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East Midlands Consultancy Framework
We are very pleased to announce that AIMS has been appointed to the East Midlands Consultancy Framework for specialist planning and property consultancy. All local authorities and public bodies within the East Midlands can use the framework, as can local authorities in other areas. This appointment recognises the specialist skills the company has to offer in this area, and our significant track record in delivering planning and property advice to a large spread of public and private sector clients

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
AIMS was appointed in January 2008 by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, a part of London University, to prepare an Investment Option Appraisal and Risk Analysis paper for the College's Estates Department. Work will commence in mid January.

Lewisham and Greenwich Colleges
AIMS is working closely with Tenon, financial advisers, on the due diligence process for the proposed merger between Lewisham College and Greenwich College. AIMS is providing strategic advice on high level property risks during the merger period as part of its on-going working relationship with Tenon

New members of staff
AIMS are delighted to announce the appointment of Tina Helm - Strategic Planning Consultant, Reddy Nallamilli, Alan Hardwick - Planning Consultant

University of Kent
AIMS has been appointed to develop the Estates Strategy for the University of Kent, covering both its main Canterbury Campus and its holdings at Medway.

A number of workstreams are involved, with town planning and space planning both pivotal. The strategy will examine the shape of the University in 2015, working alongside other consultants and the University's own team.

The output from our work is expected around Easter 2008.

North Nottinghamshire College
AIMS has been re-appointed as lead consultant and strategic property adviser for North Nottinghamshire College. AIMS is leading the development of the College’s Feasibility Study on its preferred property option. Working closely with KPMG and with members of our expert practitioner network, we have been able to deploy a wide-ranging team in order to develop the preferred option to the next level with a view to achieving approval in principle from the LSC in the Summer of 2008

University of Edinburgh
AIMS were recently engaged to produce a HEFCE/Green Book Compliance Option Analysis for the University's School of Geosciences.

University of Exeter
Exeter wishes to become one of the top 10 UK universities within five years. AIMS was requested to produce a delivery strategy and evaluate the risks associated wih the University's plans as well as produce site specific option analysis work. Work is currently ongoing and is due for completion in phases by November 2007.

Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust
AIMS increasing experience in the health sector has been underlined by its recent appointment to assist the Trust in the development of a masterplan for the west flank of its central Northampton site. Working jointly with Sheppard Robinson architects, AIMS will be undertaking a development consultancy role in generating and appraising a number of options, taking account of market demand as well as planning constraints and opportunities, AIMS sees the health sector as an area of expansion, utilising experience gained in University teaching hospitals as well as direct consultancy activity in the health sector.

Cambridge Education Group (CEG)
AIMS has been appointed to assist the highly reputed CEG in the next stage of its expansion plans. CEG is one of the leading providers of pre-university and English Language teaching in the UK and is looking to build on its existing base – a well established campus in Cambridge and a more recent one in Canterbury – by establishing a number of other centres. AIMS is advising on the overall business case and especially the size and specific location of the next centre. AIMS is working with CB Richard Ellis on the site search and negotiation details.

University of Bedfordshire
The University has been commissioned AIMS to produce an analytical survey of existing space versus future spatial requirements at their Bedford Campus

David Ludford
AIMS is pleased to announce the appointment of David Ludford as Head of Projects, London and South East. He has joined the company from CB Richard Ellis to help expand our services both in the South East and beyond. As part of our growth strategy, he will also be responsible for setting up our new London Office. David has significant experience in development consultancy, project management, planning and property strategies, both in the HE and FE sectors, as well as the public sector more generally.

Tyne Metropolitan College
AIMS is delighted to announce that it is working with Tyne Metropolitan College on a Feasibility Study as part of the inplementation of its Property Strategy. AIMS has completed the first stage of work and is engaging closely with the College and its stakeholders on a range of strategic matters. AIMS has deployed its core team quickly and is working with both EC Harris and Storeys SSP to bring the Feasibility Study to fruition this summer.

MANCAT and City College Manchester
AIMS have been appointed jointly with Tenon and Freeth Cartwright to conduct the Due Dilligence for the proposed merger of MANCAT and City College Manchester.

