Revolutionising Education Estates: Dan Newton and the Rise of SETL

A £13 billion funding gap is crippling the UK’s education estates.

The cause?

Under-resourced estate managers responsible for millions of square feet of school property without the training, tools, or support they need.

One unlikely leader is stepping in to change that, not with a traditional background, but with a vision born from lived experience: Dan Newton.

Dan Newton - Co-founder of SETL

Dan, a business development manager at Charles Garth Building Consultancy, doesn’t come from a traditional background. However, his understanding of the problem and the courage to leave stability behind to solve it are precisely what the sector needs.

A CRISIS HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT

£13bn: The estimated deficit in UK education estates due to underqualified estate management.

The numbers tell a sobering story, but Dan's insights reveal the human factors behind them.

"Most estate managers come into their roles without specialised training," Dan explains. "They're often from non-property backgrounds and suddenly find themselves responsible for multi-million-pound property portfolios without the right tools or knowledge."

This lack of expertise creates a dangerous knowledge gap.

When buildings begin deteriorating and budgets tighten, many estate managers lack both the experience and data to implement the effective solutions necessary to advocate for appropriate funding.

The consequences ripple throughout the educational system, from leaking roofs disrupting classrooms to inefficient energy systems draining limited school budgets. With shrinking resources and growing demands, these professionals need support now more than ever.

FROM SALES TACTIC TO SECTOR MOVEMENT

What makes Dan's story compelling isn't just where he's headed, but how his destination evolved.

While at Charles Garth, he began developing what was initially a lead generation tool to connect with more estate managers. He strategically substituted cold calling for a warmer approach of inviting estate managers to a roundtable to discuss their problems.

The concept rapidly gained traction, with Yorkshire yielding initial success, then next in Newcastle with strong attendance. The events united nine estate managers, revealing common challenges that demanded a more comprehensive solution.

"What struck me during these roundtables was how isolated these managers felt" Dan says. "They were all facing similar problems but had no structured way to share solutions with each other."

Years earlier, Dan had conceived an idea for "CPD Go", an app designed for Chartered Building Surveyors to meet CPD requirements easily. He identified an opportunity to create software to address the pain point of consuming CPD on one platform. However, he shelved the concept after realising the staggering costs of execution.

Interestingly, a crucial insight emerged when the estate managers at his roundtables began expressing similar pain points about knowledge-sharing and professional development.

"I realised that building a supportive community for estate managers might actually have a greater impact than any app," Dan reflects. "Sometimes what you think is a detour ends up being the main road."

This insight led to the School Estate Thought Leaders (SETL) conception. Dan, alongside Lee McCardle, co-founded SETL, officially launching on May 1st 2025.

School Estate Thought Leaders (SETL)

🚀 At a Glance: SETL

• Founded: May 2025

• Co-Founders: Dan Newton, Lee McCardle

• Mission: connect and upskill school estate managers

• Key Milestone: To host the first education panel at UKREiiF 2025

• Delivery: Training modules, community platform, podcast (Behind the Chalkboard)

TURNING INSIGHT INTO INFRASTRUCTURE

SETL's mission is simple yet ambitious: unite estate managers throughout the UK to foster collaboration and share best practices.

The platform provides training modules to help managers gain qualifications while creating spaces for knowledge exchange.

"One school might have solved an issue that another is still struggling with," Dan notes. "But without a connecting infrastructure, those solutions remain isolated."

SETL has evolved from a lead-generation idea into a registered business with the power to influence national policy. By creating structured pathways for professional development and facilitating collaboration, SETL aims to address the root causes of the education estates crisis rather than just treating symptoms.

BACKING BIG IDEAS WITH BIG VOICES

Recognising that systemic change requires influential allies, Dan has assembled an advisory board designed to challenge education policy from multiple angles.

It features Francesca Biagri Lari, Procurement Lead at the Department for Education, and Rebecca Heald, a leadership and inclusion specialist. Other members include Marc Burrow, Head of Diocesan Academies Trust and CEO of Buckshee Ltd, and Lee McCardle, Managing Director at Charles Garth.

"Building this advisory board was about finding people who understand the problems from different vantage points," He exclaims. "We need voices from within the system and those who can see it objectively from outside."

This strategic approach extends to partnerships as well. A collaboration with UK REiiF involves the establishment of SETL's education panel, representing a significant step toward addressing industry challenges.

This panel will bring together thought leaders and practitioners to develop practical solutions that can be implemented across the sector.

"Having the right people around the table changes everything," Dan emphasises. "It's not just about having good ideas, it's about having the collective influence to implement them."

WHAT'S NEXT FOR SETL

With SETL now officially launched, Dan continues refining the platform while reaching out to potential sponsors and partners.

The podcast he runs, "Behind The Chalkboard", centred on education, serves as both a content channel and a networking tool, helping him stay connected with the very professionals he aims to support.

What is clear is that Dan's vision addresses a critical need in an often-overlooked sector.

By creating infrastructure for connection among estate managers, SETL has the potential to transform how educational facilities are managed, ultimately benefiting the schools and students these buildings serve.

For Dan, the path forward involves continued adaptation and persistence. But if successful, his journey could help close a multi-billion-pound deficit while creating healthier learning environments across the UK, proving that sometimes the most valuable solutions come from those willing to navigate uncertainty to solve problems others have ignored.

SETL isn’t just a platform — it’s a call to action. For policymakers, sponsors, and stakeholders across education and property, it offers a scalable, data-driven approach to improving school infrastructure from the inside out.