Education Estates Manchester 2025: What the Future of Education Flooring in the UK Looks Like
What the Future of Education Schemes in the UK Looks Like and Flooring to Fit the Bill
At Education Estates 2025 in Manchester (14–15 October), the message from architects, designers and estate managers was clear: the future of the UK education sector depends on intelligent reuse, sustainable materials, and long-term performance. For those specifying education flooring, the takeaway was simple— materials must now prove their environmental and sensory value as much as their cost efficiency.
1. Retrofit and sustainability drive specification.
With many of the UK’s schools, colleges and universities already built, refurbishment and retrofit are replacing demolition as the sustainable path forward. Flooring plays a major role in this transition. Rubber flooring offers exceptional durability, low embodied carbon, with Loose Lay tiles offering unrivalled flexibility. We feel Artigo by Chroma rubber is one of the best sustainable flooring options for refurb and retrofit education projects.
2. Performance and practicality , not just aesthetics.
The conference underlined a major industry shift: design decisions are now being grounded in lifecycle performance, acoustic comfort and long-term maintainability. Rubber flooring meets these priorities — it’s naturally slip-resistant, easy to clean and resilient enough for heavy footfall across classrooms, corridors and lecture spaces.
3. Inclusive and sensory learning environments.
Speakers stressed that educational design must accommodate neurodiverse students and make wellbeing a priority. Floor materials are central to this, impacting the sound, light and feel of every space. The soft elasticity and low noise of Artigo Rubber flooring create calm, inclusive environments ideal for SEND schools and university study areas alike.
4. Verified sustainability data is now essential.
Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and low-VOC certifications have become baseline requirements in education tenders. Flooring that can demonstrate measurable, transparent sustainability data — such as that offered by leading rubber flooring manufacturers like Artigo — directly supports compliance with RIBA 2030 and DfE Net Zero frameworks.
5. Smart material choices equal long-term value.
Despite budget pressures, one conclusion from Education Estates 2025 stood out: resilient, circular materials define the future. Rubber flooring bridges practicality and sustainability — proving that long-life design can still meet the aesthetic and performance standards of modern education spaces.
In summary:
The UK education design sector is evolving fast. Sustainability, adaptability and user wellbeing now sit at the heart of every specification decision. As schools and universities upgrade their estates, Artigo by Chroma rubber flooring products are beginning to emerge more and more as the quiet cornerstone of a more sustainable, inclusive and future-ready learning environment.
