From leaking roofs to failing heating, older buildings increase both workload and risk. Site teams often find themselves:
When funding tightens, this cycle becomes unsustainable. Reactive work is expensive, stressful, and disruptive.
As systems age, schools also need staff with more specialist knowledge, for example, those who understand heating systems, electrics, and infrastructure maintenance.
Site managers and caretakers are central to maintaining a safe, compliant school environment, but they can only do that job effectively when they aren’t constantly firefighting daily maintenance issues.
That’s why forward-thinking education leaders are taking a more strategic approach to their estates workforce. Rather than relying on quick fixes, successful schools and trusts are:
This allows schools to stay compliant, maintain operational continuity, prevent backlogs during peak periods, and take the pressure off other staff members. With ageing buildings, this long-term approach is becoming essential rather than optional.
To break the cycle of reactive maintenance, schools need to rethink how they recruit and structure their teams. Building a workforce capable of managing ageing estates requires a forward-thinking strategy:
For schools and trusts looking to implement these changes without the administrative burden, we provide a shortcut to a skilled workforce.
Schools and trusts work with us because:
With tighter budgets and ageing buildings, schools and trusts can’t afford to rely on quick fixes. Long-term investment, paired with the right mix of skills in their site team, gives their estates the safe, efficient, and future-proof environment students deserve.
If your school or trust is planning estate improvements, preparing for projects, or simply needs extra support, TIB Services is here to help.