Overview

London Business School (LBS) is one of the top business schools in the world. Since 2015, it has relied on Whitestar to ensure the safety of students, staff and visitors across its London campus by comprehensively testing and maintaining over 4,000 electrical circuits, 3000 emergency lights and 15,000+ electrical devices throughout its 26 buildings.

As a result of Whitestar’s diligent and thorough service, LBS has not experienced a single electrical related incident throughout this five year period, leading to the renewal of the contract for another five years at the start of 2020. In addition, it has expanded the partnership by tasking Whitestar with the complete electrical renovation of a recently acquired 60,000 ft² building adjacent to the school’s main London campus in Sussex Place.

Challenge

Founded in 1964, London Business School (LBS) is widely considered to be one of the foremost business schools in the world. Situated in the iconic Sussex Place on the edge of Regent’s Park, its London campus comprises of 26 main buildings and is home to over 2,000 students from more than 100 different countries.

Student, staff and visitor safety is a top priority at all times for LBS. However, with such a large campus, it required a trusted partner capable of taking on the significant task of testing and maintaining all it’s electrical circuits, emergency lights and electrical devices across its 26 buildings. Furthermore, many of LBS’s buildings are of great historical importance, meaning that not only must they be protected as effectively as possible, they must also be treated with utmost care when conducting any electrical maintenance work.

Solution

Following a competitive six way tender in 2015, LBS selected Whitestar to conduct all Emergency Light Testing (ELT), Fixed Wire Testing (FWT) and Portable Appliance Testing (PAT), at its London campus.

Central to LBS’s decision was Whitestar’s proven track record, having already successfully completed multiple electrical projects for the school, as well as its detailed knowledge and shared belief in the critical importance of student, staff and visitor safety at all times.

Following its selection, Whitestar devised a comprehensive annual programme of ELT, FWT and PAT testing in accordance with BS7671:2018 and BS 5266-1:2016, focussed around on-site times that would minimise disruption to LBS’s normal scheduled activities. As part of its service, Whitestar also included a free round-the-clock emergency call out service for LBS, with a guarantee to be on-site within four hours of a call being placed – something no other provider could offer.

Benefits

Since Whitestar took over electrical testing and maintenance at its London Campus in 2015, LBS has not experienced a single electrical related incident. During this time, Whitestar’s diligent approach helped to identify and rectify numerous electrical issues before they caused any incidents. The success of the partnership has led LBS to renew its maintenance contract with Whitestar for another five years, through to 2025.

In addition, LBS has also expanded Whitestar’s remit to include a new, large-scale electrical renovation project. In 2017, LBS acquired the long term lease for 27 Sussex Place, adjacent to its main London campus building. The 60,000 ft², six story building was the former home of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, but was vacated at the start of 2020 under the terms of the new lease. Before LBS moves into the premises, it has tasked Whitestar with completely refitting it from a data and electrical perspective. This includes a full building safety analysis, as well as the installation of over 2,000 Cat 6A data points, 600 new light fittings and 1,110 new electrical sockets.

“Whitestar’s impeccable record over the last five years, combined with its impeccable standards and professional expertise, has seen it become integral to the ongoing safety and maintenance of our London campus,” says Lewis Eyre, Building Services Supervisor of London Business School. “When the time came to begin renovation work on 27 Sussex Place, we knew we could rely on John and his team to design and install a high quality new electrical infrastructure that would future proof the building for many years to come.”