Partnerships
Know your network
Making meaningful connections with other SBMs can help you deliver better value for your school, says Laura Williams
I
have a confession to make. I’m terrible at ‘networking’. If nobody strikes up a conversation with me at a
conference, I’ll quite happily blend into the crowd, studiously eat my lunch and leave the room early to queue up for the next seminar. Yet despite this, I do have a wide and rich network that I can reach out to for advice, ideas and a friendly chat – which is exactly what I did to compile this feature. The fact is that networking is
about far more than walking up to strangers at conferences and introducing yourself. It’s about purposeful conversations, common goals and ways to connect.
Platforms such as SBM Facebook groups
Network because
you feel isolated or you need some support and advice
What to do: seek out existing networks
The impact is you will feel reassured,
empowered and confident in your role
We do feel lonely at times and wonder, how can I make this work? I realised I needed to liaise with
fellow practitioners, so I turned to the DfE website’s advice on how to find a school
business professional network. My local group meets termly, focusing on different elements of
the SBM role. After hearing a speaker talk about procurement, I felt confident enough to use the
Crown Commercial Services (CCS), DfE Buying for Schools and look at other frameworks when I
negotiated our IT contract. I received valuable support and felt reassured that I was making the right choices.
Mandy Britnell, school business manager, Portfields Primary School
have proved to be invaluable, especially with the constantly
changing landscape of the DfE. Having
the ability to share ideas and seek advice from peers has been essential in guiding my school through these constant
changes. Embracing change and seeking support from like-minded individuals can truly make a significant difference in the education landscape.
Tarina Chow, school business manager, Stanton Vale School
IMAGE: AJIJCHAN/
ISTOCKPHOTO.COM
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