Writing successful CIF bids

Written by Barker Associates | Mar 29, 2023 3:43:43 PM

Successful bid writing is an essential part of running the school estate. For academies, the annual Condition Improvement Fund is the most important capital funding round.

Here are our top tips on writing successful CIF bids.

Prepare early: Don’t leave your bid writing to the last minute. It takes time to prepare a thorough bid that will stand out. Start collecting the evidence and supporting information as soon as possible.
Identify and prioritise: It is critical to demonstrate the need for your project. The fund is highly competitive. Be realistic and objective, and only bid for works that are urgent and high priority.
Evidence is key: Once you have identified your project, ensure the assessor has sufficient evidence to understand the urgency and impact of the issue through photographs and independent reports.
Tick the boxes: Ensure that you meet all the core requirements of the bid process. That means satisfying the assessors that your project is well developed and low risk. Evidence of cost planning, risk management and deliverability will enhance your bid.

Barker is an Approved Partner to ISBL, and the UK’s leading CIF bid consultancy. In the last round, Barker secured 8% of the total CIF funding allocation in England for our clients.

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