North Nottinghamshire College
AIMS is working closely with KPMG on the property strategy for North Nottinghamshire College. The College is already highly successful but faces the challenges of competing with the substantial levels of investment in education facilities locally and regionally. AIMS is providing strategic property and planning advice to support the development of the College Property Strategy and is working closely with the Education, Property and Finance teams at KPMG to refine the preferred option.

University of Kent
AIMS has completed a scoping document for the University, identifying and prioritising areas that need to be researched as part of a full Estates Strategy in respect of the University's Canterbury campus.

University of Sunderland
AIMS has been appointed by the University to review the University's Halls of Residence Strategy and report on flexible solutions for the provision of student accommodation in a changing marketplace.

Silverstone
AIMS has been mandated by BRDC at Silverstone to put together ideas for the creation of a major new educational hub on the Silverstone estate and adjacent to the track. AIMS has interviewed a selection of HE and FE institutions and other stakeholders with regard to this project and has been working closely with CBRE, HOK and Cube.

London Marathon
Sarah Haines combines competitive and long distance marathon running with her busy schedule at AIMS' head office in Nuneaton. She will be participating in the 2007 Marathon which is taking place in London on 22nd April.

University of Cumbria
AIMS is working on a full assessment of options for student accommodation to be owned by the new University of Cumbria. AIMS has brought in the Russell Partnership to assist with the assessment of conference and out-of-term-time revenue.

New member of staff
AIMS has recruited Matthew Hartshorn to assist in the production of architectural drawings and designs. Matthew is a qualified CAD Technician and architectural draughtsman.

Dixie Grammar School
Dixie Grammar School in Market Bosworth has asked AIMS to look at their freehold and leasehold assets and draft an Estates Strategy for them.

University of Salford
AIMS has been asked by the University of Salford to advise on the procurement of student accommodation and to provide a strategic Masterplan for future academic and student accommodation requirements.

University of Sunderland
AIMS has been commissioned by the Unversity of Sunderland to provide client-side advice to propose and implement a sustainable term strategy for the University's diverse stock of student accommodation. AIMS has assembled a team that includes local lawyers Burton Watson, J C Rathbones and Quayle Munro.

UCLAN
AIMS has assisted the University in identifying future space requirements for the Faculty of Science. AIMS developed a model of the space needs of the Faculty, appraised the current space envelope, and assisted in negotiation to secure additional resources for the Faculty.

University of the Arts
AIMS has been retained by the University of the Arts to look into elements of their student accommodation portfolio.

Royal College of Music
AIMS has been commissioned to provide the Royal College of Music with a User Needs Analysis of their current facilities based on interviews with senior academic staff and management.

New member of staff
Emily Ushewokunze has joined our Planning Division as Assistant Planner. Having completed her BA (Hons) in Sociology and Social Policy, Emily also graduated with an MSc in Town Planning from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne.

Emily is working closely with Geoff Wright, Head of Planning at AIMS, on a range of our public and commercial projects.

AIMS Documenta
AIMS launches ‘Aims Documenta’. AIMS has developed a service to assist FE and HE Institutions to outsource the recording of their property assets. AIMS Documenta is a ‘terrier’ service whereby each asset is listed together with full details of ownership, land registry information, GIS reference, lease details, mortgage details and rental and capital repayment schedules. Contact either Francis Hazeel or Bryan Thomas for more details of this service and to discuss your requirements.

AIMS European Consultancy
AIMS has inaugurated its European consultancy business by looking at two important advisory initiatives in the Higher Education sector in Italy and in Belgium. AIMS has exchanged memoranda with a view to signing a collaboration agreement with IMO consulting. IMO are undertaking a series of consultancies for Italian Universities and are interested in AIMS’ expertise in the following areas:-
• specialist space use analysis/benchmarking
• strategic planning
• data analysis

Daventry Learning Partnership
AIMS has joined a consultancy team as a specialist adviser in a brief to advise the Daventry learning partnership on the feasibility of a new facility in the Learning Quarter of Daventry.

Leicester Grammar School
Leicester Grammar School has won consent for a new school site, following a call-in public enquiry. AIMS gave expert planning advice, thereby assisting the Secretary of State to reach this favourable planning decision.

