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Support HubL.E.A.D. Academy Trust Excels in Temporary Recruitment with The Supply Register
Transforming temporary talent acquisition for L.E.A.D. Academy Trust with a nationally aligned recruitment approach.
Before The Supply Register
Operating in the East Midlands and Yorkshire, with a proven track record of improving under-performing schools, L.E.A.D. Academy Trust needed a cost-effective, consistent approach to recruitment across its schools. Previously reliant on multiple supply agencies, hiring was fragmented and lacked visibility.
To meet 2015 Public Contracts Regulations and attract top talent, the Trust sought a centralised recruitment solution, one that could improve efficiency, reduce costs, and offer strategic insights. With a growing need for a flexible workforce, L.E.A.D. prioritised transparency and long-term impact in their hiring strategy.
- Establishment: Multi-Academy Trust
- Schools: 27 academies
- Location: Yorkshire and East Midlands
- Solution: Master Vendor
- Reach: 5,000 Pupils
Recruitment challenges
Recognising the growing importance of a contingent workforce, L.E.A.D. Academy Trust set out their requirements for a solution that could support its drive for efficiency, transparency, and long-term success.
- Develop a Preferred Supply List of appropriate and ethical agencies that maintain ‘outstanding’ teaching and support in our classrooms for day-to-day, short-term and long-term cover.
- Drive best value in this increasingly costly spend category.
- Centralise local agreements with different suppliers through a ‘single point of contact’ agreement to enhance compliance standards for Keeping Children Safe in Education and procurement best practices.
- Increase visibility and consistency of data across the Trust to shape thinking and remodelling of a temporary workforce.
Our solution
In 2021, after a competitive tender, L.E.A.D. Academy Trust awarded The Supply Register a Managed Service contract through the Crescent Purchasing Consortium Framework. Adopting our “bank-first” approach, recruitment across L.E.A.D. Academy Trust’s 27 academies is now streamlined, ensuring consistent processes, reduction in costs, and consolidated spend.
Previously, recruitment spend exceeded £1 million annually across 40+ agencies, with varying rates and terms. Consolidation with The Supply Register has enabled significant cost savings and improved financial sustainability for the Trust’s academies, operating in many challenging communities across the UK.
Recruitment positions span a variety of skills and expertise, from entry-level trainee teachers and teaching assistants to heads of departments and central Trust hires. The Supply Register’s regional hubs and service delivery centre in Keele, Staffordshire provide both local knowledge and national resource, enabling a scalable recruitment solution that meets seasonal demands.
Through this strategic partnership, the Trust is now better equipped to approach supply agency management with our support, whilst increasing visibility to stakeholders through a technology platform and Power BI intelligence dashboards.
The Supply Register stands out for its dedication to understanding our unique needs and requirements while delivering the best value.
Delivering a better deal to schools and educators
We developed a trusted recruitment framework for L.E.A.D. Academy Trust by introducing clear cost controls for agency placements and setting consistent rates for temporary hires. This has enabled the Trust to build a panel of over 50 trusted suppliers, streamlining recruitment while ensuring value for money.
Our collaboration has addressed long-standing recruitment challenges and laid the groundwork for ongoing success, providing access to a high-quality, fully vetted temporary workforce that supports the Trust’s commitment to delivering exceptional education.
The financial efficiencies achieved and the removal of umbrella companies from the payroll process for The Supply Register workers (increasing the take-home pay) have also helped improve recruitment and retention. Staff bank engagement has grown significantly, with 85% of workers engaging for multiple days over the past year. Additionally, over 60% of candidates supplied were rated “excellent” or “good” in reviews, reflecting a strong match between quality candidates and a supportive working environment.
ROI
A new chapter in cover recruitment
How L.E.A.D. Academies Trust is saving time and money while ensuring every lesson has a ‘supply’ of quality educators.
*2023-24 academic year.
18%
Saved on overall supply spend since joining The Supply Register.
50
Agencies have joined the Trust’s preferred supplier network.
85%
Candidates have worked multiple days over the past 12 months.
585
Invoices processed have substantially decreased from 9,360 in previous years.
Why multi-academy trusts choose The Supply Register
Our dedication to helping L.E.A.D. Academy Trust make recruitment more innovative and more cost-effective.
Complete transparency
Our web-based platform provides complete visibility and control over the candidate vetting and assessment process through our easy-to-use, web-based platform.
Increased compliance
All agency and bank staff undergo rigorous compliance checks that exceed industry standards, ensuring you can rely on consistently high-quality candidates.
Simplified administration
Save significant time and effort by replacing the burden of processing hundreds of timesheets and invoices with a single, straightforward weekly invoice.
Significant cost savings
Reduce staffing costs by up to 20% through access to local talent banks, fair and consistent pay structures, no finder’s fees, and standardised agency rates.
Award-winning solutions
We are proud to have secured special recognition at the Crescent Purchasing Consortium Supplier Excellence Awards 2024, for the Best Cost Reduction Initiative, which highlighted our partnership with L.E.A.D. Academy Trust.
Since the beginning of our relationship, our team has demonstrated exceptional cost-reduction initiatives for the Trust and has achieved a saving of 18% across 27 different locations. Our focus on sourcing the best talent at the best price has led to a 12% saving in supply teachers alone, which is particularly impressive considering the skills shortages impacting the sector. In total, and thanks to its partnership with The Supply Register, L.E.A.D. Academy Trust has reduced costs by over a third in one academic year.
More Customer Stories
L.E.A.D. Academy Trust Excels in Temporary Recruitment with The Supply Register
Transforming temporary talent acquisition for L.E.A.D. Academy Trust with a nationally aligned recruitment approach.
Attracting top education talent with a new, nationally-aligned recruitment approach.
L.E.A.D is one of the seven top-performing Multi Academy Trusts, with their head office based in Nottingham.
