South West

Powys Local Authority commissioned Schools’ Buying Club to engage with their schools in order to better understand their current use of technology as well as how they might use technology in the future.

Schools’ Buying Club supported the Local Authority in designing an engagement programme that included gathering data from stakeholders using an online questionnaire and hosting two online round table events for secondary and primary schools.

Both mechanisms yielded meaningful data and Schools’ Buying Club published a detailed report with a series of recommendations and next steps. Powys Local Authority was able to use this report to inform their upcoming ICT spend as well as inspire and shape their long-term ICT digital aspirations for schools in the region.

“We enjoyed working with the team from Schools’ Buying Club and were delighted with their input and contributions from start to finish. The report from Schools’ Buying Club has helped guide our ICT procurement strategy, not just in the short term, but inspired us to consider the long term possibilities and options open to us to enhance outcomes for all of our learners. We would thoroughly recommend their services.”

Venturers’ Academy was Bristol’s first all-through special free school providing 84 places for students aged 4 -16. Venturers’ Academy is part of the Merchants’ Academy Trust and is sponsored by The Society of Merchant Venturers’ and The University of Bristol. Schools’ Buying Club was appointed to provide project management support for the pre-opening phase including advice on governance, education, finance, stakeholder consultation and the recruitment of the principal.

Grounds Maintenance

Six schools in Gloucester saved £105,608 between them by collaboratively procuring grounds maintenance. There is one contract for all six schools which details each of their specific requirements.

Temporary Workers framework

Circa 30 schools are currently using the Temporary Workers framework which gives them access to 9 suppliers in the local area. The framework sets out the minimum and maximum a supplier will charge the school for a particular role, which reduces the opportunity for suppliers to increase prices when a school has an urgent requirement for a temporary worker (a ‘distressed purchase’). The framework does not allow suppliers to charge a temp-perm fee to the school, should the school retain the services of a temporary worker on a permanent contract once the worker has been in constant employment at the school for a 12 week period. This is achieving, on average, savings of 15%.