That’s why we are thrilled to announce that not only did we win Best Small Supplier at the Crescent Purchasing Consortium (CPC) Supplier Awards last month, but, on top of that, we also received special recognition for the Best Cost Reduction Initiative; a good night all round!
The CPC Supplier Awards recognise the essential role that affiliated suppliers play across the UK and highlight how much their contribution is valued by the CPC community of over 10,000 members. They spotlight outstanding performance, innovation and collaboration amongst organisations. They also look to celebrate those who have gone above and beyond to deliver exceptional value for money, quality and customer service for CPC members, while simultaneously considering their social and sustainable impact as an organisation.
The prizes were awarded at an evening event at The Hilton in Manchester that also supported fundraising for the CPC’s ‘Giving Back’ charity, which is providing £1.5m of funding into the education sector.
Our work with L.E.A.D Academy Trust
We are particularly proud to have secured special recognition for the Best Cost Reduction Initiative, which highlighted our work with L.E.A.D Academy Trust, for which we were awarded the managed service contract under the CPC Framework in 2021. L.E.A.D Academy Trust now has a network of 27 academies based in some of the most underfunded areas of the UK, but is now recognised as one of the highest-achieving trusts in the country as a result of its work across Derby, Leicester, Lincoln, Nottingham and Sheffield.
Before our work together, the Trust was spending c.£1m with several recruitment agencies across different locations per year. In total, it was engaging with over 40 individual suppliers, which naturally varied in quality and scope of services. And each of these businesses were offering different rates and terms for schools, the Trust in a vulnerable position. As a result of a lack of collective purchasing for this spend category, it was common for academies to make local spot deals.
As readers will recognise, the historic underfunding of the education sector has led to a situation where school leaders are keen to ensure financial sustainability of their academies and Trusts, often in highly challenging or stressful conditions. L.E.A.D Academy Trust’s procurement team identified an opportunity to consolidate its spending, with an aim to achieve significant cost savings and obtain better value for money through economies of scale. This new model was launched a Trust-wide level and culminated in the organisation partnering with The Supply Register.
Since the beginning of our relationship, our team has demonstrated exceptional cost-reduction services for the trust and has achieved an average saving of 18% across 27 different locations. Our focus on sourcing the best quality specialists 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 School reduced costs by over a third in just 39 weeks.
A fairer deal
Our work has also led to us creating a fairer framework for the Trust. We implemented measures to cap agency fees for permanent placements, and margins for temporary rates. We have an agency panel of 51 suppliers, limited to a 12.5% fee (7.5% below the sector average) for permanent placements and £30 margin (compared to an average of £55 within education) for temporary specialists. To drive further diversity, 65% of suppliers we introduced to the Trust have increased the number of locations they now support.
The cost reductions we’ve helped to deliver haven’t just aided the Trust’s finances, they’ve also helped to boost and improve recruitment. There has been significant growth in the number of days staff bank workers engage at the trust, with 85% working multiple days over the past 12 months. Additionally, feedback from candidate reviews shows that over 60% of those supplied in the last year have been rated either excellent or good. This highlights the Trust’s commitment to sourcing high-quality cover staff and being a welcoming place of work.
Bobby Thandi, Deputy CEO at the L.E.A.D Academy Trust, highlighted the value added by The Supply Register:
“The Supply Register is exceptional due to its dedication to understanding our unique needs and requirements while providing the best value. The strategic management information we receive is extremely valuable as it informs us about the supply’s strategic drivers, assures us of the service quality, and supports our strategic thought process. The compliance level on The Supply Register platform adds an extra layer of assurance and compliance to our risk management line of defence.”
Both the award win and the special recognition prize highlight our ongoing and relentless focus on delivering value and innovation for our clients. Well done to our specialist team and partners for making this possible; we look forward to securing many more awards in the coming years!
If you are looking to upgrade your ability to source the best skills on the market, speak to our expert team.