Context
Cirencester College is one of only three designated specialist sixth form colleges in the South West and one of the highest-ranking sixth form colleges in the country. Based on the outskirts of Cirencester, the college offers A-levels, vocational courses, and professional apprenticeships to more than 8,000 enrolled students.
The college's Estates Team had previously managed PAT testing in-house, having invested in the necessary equipment. While the capability was there, the process was proving time-consuming to carry out thoroughly alongside other estate responsibilities. Following a consultation with Intersafe, the college decided to transition the work to an external specialist - one that could deliver the quality they expected, the flexibility their timetable demanded, and full, accurate records of every test completed.
Challenge
Transitioning from in-house testing to an external contractor brought a clear set of requirements and a high bar to clear:
High internal standards to match: Having run the testing themselves for several years, the Estates Team knew exactly what good looked like. Any external provider would need to demonstrate the same level of thoroughness and accuracy they had maintained in-house.
A testing schedule built around the college: With over 8,000 students on site, student-facing areas needed to be tested out of term time, while most office and admin areas required early-evening access outside working hours. The schedule would need to be developed collaboratively and adhered to reliably.
Accurate records and accessible documentation: The college needed complete, well-presented test reports, available promptly on completion and accessible at any point thereafter. Compliance documentation that was difficult to retrieve or poorly organised was not an option.
Solution
Intersafe, part of Complii, brought a collaborative, client-first approach to every stage of the engagement:
A consultation that built immediate confidence: The initial visit from Intersafe's Business Development Manager gave the college a clear sense that Intersafe understood the specific demands of an education environment. The requirements were understood, the right questions were asked, and the flexibility needed was confirmed from the outset.
A bespoke testing schedule developed in partnership: Working closely with the Estates Team, Intersafe developed a customised programme that scheduled all student areas during out-of-term periods, with office and admin areas tested in early evening slots outside of working hours. The schedule was agreed in advance and followed throughout.
Flexible, responsive engineers on site: Intersafe's engineers delivered the work to a high standard while remaining genuinely adaptable when circumstances changed. When the college needed to deviate from the agreed plan, the team responded quickly, adjusting and moving forward.
Prompt reports and a client portal for ongoing access: On completion of testing, reports were provided promptly in a clear, well-organised format. All documentation is accessible at any time through Intersafe's client portal, giving the college a reliable compliance record it can retrieve whenever it's needed.
Results
Cirencester College now has a fully managed, externally delivered testing programme in place, covering PAT testing, fixed wire testing, and emergency light testing with a level of service that met and exceeded the high standards the Estates Team had set for themselves:
Testing completed on time and to a high standard: All works were completed within the agreed schedule, with every test accurately recorded and documented, matching the thorough approach the college had previously managed in-house.
Zero disruption to students or staff: The bespoke scheduling approach ensured that testing was carried out without any significant impact on the college day, with student areas accessed during term breaks and office areas tested outside of working hours throughout.
Full compliance documentation accessible on demand: Complete, well-presented test reports are available at any time through the client portal, giving the Estates Team and college leadership the compliance confidence and audit trail they need, without having to chase for them.
“Having run the testing in-house for several years, we had very high standards, and we doubted whether an external contractor could deliver the quality of service we required at a reasonable cost. But Intersafe were great. I was so impressed during the initial visit - the requirements of a college were clearly understood and the customised testing schedule worked around us and our students. The engineers were amazing; even when I asked them to change from the agreed plan, they just got on with it. I felt I could trust them and they made everything so easy. The testing reports were provided promptly and were well laid out, and I can access copies at any time on the client portal. In fact, everything was just painless. We would definitely use Intersafe again.”
Estates Team representative, Cirencester College