9. Joanne Burton and Ciaira Campfield of solicitors Stone King
Release Date: 08/27/2019
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 Tim Warneford is in Bath where he is talking to Joanne Burton and Ciaira Campfield from solicitors, Stone King, a law firm that has supported over 400 schools nationally who have converted to academy status.
On this episode we cover:
Partner in Commercial Property Team
Partner in Education Team
Stone King being one of the leading firms in a niche sector
Working on academy brokerage, academy conversions and more
Joanna starting in July 2010 when the academies act coming into being
Joanna travelling aboard building schools for charity
Previously working
Ciara starting in a large international law firm
Wanting to work at a law firm that had its heart and soul in education
Stone King living and breathing education and charity
Not entering in the politics of academisation as lawyers
Seeing some schools go from strength to strength under the MAT system
Seeing success in the way some MATs are sharing best practice
Increased emphasis on good estate management for schools
Surveyors and funding experts seeing so many schools transfer without due diligence and appreciation of what things will be like under a market environment
All schools needing to make best of existing resources
How the 14000 schools yet to academise can benefit from others experience
Concerns about the funding the sector gets
Very difficult for academies to set a budget
Undertaking rebrokerage for clients – working out where they can add value
MATs not having the funds to pay huge professional service fees
Collaboration being the key to success of the sector
MATs been historically more insular, now collaborating more
Head teachers making emotional decisions about the school
The importance of getting specialists together early for efficiency and to highlight risks
Public procurement and advising clients over commercial contracts
Working with retainer clients on a day to day basis
Often being the first port of call
Collaborating with Beth Cullen, Commercial Director of the Institute of School Business Leadership
Potentially serious liabilities of clients – such as asbestos
Focusing on estates management support at a very early stage
Not all estates having an ‘estates team’
Schools often working on reactive maintenance
Stone King treating themselves as an in-house lawyer for their clients
Brand new ideas and innovative thought coming into the sector
The importance of mitigating risk with planning
A move towards selling off land for landing and more facilities
Using Section 106 money to help schools
The ESFA being more open to discussion than previously
CIF being cut by £81m in 2019-08-10
The frustration of regulations slowing the speed of planning and selling off land
The risk not being as high for an academy conversion than a rebrokerage
Government policy being difficult to predict
Current government wanting more schools to academise
A recognition that more funding is needed in the sector
Increase in FE and Academy Sector sharing best practice
Negative stories about academies in the press causing fear in the sector
Many academy success stories
The importance of feeding into the ESFA process
Stone King’s forum for MAT clients
The sector being constantly evolving