Education has been at the heart of Craigmyle's work since our foundation in 1959 and remains so today. Schools were our very first clients and in the subsequent 50 years the company has worked with more than 500 schools on over 700 assignments, as well as with 30 universities and some 50 colleges, institutes and professional societies.

Current and recent clients include

Bloxham School 1964-65, 1983-85, 1994-96, 2000-07, 2010-
Craigmyle's enduring relationship with Bloxham exemplifies the mutual benefits of a long and continuing association. Over the years the company has gained a thorough knowledge and understanding of the school's ethos, staff, pupils, parents and alumni, as well as the fundraising and development context, meaning that a fresh assignment can generally begin from where the previous one stopped. In turn, Bloxham knows it can call upon a trusted and proven organisation, with a thorough understanding of the school, that can hit the ground running. Furthermore, the school can run its fundraising and development with in effect a part-time Development Manager, rather than continually investing in a fully-staffed but expensive development department, summoning our resources and expertise as and when needed.

In the last 25 years Craigmyle has helped Bloxham with three capital campaigns, the most recent raising more than £2 million. The company is currently helping establish a long-term legacy strategy, primarily to raise endowment funds for bursaries. Since its launch last December the initial response has been remarkable, with more than 40 signed-up members of the Egerton Society against a first-year target of 25 to 30 members.

Canford School Current client
Canford faced a dilemma when its Fundraising Director decided to move on, shortly before the school – after a period of focused cultivation and relationship building – was due to begin a major capital campaign. It needed to press on with the campaign as swiftly as possible, but lacked the internal resources to do so; Craigmyle provided an interim Director whilst helping the school recruit a permanent successor. The campaign was successfully initiated and has subsequently been handed over to the Campaign Director.

Elizabeth College, Guernsey Current client
Craigmyle first worked with the College in 2006 to assist with setting up the Elizabeth College Foundation and prepare for its first fundraising campaign. By mid-2008 the College had raised £1.5 million towards a range of capital projects. From late 2008 to 2010 Craigmyle guided the establishment of a legacy programme and the creation of the 'Dead Donkey Club' for legacy fundraising. In 2011 preparations began for a further capital campaign which is geared to delivering a number of further projects for the 450th Anniversary in 2013.

Ripon College Cuddesdon Current client
Craigmyle has been helping the college plan and implement a multi-million pound development campaign encompassing a broad range of needs. To date more than £5.7 million has been raised towards a new education and conference centre and chapel.

St Paul’s School 2005-2010
The school needed to raise as much as possible towards a very substantial rebuild, likely to cost more than £100 million and requiring the largest capital fundraising campaign for a UK school to date. Realising that fundraising on this scale was uncharted territory, St Paul's appointed Craigmyle on the strength of two previous successful campaigns, at Manchester Grammar and the Perse School. When Craigmyle concluded its service in June 2010, the campaign had raised some £32 million in gifts and firm pledges, including £4m for bursaries.

Vinehall School 2007 - 2009
Preparatory schools have tended to focus their fundraising on funding facilities but, with fees steadily increasing, the need for means-tested bursaries is no longer confined to independent secondary schools. Vinehall's governors decide to commemorate its 70th Anniversary with a major fundraising initiative for both facilities (specifically an all-weather sports pitch) and means-tested bursaries. To date over £1 million has been raised, of which more than half has been designated for bursaries, with the balance paying for the all-weather pitch.

University of Greenwich 2008
One department needed help and expertise in preparing a bid to a major grant-making institution, but the university's internal Development Department had neither the time nor resources to take on the assignment. Craigmyle was able to assist by producing a relevant and convincing case for support and writing the bid.

Tunbridge Wells Girls Grammar School 2003 - 2006
This state grammar school in Kent badly needed a modern performing arts centre to match the excellence and high expectations of its pupils in music, drama and art. The Local Education Authority, which had already invested in the school's new science facilities, was unable to fund the proposed centre and the school embarked on a campaign to raise the necessary funding. Craigmyle devised an appropriate strategy and provided a Campaign Director, helping the school reach its target of £450,000 within three years.

Francis Holland School, Clarence Gate 2001- 2003
It is widely believed by girls' schools that they will not raise significant amounts from fundraising campaigns. Francis Holland provided further evidence that this need not be the case when it became the third of Craigmyle's girls' school clients in five years to reach or exceed £1 million from a limited-term capital campaign. The campaign centred around the school's 50th anniversary and focused on the need for a new Science area, environmental conservatory, developments to the gymnasium, assembly hall and music suite. The hugely enthusiastic response from parents and alumni demonstrated that, with a convincing and attractive case for support, a popular and successful school can raise significant funds from its friends.

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