Bringing clarity to complexity across one of the UK’s largest university estates

University of Manchester

Managing over 300 buildings and more than 10,000 assets, the University of Manchester needed more than just a CAFM system. They required a single, future-ready platform to streamline estate operations, improve compliance and provide full oversight across a complex campus.

Following a competitive OJEU tender, they chose Concerto.

Manchester

The challenge: scale, compliance and disconnected systems

The University set out to:

  • Replace legacy systems with a single, secure platform
  • Gain visibility and control over asset and space data
  • Align maintenance with SFG20 standards
  • Centralise compliance documentation
  • Integrate with systems including BMS and finance
  • Improve the tracking of reactive and planned maintenance

They needed a solution that worked out of the box but could still grow with them.

The solution: one platform for smarter estates

Concerto delivered a full IWMS solution. Secure, cloud-hosted and aligned with the University's data and security policies.

Key features included:

  • Asset and space management
  • Reactive and planned maintenance scheduling
  • Statutory compliance tracking
  • Document storage and audit readiness
  • Project and programme management
  • Real-time dashboards and reporting

All configured using standard modules, ensuring quick deployment and long-term flexibility.

“Going live with Concerto IWMS has given us real-time assurance on compliance while laying the groundwork for fully joined-up project and programme management.” — Jon Ashley, Director of Estates Support

The delivery: structured, supported, successful

Concerto worked closely with the University to deliver the platform step by step:

  • Discovery workshops with Estates, IT, Compliance and Capital Projects
  • Migration from multiple systems into a single asset register
  • Room-level data reconciliation
  • Optional support for QR and NFC tagging
  • Training through classroom sessions, mobile guidance and digital walkthroughs

A post-launch hypercare period ensured stability, user feedback and smooth adoption.

The results: control, compliance and visibility

Today, the system manages over 10,000 assets across the estate and supports daily operations at scale. The University now benefits from:

  • Better space and asset utilisation with accurate data
  • Faster issue resolution with full maintenance traceability
  • Reliable compliance tracking and audit support
  • End-to-end visibility for project and programme delivery
  • Secure user access aligned to internal IT policies

Book a discovery session with our team

Concerto helps higher education estates run better from plant room to project boardroom.

 

Request your personal demo

The challenge: scale, compliance and disconnected systems

The University set out to:

  • Replace legacy systems with a single, secure platform

  • Gain visibility and control over asset and space data

  • Align maintenance with SFG20 standards

  • Centralise compliance documentation

  • Integrate with systems including BMS and finance

  • Improve the tracking of reactive and planned maintenance

They needed a solution that worked out of the box but could still grow with them.

The solution: one platform for smarter estates

Concerto delivered a full IWMS solution. Secure, cloud-hosted and aligned with the University's data and security policies.

Key features included:

  • Asset and space management

  • Reactive and planned maintenance scheduling

  • Statutory compliance tracking

  • Document storage and audit readiness

  • Project and programme management

  • Real-time dashboards and reporting

All configured using standard modules, ensuring quick deployment and long-term flexibility.

“Going live with Concerto IWMS has given us real-time assurance on compliance while laying the groundwork for fully joined-up project and programme management.” — Jon Ashley, Director of Estates Support

 

The delivery: structured, supported, successful

Concerto worked closely with the University to deliver the platform step by step:

  • Discovery workshops with Estates, IT, Compliance and Capital Projects

  • Migration from multiple systems into a single asset register

  • Room-level data reconciliation

  • Optional support for QR and NFC tagging

  • Training through classroom sessions, mobile guidance and digital walkthroughs

A post-launch hypercare period ensured stability, user feedback and smooth adoption.

The results: control, compliance and visibility

Today, the system manages over 10,000 assets across the estate and supports daily operations at scale. The University now benefits from:

  • Better space and asset utilisation with accurate data

  • Faster issue resolution with full maintenance traceability

  • Reliable compliance tracking and audit support

  • End-to-end visibility for project and programme delivery

  • Secure user access aligned to internal IT policies

Book a discovery session with our team.

Concerto helps higher education estates run better from plant room to project boardroom.

What our customers think

Our customers grow with us, which is why we proudly maintained 100% customer retention in both 2023 and 2024.

We cannot thank you enough.

Tia Willis-Jones
Functional Developer

It is a credit to Concerto that the technology and usability of the software is both comprehensive and user-friendly.

Bruce Barclay
Head of Property and Facilities

The Service Desk is always very responsive to tickets raised.

Tracey Squirrell
Assistant Building Liaison Officer

It's becoming a bit of go-to software, particularly for local authorities and local government because we have such a diverse portfolio, and to capture that accurately is not easily done.

Mark Davey
Asset Records Manager

Excited at the opportunities that Concerto presents them with for delivering real business improvement and change.

Denise Wood
Registrar

You have a great team at Concerto.

Claire Norman
Project Office Manager

You guys have been superb. Our onboarding consultant, Rachel, gets a special mention.

Mike Crawford
Estates Manager

Kudos to Concerto, they really show how such a question set should be approached.

We all came away feeling very confident that we’ll be well guided through this major project.

Mark Duggan
Head of Assets and Compliance

Thanks for the training today, great session and well received by the whole team.

Jo Petford
National Facilities Manager

The support we have received from Dave has been exceptional. His knowledge and the speed/detail of his responses make everything easy to understand.

Helen Bell
Transformation Project Manager

Concerto gives me real-time information and transparency of our statutory obligations.

Laura Birnbaum
Assistant Director of Property & TSS

Let's start the conversation

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