As summer approaches, last month, we celebrated the official reopening of Otley Primary School following a fire, the progress of the first Esports facility in the region, and the official halfway point of a new sports hall at Edward Peake CofE School in Biggleswade. We hope you enjoy reading our updates.

Ribbon-Cutting Celebration Marks Reopening of Otley Primary School
We are pleased to have celebrated the reopening of Otley Primary School. The incredible teamwork between the project team, Seamans Building, and Suffolk County Council saw temporary classrooms set up quickly at Witnesham Primary School, allowing for a smooth transition back to a safe learning environment.

The reopening celebration featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by excited pupils and staff, showcasing the remarkable renovations made. We are proud to have played a part in restoring this vital educational space for the community.

Read more about the event here.

Edward Peake’s New Sports Hall Reaches Halfway Point
We are thrilled to have celebrated the official halfway point of the new sports hall at Edward Peake CofE School in Biggleswade. Ceremonial bricks have been laid to mark the occasion. We are pleased to be working with Barnes Construction, Hoggath Cooke Knight and Central Bedfordshire Council to deliver these works.

The new multi-use games area (MUGA) has been open since the start of this year, while the new sports hall is set to be completed in the autumn. In this brand-new, modern space, pupils will have more access to sports such as badminton, basketball, cricket, dance, aerobics, and yoga.

Read more about the project here.

Progress on the Region’s First Esports Facility
Fantastic progress is being made on site to transform the existing Long Street building into a dynamic Esports facility on the University of Suffolk’s Ipswich campus.

The team visited the site last week, where Justine Oakes, Head of Strategic Estates Management at the University, expressed, “It was a special moment to visit our Long Street building, now well on its journey from an unused shell to a cutting-edge Esports and broadcasting facility. For a young and progressive University like the University of Suffolk, such a seemingly unassuming legacy building provides a foundational link to our deeper heritage with Ipswich and, I believe, helps reinforce our educational roots in the town and County. A tremendous amount of hard work has taken place already.”

Read our case study here.

You can also watch our flythrough of the facilities by visiting our YouTube channel here.

Concertus Exhibited at The Eastern Education Show
The Eastern Educations Show at Newmarket Race Course was a great opportunity to speak to academies, sixth-form colleges, and school leaders about how our experienced team can assist in managing their property estates efficiently.

In case you missed us, you can visit our website to find out how we can assist in securing essential funding for building improvements through the Condition Improvement Funding (CIF) programme.

Here you will find a short video of Matthew Smith, Associate in Building Surveying, explaining how we can assist academies, sixth-form colleges, and schools in securing essential funding for building improvements through the Condition Improvement Funding (CIF) programme.

An Evening with the University of Suffolk
Our associate, Steven Ryles, had a fantastic evening at the exclusive Esports Showcase last night. With the University of Suffolk’s new esports degree launching this September, attendees had the opportunity to tour the new building. Steven answered questions about the design and provided updates on the progress of the major renovation project.

Sarah Westwood, Justine Oakes and Charlie Smith did a fantastic job presenting to the group, sharing awareness and support opportunities for the course going forward. We are pleased to collaborate with Barnes Construction on the new Esports facility and look forward to sharing more of the project soon.

Vertas Group Named Finalist in Three Categories at the EADT Business Awards
In case you missed it, Vertas Group has been named a FINALIST in three categories at the East Anglian Daily Times Business Awards!

We’re honoured to be included as a finalist in the following categories: Businessperson of the Year, Large Business of the Year and Positive Impact in the Community. This is a massive achievement for the Group and a true reflection of the dedication and hard work of our incredible teams across the business. It’s an absolute honour to be recognised alongside so many inspiring businesses in our county. Keep an eye out for the results, but in the meantime, you can read more here.

Vertas Group Charity Golf Day 2025
Concertus took part in the Vertas Group Limited annual Charity Golf Day at Hintelsham Golf Club in Ipswich. Led by Ian Surtees, MBA FloD, Vertas Group’s Chief Executive Officer, the team had a fantastic day and is delighted to have raised over £2,000.00 for Cancer Research UK (CRUK) with the help of our fantastic sponsors.

Thank you to everyone who participated and supported such an important cause. You can read more about the day here.

Vertas Group Sponsor Suffolk Chamber of Commerce Prestige Dinner
The Suffolk Chamber of Commerce Prestige Dinner is set to return this September, and we are proud to be a key sponsor of the event.

The black-tie event remains a highlight of the Suffolk business calendar, offering guests a unique opportunity to connect and celebrate success across the county. Moreover, this year’s guest speaker, The Reverend Richard Coles, cleric, broadcaster, writer, former Communard, and I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! You can read more about our sponsorship here.