College Infrastructure Investment Plan 2027-28 to 2036-37
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The College Infrastructure Investment Plan (College IIP) provides an evidence base on the condition and composition of the college estate. Based on the best practice in construction cost data analysis, it provides an indicative assessment of the investment that would be required to maintain, improve and transform Scotland’s college infrastructure over the next ten years (FY2027-28 to FY2036-37).
In summary
Core elements
Supporting Material
Infrastructure Strategies
To be eligible for capital funding, Scottish colleges must be able to provide a copy of their infrastructure/estate strategy, laying out what strategic planning they have done for investment in their estate and how the proposed capital investment project aligns with the colleges wider goals and strategic objectives.
An infrastructure strategy should set out a college’s long-term approach to managing and investing in its estate and supporting infrastructure, including digital, decarbonisation and climate adaptation requirements. It should provide a clear rationale for future investment and demonstrate how proposals contribute to strategic and operational objectives.
This is the interim guidance for colleges on their infrastructure/estate strategy [PDF] and was developed with the support of Scottish Futures Trust, pending the development of more detailed guidance.
For further advice or support please contact assetstrategy@scottishfuturestrust.org.uk.
Scottish Capital Investment Model
The attached documents are to support colleges to progress through the SCIM process, as outlined in the College Infrastructure Investment Plan. Based on the HM Treasury Green Book, the guidance, templates and supporting information to help colleges develop investment proposals and business cases. These will be refreshed on a regular basis to ensure they remain as user friendly for college staff as possible.
Not every project eligible for investment will require the full SCIM process. The approval route will be proportionate to each project’s cost and complexity. SCIM is intended to provide a consistent and proportionate framework for developing investment proposals and demonstrating strategic need, affordability, deliverability
Templates
SCIM for Tertiary Education Institutions: Guidance Document [PDF]
SCIM Full Business Case Template [DOC]
SCIM Outline Business Case Template [DOC]
SCIM Strategic Outline Case Template [DOC]
SCIM Statement of Need Template [DOC]
Workshops
Workshop 1 – Making the Case for Change [PPT]
Workshop 2 – Preferred Way Forward [PPT]
Workshop 3 – Value for Money [PPT]
Workshop 4 – Commercial Agreement [PPT]
Workshop 5 – Management Case [PPT]
Space Utilisation
The materials on this page provide interim guidance for colleges on how to measure and categorise space on campus. They are designed to be used on an interim basis until the point at which SFC has commissioned a replacement to the Guidance on Effective Management of Space at Scotland’s Colleges.
Space Utilisation Workstream Summary Paper [PDF]
Room Utilisation How to [PDF]
Recommended Defintions [PDF]
Digital
The Scottish Colleges Digital Infrastructure Update provides an update to SFC on the digital capability of the college sector and was provided by Jisc. It is made up of two sections, one analysing the UK-wide digital infrastructure reviews carried out by Jisc, and the second is an analysis of the data provided by Scottish colleges through their use of the Jisc Digital Elevation Tool.
Scottish Colleges Digital Infrastructure Update [PDF]
Net Zero, Decarbonisation and Climate Adaptation
These two documents are designed to help colleges understand how to plan for decarbonisation and climate adaptation. The briefing paper on the sustainability of college infrastructure [PDF] was produced for the Scottish Funding Council by our partners EAUC – the Environmental Alliance for Universities and Colleges. The second paper is a summary of Scottish Government statutory guidance on how public bodies should respond to the climate emergency. The paper summarises what the guidance advises on buildings and estates. Colleges should refer to guidance when developing all business cases for capital investment.
Asset Disposals Guidance
The Guidance for the disposal of publicly funded land and buildings and the retention of proceeds by colleges provides information for colleges considering the disposal of land, buildings or other estate assets. It includes details of the relevant processes, approvals and supporting resources available to colleges.
Early engagement is encouraged where colleges are exploring disposal opportunities. This can help ensure proposals align with wider estate strategies, public value considerations and future infrastructure requirements, to support the timely sale of surplus assets.
For advice or support, please contact Estates@sfc.ac.uk or the Scottish Futures Trust website.
For more information, please contact Estates@sfc.ac.uk.
SFC Strategic Plan 2022-27
Building a connected, agile, sustainable tertiary education and research system for Scotland.