue strategy including tax considerations

• Income stream(s) analysis

• Risk identification and strategy

• Political and legislative horizon

Asset Class Reviews:

• Income stream analysis

• Statistical reviews