Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) 2022/23 Bidding Round is Now Open

October 21, 2021

The ESFA have now announced the opening of the 2022/23 Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) bidding round. The Condition Improvement Fund provides vital capital funding for academies and sixth form colleges. The priority of CIF funding is to address significant condition need, keeping academy and sixth-form college buildings safe and in good working order, which given recent world events is now more important than ever. This includes funding projects which address health and safety issues, building compliance and poor building condition. CIF funding also supports expansion projects for the provision of new buildings which either replace dilapidated school building or address overcrowding issues.

This year the ESFA have included a new assessment criterion of Environmental Sustainability. With a greater emphasis on CIF projects which support the Government’s targets on climate change, carbon reduction and energy efficiency.

The CIF 2022/23 key milestone dates are:

  • Launch of CIF 2022/23 – 20th October 2021
  • Deadline for new applicants to register for an account – 9th December 2021 (12 noon)
  • Deadline for submission of applications – 15th December 2021 (12 noon)
  • Date for notifying applicants of outcome – Spring 2022

CIF funding represents a significant source of funding for academies to address poor building condition and now is the ideal team to contact our team to discuss how we can help with your academy’s potential CIF bids. Cowan & Co have an extremely high success rate in securing funding for academy schools and have been involved with the CIF bidding process since the first capital funding round in 2011. In our experience to ensure a CIF bid has the greatest chance of a successful outcome early project planning is crucial. Members of our team can advise on all aspects of the CIF application process including the suitability of potential projects and whether they meet with the ESFA’s funding criteria. Our team will then prepare a thorough and comprehensive bid which encompasses the improvement priorities of your buildings.

If you are interested in how this vital funding can benefit your academy then please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss how we can help.