Post-16 SEND Campus Financial Viability
Achieving for Children (AfC) is a social enterprise company that provides children’s services across three boroughs. AfC commissioned 31ten to provide analysis of the overall financial impact of proposals for the refurbishment and extension of its post-16 SEND Campus. The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames (RBK), a part owner in AfC, would need to provide funding for the project. Therefore, providing an understanding of the impact to Council’s finances was a key consideration in 31ten’s analysis.
The Role
31ten was tasked with providing robust analysis of four different scenarios that included various levels of capital works. Initially 31ten worked with stakeholders from RBK and AfC to gather the information needed to assess the options over a 50-year period. The financial model separated out the financial case and economic case elements needed to support any future business case for the project. Key outputs included:
- Revenue Account Impact: a key metric for the Council’s finance team, using Net Present Value to compare this impact in ‘today’s money’.
- Payback period: to assess in simple terms how quickly RBK could recover its investment.
- Sensitivity analysis: to evaluate exposure to cost changes in key inputs. Determined which scenario was best suited to reduce exposure to future cost increases.
The 31ten Financial & Data Modelling team presented these outcomes to the RBK Education Capital Board. During this engagement, and through outputs, our team focused on presenting a proportionate level of detail needed for discussions, while being on hand to delve deeper into details when beneficial.
Key Outcomes
31ten’s analysis provided AfC and RBK with a clear view of the different scenarios available to them and the respective financial impacts of these options. This analysis enabled AfC and RBK leadership to have informed conversations on how to move this project forward while engaging with its strategic vision.
31ten were incredibly easy to work with. They quickly grasped what was needed and communication throughout the project was excellent. The final information that was produced was extremely helpful and presented in an accessible way. I'd recommend 31ten to other local authorities and wouldn't hesitate to work with them again.
Henry Kilpin
Associate Director for School Place Planning, Achieving for Children
