Delivered by: ETM
Context
The University of Warwick, one of the UK’s leading academic institutions, operates a vast campus requiring rigorous and continuous management of its electrical infrastructure. The university sought a long-term partner to manage all statutory electrical compliance, specifically Fixed Wire Testing (EICR) and Portable Appliance Testing (PAT). The requirement was not just for technical capability, but for a solution that guaranteed safety, compliance, and reliability while actively supporting the university’s ambitious green campus goals.
Challenge
Securing a five-year, £950,000 contract required the compliance partner to overcome several strategic and operational hurdles:
Campus scale and safety: The need to maintain stringent electrical safety standards across a large, constantly-evolving campus estate that includes teaching spaces, research labs, and residential units.
Minimising operational disruption: Ensuring that rigorous testing procedures across all buildings were executed with minimal downtime or disruption to academic operations, research schedules, and student life.
Integrating sustainability: A key challenge was aligning the mandatory compliance programme with the university’s sustainability targets, requiring a commitment to offering energy-efficient solutions and strategic long-term planning.
Solution
Electrical Testing Midlands, part of Complii, successfully secured the highly competitive contract by proposing a comprehensive, forward-looking plan built on expertise, communication, and proactive risk management:
Rigorous, scheduled testing: A systematic schedule was implemented for both Fixed Wire and PAT testing to proactively minimise risk and downtime, ensuring continuous statutory compliance across the estate.
Proactive risk management: The solution included immediate response to any issues identified during testing, along with detailed reporting to keep the facilities management team fully informed and able to maintain continuous compliance.
Strategic sustainability alignment: Beyond core testing, Electrical Testing Midlands actively integrated sustainability strategies into the plan, demonstrating technical capability to support the university in reducing energy use and improving overall electrical efficiency.
Collaborative partnership: A strong emphasis was placed on a collaborative working relationship, guaranteeing that facility management feedback was acted upon quickly and ensuring the service adapted as the university's complex needs evolved.
Results
The appointment reinforces Electrical Testing Midlands standing as a trusted provider and guarantees the University of Warwick a safe, compliant, and reliable electrical infrastructure for the long term:
Secured long-term compliance: The five-year contract establishes a shared commitment to continuous safety, ensuring all electrical infrastructure remains compliant with evolving regulations.
Proactive maintenance culture: The move to a proactive maintenance approach, supported by immediate issue response and detailed reporting, minimises overall operational risk and liability.
Shared commitment to sustainability: The integration of sustainability strategies ensures that essential electrical compliance actively supports the University’s broader energy efficiency and environmental goals, delivering long-term value beyond basic statutory requirements.