A Sector in Transition

The education estate is under growing pressure. Tight budgets, ambitious sustainability targets, and aging infrastructure are shaping every conversation. Across two days of keynotes, panel sessions and project showcases, it became clear that collaboration and innovation will be the key to unlocking the next chapter of progress.

A recurring theme was sustainability not just as a policy objective, but as a practical, measurable challenge. Sessions explored retrofitting older buildings to meet new environmental standards, embedding low-carbon design principles, and leveraging technology to monitor performance. The message was clear: carbon reduction is no longer an add-on; it’s integral to good design and responsible estate management.

Innovation and Practicality

The exhibition floor reflected a sector brimming with innovation. From digital twins and smart energy management systems to modular construction and low-carbon materials, the solutions on display showcased how design and technology can combine to create smarter, more efficient learning spaces.

But alongside the excitement for the new, there was realism too. As one speaker put it, “Sometimes the most sustainable building is the one that already exists.” The debate around refurbishment versus new build was lively, as delegates weighed the financial, operational and environmental implications of each path.

Designing for People

Beyond energy performance and cost efficiency, the human experience of education spaces took centre stage. Accessibility, wellbeing, and flexibility emerged as essential design principles.

Sessions explored how better ventilation and daylighting contribute to student performance, how adaptable spaces can support evolving pedagogy, and how inclusivity can be built into every stage of the design process. These discussions reinforced that great educational design is about more than buildings it’s about the people who use them.

Policy, Funding and Delivery

Education Estates® also provided a valuable forum for addressing the realities of funding and governance. Representatives from the Department for Education highlighted how sustainability and resilience are becoming key considerations in future investment decisions.

Discussions around procurement models, capital funding routes, and risk management offered valuable insights for those balancing ambition with accountability. It was evident that effective leadership and early-stage collaboration are crucial to successful project delivery especially in an era of economic constraint.

Community, Collaboration and Recognition

One of the great strengths of Education Estates® is its sense of community. Architects, engineers, contractors, estate leaders, and policy makers come together not simply to exhibit or debate, but to listen and learn. The event’s awards evening provided a fitting celebration of that spirit recognising the projects and teams driving real change across the sector.

As several exhibitors noted, “It’s where the right people have the right conversations.” Those conversations between disciplines, organisations and ideas are what make Education Estates so valuable.

Looking Ahead

The takeaways from Manchester were both inspiring and practical. Sustainability must be embedded from the outset. Digital tools can help us manage estates more intelligently. Flexibility and inclusivity should guide every design brief. And above all, the sector’s collective expertise is its greatest resource.

As we return to our own organisations, the challenge is to keep that momentum going to translate the insight and energy of Education Estates into tangible action on our campuses, schools, and colleges.

The future of education design and build lies in collaboration, creativity, and courage, qualities that were in abundant supply in Manchester this year.