In 2016, L.E.A.D. was a Multi Academy Trust (MAT) with an estimated 1,000 employees which had rapidly doubled in size, from 12 to 20 academies. By 2017, the MAT would have 25 academy locations in eight towns and cities spread over the counties of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire and South Yorkshire. The MAT sought to better manage its flexible, contingent workforce, with an understanding of these resources’ growing importance to their success.
With disparate processes across regions, the MAT’s talent leaders wanted a consistent process for how they acquired supply cover talent. Furthermore, the MAT had obligations to the DfE, the ESFA and the guidelines within the Academies Financial Handbook which they were keen to meet. The academy locations had historically turned to various supply agencies, and ownership was with hiring managers of each location.
Having received a new specification of services, L.E.A.D. Academy Trust took formal steps to partner with The Supply Register and embrace an innovative Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) partner to deliver a consistent approach and better experience to all academy locations.
Challenges
Volume – As the MAT grew, supply cover spend had grown in tandem for day-to-day, short- term and long-term cover.
Cost effectiveness – Due to rapid growth, the MAT’s existing model was becoming increasingly costly and unsustainable.
Compliance – Due to local agreements at academy level with different suppliers, it was increasingly hard to monitor compliance standards both in terms of safer recruitment and procurement best practice.
Collecting data – The challenge of collecting supply data consistently across such a large and growing Trust became apparent.
