Education
Building Services & Sustainable Design Consultancy for Education
Creating sustainable, inspiring places to learn
SDS is a trusted building services and sustainability consultancy, delivering safe, efficient, and future-ready education facilities. For over 20 years we have worked with councils, architects, contractors, and Department for Education partners to create inclusive learning environments that support students, staff, and communities.
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Mechanical & Electrical (M&E) Design
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Sustainability & Net Zero Solutions
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Digital Engineering & BIM
Tom Bradley
Head of Education
Tom leads our education team, bringing hands-on experience from schools to universities across the UK. He’ll work alongside you to find practical, sustainable design solutions that make teaching and learning spaces healthier, safer, and more inspiring
Our Education Expertise
- MEP Design for Schools & Universities – Mechanical, Electrical and Public Health systems for new build, refurbishment, and estate-wide upgrades.
- DfE Standards & Net Zero – Designs aligned to Department for Education specifications, MMC (Modern Methods of Construction), and Net Zero Carbon targets.
- Digital Engineering & BIM – Fully coordinated 3D Revit models, ISO 19650 processes, COBie asset tagging, and clash detection to reduce risk and improve delivery.
- Sustainable Solutions – Low- and zero-carbon systems, TM52/TM54 assessments, Passivhaus-informed design, energy modelling and lifecycle performance analysis.
- Specialist Learning Facilities – SEN schools, STEM labs, lecture theatres, student residences, libraries, creative clusters and sports facilities.
Why education clients choose SDS
- Proven experience – from St John’s Academy (DfE Net Zero school) and Benton Park Primary to Crawley College’s regeneration and multiple University of Exeter projects.
- Track record in innovation – delivering modular schools with up to 70% offsite construction, aligned with DfE MMC frameworks.
- Minimising disruption – experienced in live school and campus environments, phasing works to protect student and staff safety.
- Sustainability built-in – a Net Carbon Negative consultancy since 2021, helping schools, colleges and universities achieve their own net-zero goals.
- Trusted partner – long-standing relationships with local authorities, academies, colleges and universities across the UK
Engineering the future of education
We are proud to support the next generation of learning environments. By combining technical excellence with a collaborative, student-focused approach, SDS helps deliver sustainable education facilities that enable better teaching, research, and community outcomes.
“The University of Exeter has worked successfully for many years with SDS as one of our preferred Consultants for Mechanical and Electrical design work… SDS were very helpful and professional… provided a consistent proactive approach, ensuring quality, and providing the required information to support the project process and we would certainly be happy to use them again.”
Jason Down, Estate Services, University of Exeter
Get in touch
Whether you’re looking to maximise energy performance or navigate the complexities of service coordination on constrained sites, SDS offers the insight, flexibility, and technical expertise to act as your trusted MEP partner. We will work with you at every stage to deliver efficient, buildable solutions that work.
