8. Darren Rice, Health and Safety Consultant from MAC Consulting
Release Date: 08/15/2019
DTT Edward Thomas Nov 2022
Developing the Trust
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20. Phil Reynolds; Formerly of Kreston Reeves and now PLR Advisory
Developing the Trust
For this episode Tim Warneford is in Sittingbourne in Kent to speak to Phil Reynolds. Phil has spent over 20 years specialising in academy schools accountancy firstly at pecialist accountants Kreston Reeves and now with his own consultancy PLR Advisory We explore how specialist accountancy can assist schools determine a trust strategy and how upskilling in house SLTT through training and development can achieve operational wins.
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19. James Robson, Chairman of Powerful Allies
Developing the Trust
For this episode Tim Warneford travels to Wiltshire to speak to Powerful Allies Chairman, James Robson, about the risks posed to academy schools for energy procurement in an un-regulated market place.
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18. CIF Update and How to Create a Successful Bid
Developing the Trust
The hot topic of conversation across the sector is the recent update from the ESFA, revealing that the much awaited publication of the 2021-22 round of Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) awards, have been postponed until ‘mid-June’.
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17. Harvey Sinclair, CEO E Energy PLC
Developing the Trust
On this episode Tim talks to Harvey Sinclair, a technology entrepreneur and CEO of E Energy PLC about the fast-moving world of lighting and also electrified heating discussing how schools can save energy and indeed costs by changing their electrics.
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16. Steve Bolt, Director of BCR Associates
Developing the Trust
Tim Warneford is in Alton, Hampshire, with Steve Bolt, director of BCR Associates, a cost management consultancy that support clients – including academies - to increase efficiency, manage risk, ensure compliance and rationalise procurement costs. Tim and Steve are also working on a collaboration with Lloyds Bank education team to support academy trusts seeking to assist academy trust to optimise resources and maximise potential.
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15. Kevin Yardley, Director of Income Generation of The Generations Multi Academy Trust
Developing the Trust
Tim Warneford is once again out and about now lockdown is easing – travelling and recording with all social distancing in mind of course - to speak to Kevin Yardley at The Generations Multi Academy Trust. Kevin is director of income generation and his role is to ensure the estates facilities yield substantial revenue streams through optimising letting opportunities and via external partnerships.
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14. Jeremy Pilgrim, School Property Matters
Developing the Trust
For this episode Tim Warneford is in Bedfordshire to speak to Jeremy Pilgrim from School Property Matters who are independent experts in pupil capacity and have worked with over 2500 schools so far.
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13. Graham Fitzgerald, General Practice and Audit Director at Baldwin Accountants, Baldwin Accountants
Developing the Trust
This week Tim Warneford is in Stockton-on-Tees to speak to Graham Fitzgerald, general practice and audit director at Baldwin Accountants. As well as dealing with commercial organisations, Graham specialises in the education sector, providing audit and advisory services and working with over forty academy schools including an increasing number of multi academy trusts.
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12. Lara Harvard and Zoe Forbes from Ecosphere and Gareth Williams from Eden Sustainable
Developing the Trust
Tim Warneford is in London’s West End with Lara Harvard and Zoe Forbes from Ecosphere and Gareth Williams from Eden Sustainable talking about how schools and academy trusts can both save money and also be much greener by installing better energy systems and also their exclusive offer available to both academy trusts and state schools.
info_outlineOn this episode of Developing the Trust, joining the dots in the academy sector, Tim Warneford is in Ampthill in Bedfordshire to speak to Darren Rice, Health and safety consultant from MAC consulting.
On this episode we cover:
What brought Darren to the academy sector
Darren’s previous experience in the public sector
Working as a building surveyor, maintaining schools for the LEA
The different between providing services to LEAs v MATs
How MATs transfer risks with them
Whether the LEA manages risk better than MATs
Schools not having to think about compliance and legal issues under a LEA
Contractors providing maintenance under LEAs
Admin staff promoted to facility managers without always having the experience
Helping support to staff to become property managers or building managers
Whether there is a gap between due diligence and schools transferring to MATs
People from education backgrounds struggling to adapt to facilities management
Providing health and safety management to transfer to a business model
Cases where LEAs have not addresses issues such as asbestos
Schools being previously unaware of the cost of managing such issues
Undertaking studies to address maintenance or facilities priorities
Several schools that went self-funding but had to return to the LEA due to financial difficulties
Working with solicitors to enable schools to understand what they are going into
Key to have an organisation of property building professionals to support schools
Understanding that maintaining a building can be challenging and expensive
The frustrations of auditing functioning trusts with different health and safety systems
The benefits of centralising and standardising
New property managers not fully understanding the role
Trusts learning to run a business and bring in business minded people
Schools having to be run life a business
Unsuccessful CIF bids leaving schools vulnerable
ESFA changing CIF weighting and seeking contributions from trusts
For trusts that are struggling the concern that they will be more vulnerable
Schools struggling to balance resources between teaching and statutory compliance
In LEAs the building always coming second
Some smaller schools losing out to secondary schools
Schools with serious compliance needs but no resources faced discrimination
Primary schools feeling more comfortable with LEAs
Secondary schools converting leaving less cross subsidies
Pupils possibly having to travel to go to school
Darren wanting forward-thinking schools to come to them to ask questions
Schools sometimes wanting to brush risks under the carpet rather than bring in the professionals
The importance of talking to other schools who have already converted and finding out what lessons have been learnt
The need for more business-savvy staffing
The impact Darren would like to have on the sector
The importance of sharing knowledge and information to benefit the schools