Procurement for school trusts

What should trustees and senior school leaders know about procurement?

Procurement is not just about cost control. Sound governance and a strategic approach to procurement can deliver huge benefits to children and the integrated communities that schools are such an important part of. Procurement is far reaching and significant with UK schools collectively spending approximately £9.2billion on areas including energy, catering, IT, agency staff, supply teachers and outsourced back-office functions. These areas of spend have a massive bearing on school operations, the overall quality of teaching and pupil welfare. This is why procurement and supplier management are so important to the success of school trusts. There are vast benefits to getting procurement right but there are many pitfalls and difficulties.

This CST masterclass explores the key concepts and core principles of successful procurement for school trusts. It considers how to take a strategic approach to procurement and how best to achieve value for money. The course profiles the regulatory environment and the legal requirements for public procurement, whilst focusing on achieving outcomes and service delivery from suppliers.

Who is it for?

Chief executives and trust leaders
Chairs and trustees
Governance professionals

How you will benefit

You will gain:

An understanding of the role procurement plays in trust success
Information about the tasks, roles and processes needed to effectively management contracts
An understanding of risk areas and contracts requiring additional attention
Knowledge of the key risks at each stage of the procurement lifestyle
Insight into the key roles and areas of responsibility
Confidence to focus limited resources where they will have most effect

Seminar leaderS

Walter Akers, Partner, RSM

Ciara Campfield, Partner, Stone King

When and where

Summer 2024 course - online

10:00-11:30 on Wednesday 5 June 2024, Wednesday 12 June 2024, and Wednesday 19 June 2024

Course outline

Seminar 1: The big picture: the role procurement plays in the success of your schools

The first seminar will explore:

Why procurement matters
Introduction to the principles of procurement
Accountability and value for public money: What are the regulatory frameworks trusts must work within, including the impact of legal changes.
Procurement as an area of strategic risk: why it matters and who should be involved
Opportunities: impact on quality of education and community links – public benefit and social value

Seminar 2: Developing a strategic approach to procurement that works for your trust

The second seminar will consider:

Procurement routes and options open to trusts
Mapping out your trust needs for different sized trusts
When to seek professional advice and support
Creating, implementing and monitoring an effective procurement strategy
Controls: the roles of key executive staff and trustees/committees

Seminar 3: The procurement cycle examined

The final seminar will cover:

Approaching need across the trust and appreciating the full scope of goods and services
An overview of procurement frameworks
Contract award and management: risks and pitfalls
Coming to the end of a contract: what to consider