Formed over ten years ago when a unique group of like minded individuals came together that believed there was an opportunity with Trusts to offer a different approach to acquisition and deployment of ICT services. All of the team have lived and work through the different phases of education over the last 30 years, from the Technology College movement, Specialist School, BSF, Academies and Free Schools, either in a teaching capacity or in the supply of ICT services.
The combined experience has given the business a unique insight into the development and provision for ICT services over the years and a unique view on what ‘good’ looks like at a range of scales for all of the ICT services a trust requires.
Providing a package of predefined template procurement documentation and contracts that can be adapted to meet every eventuality and that have been accepted by all significant suppliers we have been able to address the perceived complexity and costs of Open Procurements through the Find a Tender (FTS) service. Additionally, working as a virtual business and by provisioning specialist legal and technical services through a multidisciplinary team we are able to significantly manage our cost base and reflect this in the offer of fixed rates which most clients prefer.
A three-phase approach is taken to every project undertaken, Discovery, Making it Happen and Change.
Discovery - Understanding the IT estate, technically, operationally and financially, in the context of the vision for ICT. It is also a ‘Health check’ / benchmarking to find out any current issues or potential risks in being able to use the ICT infrastructure to support teaching, learning and management across a Trust.
Making IT Happen - Putting the plans in place to enable effective and manageable ICT that is 'joined up' across the trust.
Change - Working with Trust’s to ensure any change programme is delivered on time, to budget and is effective for both in the classroom and for management needs.
….and this is achieved though the integration of the following activities:
Benchmark the cost of your ICT Services
Uncovering the real cost of ICT services is not as straightforward as it sounds, many trusts have cost coded in numerous places which hide the true figure. Once unwrapped, the main surprise is that the total cost of ICT is the third largest after buildings and people and therefore warrants detailed attention. We can uncover what you are paying and what you should be paying and the processes to get there.
ICT service design that supports Teaching, Learning and Management Strategy
Is the ICT across your Trust harmonised and does it support your vision? Growing MAT’s are being challenged to accommodate the growing and diverse needs of teaching, learning, administration and management as trusts grow beyond their original boundaries. We can help you establish the foundations of a standard network design for all services that has the flexibility to accommodate change and work with you to help everyone pull together.
Driving Best Value…Framework v FTS
Trust budgets are under increasing focus, and the pressure is to save costs in every area possible. Many have already breached the thresholds of original OJEU procurements (now FTS) or find that the commodity frameworks don’t deliver best value or have supporting contractual terms that meet the complexity of your needs. We run fully compliant FTS procurements on your behalf that comply with the latest 2024 regulations for ICT managed services, connectivity and management information systems (MIS).
Work with your teams and your new supplier(s) to integrate the new services to ensure that they deliver to time budget and expectation.
Fundamentally, the most significant social value we create is to put money back in the hands of educators. Over the last five years we have run procurements in the schools ICT sector alone to the value of £350 million pounds and generated over £15 million pounds worth of savings. At the same time upskilling trust staff in the area of procurement process, contract management and supplier management, helping trust become more independent for future projects and supporting individual CPD objectives.
