Context
The University of Brighton is a thriving institution with a community of over 23,000 students and 2,600 staff spread across five campuses in Brighton, Eastbourne, and Hastings. With one of the best teaching quality ratings in the UK and a strong research record, the University places a high priority on the safety of everyone on its estate - and holds its compliance standards accordingly.
Intersafe has carried out annual fixed wire testing across all five University of Brighton campuses since winning a competitive four-way tender in 2011. More than a decade on, the relationship continues - a reflection of the consistent quality and genuine understanding of the university environment that Intersafe has brought to the contract from the outset.
Challenge
Delivering fixed wire testing across a multi-campus university estate, presented a substantial and ongoing operational challenge:
A large, dispersed estate with complex access requirements: Five campuses across Brighton, Eastbourne, and Hastings meant that testing works had to be carefully planned and sequenced across a geographically spread estate, with each site carrying its own access considerations and operational rhythm.
A campus that is rarely quiet: Unlike many education sites, the University's buildings and rooms are regularly hired out to external organisations during holiday periods. Works needed to flex around a site that remained active and busy throughout the year.
Minimising disruption to 23,000 students and 2,600 staff: With a large, permanent on-site community, the University required a testing partner prepared to work out of hours and around the calendar to ensure that fixed-wire testing caused no unnecessary disruption to teaching, research, or daily campus life.
Solution
Intersafe, part of Complii, won on the strength of a thorough, site-specific approach:
A site walkthrough before any proposal was finalised: Intersafe visited the University for an initial consultation, walking the campuses with the Electrical Services Engineer to fully assess the scope of work, understand potential disruption points, and develop practical solutions before putting together the testing plan and quote. The client described this approach as particularly impressive — and it set the tone for everything that followed.
A bespoke testing plan built around the University's calendar: The resulting programme incorporated significant out-of-hours and out-of-term testing to protect the day-to-day running of the campuses, with scheduling adapted throughout to accommodate the University's own bookings and room hire commitments .
A dedicated on-site engineer as a single point of contact: A dedicated engineer was assigned to be present on site throughout the testing programme, acting as the primary point of contact for the University and ensuring works progressed smoothly.
Comprehensive reporting forming part of the H&S record: On completion, Intersafe provided the University with full reports and drawings - thorough, well-organised documentation that now forms a vital part of the institution's health and safety compliance record.
Results
The University of Brighton has continued to appoint Intersafe for annual fixed wire testing across all five campuses since 2011:
Annual testing delivered across five campuses, every year: Fixed wire testing has been completed across the University's Brighton, Eastbourne, and Hastings sites on an annual basis since 2011
Zero unnecessary disruption to staff, students, or external users: Flexible, out-of-hours scheduling - adapted to accommodate even the University's busy holiday letting programme - ensured that testing was carried out without inconvenience to any of the 23,000+ people who rely on the campuses.
Robust compliance documentation in place: The thorough reports and drawings provided by Intersafe on completion of each testing cycle form a core part of the University's health and safety documentation, giving the institution an auditable, reliable compliance record year on year.
“We had heard of Intersafe some time before and were very impressed when they came to visit us. As the time came to choose companies to tender, it was an obvious choice to invite them to compete. The prices put forward were competitive and, added to their strong track record, it was a winning combination. It was particularly reassuring to be able to walk around the site together and look at the buildings to be tested — I was very impressed with the way Intersafe took the time to evaluate what disruption might be caused and what solutions could be put in place to minimise it. They provided us with a dedicated engineer on site at all times as our main point of contact, which was very helpful. We often hire university rooms to companies and organisations, so even during the holidays the site is busy — it was great that Intersafe was able to work unusual hours to accommodate this. The full report and drawings provided after the work was carried out are very thorough and form a vital part of our health and safety documentation. I would certainly recommend Intersafe to anyone looking to carry out fixed wire inspection and testing.”
Electrical Services Engineer, University of Brighton