University of Derby
AIMS has been appointed by the University of Derby to complete a high-level land-ownership, planning and long term strategic land strategy for its substantial City Centre and peripheral land holdings.

John Moores University
John Moores University, Liverpool has appointed AIMS to provide creative input to the briefing and development of phases of their £60m reconstruction programme. AIMS will focus on providing the strategic advice in connection with the creation of an innovative new generation of HE buildings. These structures will combine formal, informal learning uses with learning resources, research, social and student support spaces. The approach is based on creating a radical new customer-focused entity that will result in significant operational efficiency savings as well as in delivering unprecedented sophisticated service levels to the University's customers.

Opportunity Peterborough
AIMS has been mandated by Opportunity Peterborough to investigate the economic and social context to the creation of a new University of Peterborough and to assess the educational requirements of local employers.

South Leicestershire College
Having completed a Property Strategy for South Leicestershire College, AIMS has been retained in connection with the Second Phase, namely to support the College in the project management of its preferred option.

Framework Study for Student Accommodation
A framework study on ownership and procurement options with respect to Student Accommodation in London has been completed for the University of Westminster. AIMS worked with Quayle Munro in the preparation of the report.

New Appointment for Francis Hazeel
Francis Hazeel has been elected a Freeman of the Guild of Educators and appointed a Trustee of the Guild of Educators Trust Fund.

Birmingham New Hospitals Project
The £560m Birmingham New Hospitals project achieved financial close in June. AIMS provided planning consultancy advice to the joint venture and helped secure detailed planning permissions, enabling the project to proceed.

Hertford College, Oxford
AIMS has been appointed by Hertford College Oxford to produce a space utilisation survey to inform the future development of its landed estate.

ISIS Waterside Regeneration
AIMS has been appointed by ISIS Waterside Regeneration Limited as Planning Consultants to promote a 27 acre canal-side mixed use redevelopment close to Birmingham City Centre.

UUK Planning Guidelines
AIMS chaired the first major consultative group meeting for the new planning guidelines at UUK's headquarters in London on 23/6/06. AIMS has been commissioned on behalf of the sector to complete a thorough review and update of the former CVCP 1998 Planning Guidelines for all institutions. The consultative group comprises representatives from central government, CABE, MRTPI, The Inspectorate, and the Planning Officers Society/GLA. This was a key meeting during which high level feedback was received on a second draft of the document. The final draft will be launched in late October through UUK.

AIMS Confidential Service
The ‘AIMS Confidential’ Review Service has commenced with a number of commercially sensitive appointments. AIMS is assisting institutions to review past and present property and space related decision making processes. The reviews are highly sensitive and the subject of system of confidentiality agreements developed specifically for the sector. AIMS provides an experienced part troubleshooting/part analytical resource that institutions can draw on.

University of Wales, Aberystwyth
AIMS has been appointed to develop an Estates Strategy for the University of Wales, Aberystwyth to meet the requirements of the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales.

New Head of Strategic Planning
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Bryan Thomas as Head of Strategic Planning. Bryan joins us from De Montfort University where he held the role of Head of Organisational & Strategic Development. Bryan entered the higher education sector in 1993 and joined DMU in 1997 serving in a range of registry and planning posts before becoming a PFI Project Director for DMU.

New Architect and Space Planner
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Sarah Haines as Architect and Space Planner at AIMS. Sarah qualified in 2001, having studied at both Liverpool University and De Montfort University, Leicester. She joined us from the 'b + r' Partnership, Market Harborough, where she had worked on a number of residential projects, mainly for developers. Prior to this, her experience was gained at Mackenzie Wheeler, London, where she was involved in a number of interior projects for Bars/Restaurants and extensions/refurbishments to existing residential properties. Sarah is currently developing a conceptual study for the new student centre at St Martin's College.

New University of Cumbria
AIMS continues to work on the New University of Cumbria project and are moving to an enabling brief in respect of the £46m investment first phases of the programme in Lancaster. AIMS has completed the brief for the first phase £5m key campus centre building and is providing master-planning briefing support and phasing analysis input to an outline planning submission for all phases.