Are Your Facilities Delivering Real Value? The 3Es Framework Every Facilities or states Lead Should Know
- Nick Calcutt
- 12 hours ago
- 2 min read
Earlier today I pulled over at the top of Holme Moss — 1,719 feet above sea level, wind doing its very best to end the shoot early — to record a short video about something I think every school, Multi-Academy Trust leader, Facilities or Estates Manager deserves to understand.
It's called the 3Es Framework. And it could completely change how you think about your facilities provision.
What is the 3Es Framework?
The 3Es is the UK's recognised standard for measuring Value for Money. It's used in public sector auditing and performance management, and it's built around three core measures:
Economy — Are you procuring the right quality inputs at a fair and appropriate price? This isn't just about getting the lowest quote. It's about ensuring what you're buying is fit for purpose for your specific setting.
Efficiency — Are those inputs being used well? Is there waste, drift, or duplication in your current provision? A contract that looked great on day one can erode significantly within six months without proper oversight.
Effectiveness — Are the outcomes actually being delivered for the people in your building? Are your staff proud of the environment? Are pupils learning in a space that supports their wellbeing? Are you protected when Ofsted walks through the door?
Why most facilities contracts only measure one E
The honest answer is that Economy — price — is the easiest thing to measure. It's on the invoice. It's in the budget. But on its own it tells you almost nothing about whether your facilities provision is actually working.
We speak to schools and MATs across the North of England who are paying a fair price for a service that isn't delivering against Efficiency or Effectiveness. They don't always know it, because nobody's ever shown them how to look.
That's what we're here to change.
How to start scoring your own provision
Score your current facilities services — cleaning, grounds maintenance, caretaking, compliance — against each of the three Es, out of ten. Add them up. Divide by thirty. Multiply by one hundred. You've got a Value for Money score.
Anything below seventy and there's a conversation worth having. Not about cost. About what's missing.
Get the free guide
We've put together a completely free 3Es Value For Money Guide that walks you through the full framework, how to apply it to each service line, what good looks like, and the questions you should be asking your current provider.
No sales pitch. No strings. Just genuinely useful insight for anyone responsible for a school or trust estate.
💬 Comment VALUE on any of our social posts, or get in touch directly at vital-facilities.co.uk and we'll get it straight to you.
Nick
Vital Facilities - facilities partners for schools, MATs, commercial premises owners & managers across the North of England.
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