Welcome to our latest monthly round up. It’s been an exciting and impactful start to the year, marked by our appointment to ESPO’s national framework, major progress on several education and care projects, and a historic planning approval for the largest application in Concertus history. We’ve also celebrated milestone achievements across our Derbyshire schemes, continued our commitment to quality with successful BIM re‑certification, and shared proud moments, from award shortlisting to supporting young people through mock interviews and National Apprenticeship Week. With so many developments to explore, we hope you enjoy reading.

Concertus Appointed to ESPO’s National Framework
Concertus has been successfully appointed to ESPO’s Property, Building & Infrastructure Advice & Management Services Framework (2664_26).

We’re proud to have secured a place on all five regional lots:
• Lot 1 – North of England
• Lot 2 – Midlands
• Lot 3 – East of England
• Lot 4 – South of England
• Lot 5 – London

Over the next four years, we’ll be supporting local authorities, schools, and eligible UK public bodies with comprehensive design and property services under this framework.

Matthew Self, Managing Director at Concertus, said: “We are incredibly proud to secure a place on the ESPO Framework. This appointment reflects the expertise, dedication, and hard work of our team. We look forward to deepening our collaboration with ESPO and supporting clients on transformative public sector projects across the UK.” Read more here.

New SEND Unit Reaches Key Milestone in £55m Countywide Investment
A topping out event recently took place at Dell Primary School in Lowestoft to celebrate the progress of the new Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) unit.

Dell Primary School, part of Evolution Academy Trust, is set to open its new facilities in September 2026. This new unit is part of Suffolk County Council’s £55 million investment to create over 1,250 new SEND placements across the county. It will include a new classroom, a group room, a staff workroom, associated washrooms, a cleaner’s store, and a plant room, with the capacity to accommodate 12 pupils.

We are pleased to be delivering this new unit in partnership with Brooks & Wood Ltd. Read more about the project here.

Planning Permission Granted on the Biggest Planning Application in Concertus’ History
The successful planning approval of the strategic mixed-use development of land West of Mildenhall, situated on both sides of West Row Road, was granted.

Following a presentation and debate lasting nearly 3.5 hours, the committee approved the hybrid planning application, allowing for the construction of up to 1,000 homes. In addition to new homes, this development aims to deliver an 80-bed care facility, five hectares of commercial space, a local centre, a primary school, two nursery schools, associated highway and drainage infrastructure, and public open space, including ten hectares of suitable alternative natural greenspace.

We worked for Suffolk County Council and are proud of our team, who have worked on this scheme since its inception, including all of our partners Bluepencil Design Ltd, Phase 2 Planning and Development Ltd, AECOM, David Jarvis Associates Limited, Adrian James Acoustics, Waterman, RPS, EDI, Create Consulting Engineers, and Geosphere Environmental Ltd. Read more here.

Progress at Spire Lodge in Chesterfield
Significant milestones have recently been achieved on site at Spire Lodge in Chesterfield, including the installation of the new electric substation, with services now being connected to the building. The project is moving into the testing and commissioning phase, marking an exciting step forward.

Inside the building, second-fix works and internal finishes are progressing well, adding definition and character to the developing spaces. Despite the recent poor weather, the team is making substantial headway externally too; external works are advancing steadily from the furthest part of the site towards the new entrance.

Spire Lodge is designed to provide tailored support and a nurturing environment for children and their families, reflecting Derbyshire County Council’s commitment to enhancing services for children with special needs and disabilities (SEND). We look forward to continuing to deliver this project with Stepnell and sharing further updates as this important project continues to take shape.

Expansion at Norbriggs Primary School Picks Up Pace
The expansion of Norbriggs Primary School in Chesterfield is progressing well. The expansion work began in spring 2025, focusing on extending the school playground, improving fencing, providing additional staff parking and landscaping works. The main construction phase is now underway, with the building structure making significant progress. This expansion will add four new classrooms, a group room, and toilet facilities, enhancing the teaching environment for both students and teachers.

We are pleased to be working with Stepnell for Derbyshire County Council and look forward to sharing more progress soon.

Continuing Our Commitment to Quality with Successful BIM Re‑Certification
Concertus successfully completed the LRQA re‑certification audit, confirming our continued approach to delivering Building Information Modelling (BIM) in line with ISO 19650‑2:2018.

Certified as a Lead Appointed Party under the UKAS‑accredited scheme, this achievement showcases our unwavering commitment to quality, innovation, and best‑practice information management.

This re‑certification demonstrates that our BIM processes and documentation are robust, entirely up to date, and aligned with the latest industry guidance, reinforcing the trust our clients place in us to deliver digitally driven, collaborative, and compliant projects.

Marigold House Care Home Shortlisted in 2026 Care Home Awards
Marigold House Care Home has been shortlisted for Best New Care Home or Retirement Living Development and Best for Architecture or Interior Design in the 2026 Care Home Awards.

We are immensely proud of this project and every detail that our team carefully considered to create a truly supportive and inclusive environment for residents. You can read our full case study here.

Completed in 2025, Marigold House Care Home is the first new care home for Central Bedfordshire Council in 50 years and offers a three-storey, 63-bed care home. Each bedroom has been designed for flexibility and ease of use, featuring spacious, accessible bathrooms and specialist profiling care beds. We look forward to the awards evening in May.

Team Support Mock Interview Sessions in Derbyshire
Our team recently visited Highfields School in Matlock, where they supported Year 11 students by conducting a full-day mock interview session. Giving students the chance to practice presenting themselves confidently and professionally as they begin to consider their next steps beyond GCSEs was incredibly rewarding for our team, too.

We’re delighted to share that the school provided excellent feedback following the event. More than 200 students took part in the mock interviews, each gaining valuable one‑to‑one experience in a supportive and realistic setting. By offering tailored guidance, they helped prepare these young people for the real interviews they will soon face, whether for college, apprenticeships, or future employment, helping them feel better prepared for the opportunities ahead.

Concertus Sponsor Local Apprenticeship Awards
We attended Suffolk New College’s Apprenticeship Awards as one of the event sponsors, alongside S&P UK Ventilation Systems.

This event allowed us the opportunity to meet this year’s apprentices and hear about their journeys and achievements firsthand. We also enjoyed connecting with our partners at Suffolk New College and had some exciting discussions about how we can continue to support the college through our industry partnership. It was a truly inspiring night and a reminder of the talent emerging from our local skills pipeline. We are proud to continue supporting the next generation of professionals.

National Apprenticeship Week 2026
To celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, we met with our Trainee Civil Engineer, Harvey Barfield and Associate Director, Charles Coulson, to talk about why they chose an apprenticeship, how they are getting on with their qualifications and how their apprenticeships are shaping their professional journeys.

Charles Coulson – Watch here.

Harvey Barfield – Watch here.