Partnerships I was a founder member of my local


SBL group, which was created ten years ago when the SBM role


was still very new. We meet once a term and invite guest speakers to come and pitch to us, offering group discounts for


Network because


there is strength in numbers and you can create bargaining power


What to do:


Talk to other SBMs, identify common issues and collaborate to resolve them


The impact is financial efficiency, time saving and sharing best practice


One of my first tasks was to appoint two of the current business managers in our Trust (we have 23) to become regional


Network because


you have a vision and a strategic goal


What to do: Look at your organisation,


articulate your goals, set up a working group


The impact is the creation of a positive


organisational culture and an improved quality of provision


The UK Schools


Sustainability Network Ops Group is about sharing best


practice and signposting opportunities among SBLs, governors and trustees.


We’ve seen members present workshops and be part of panels at conferences. We’ve helped


people engage with the DfE’s Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy for education, and fed back to the National Audit Office on their


evaluation of this strategy. As a group, we are able to amplify our voice and our impact. Helen Burge, deputy COO, The Priory Learning Trust, and Paul Edmond, CFSO, HEART Academies Trust


32 AUTUMN 2023 FundEd


However you decide to network doesn’t matter. My only advice is that you do. As my own network has demonstrated in this article, the power of the SBL collective cannot be underestimated.


■ Laura Williams is a school leadership coach at ljbusiness consultancyltd.co.uk


leads. A key aspect of their roles was to set up strategic working groups, one of which


looked at wraparound provision to all our schools. The working group was made up of six business manager ‘volunteers’, who set out to assess the existing provision with the aim of providing consistency and financial efficiency (based on


criteria they had developed). Their work received high praise from the Executive Leadership Team and the project will proceed to the next stage. Jonny Coates, head of business and financial support services, Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust


Network because you want to drive change, inspire others and amplify the SBL voice


What to do: Find like-minded people, be brave and be persistent


The impact is empowering others to be heard and to make a difference


signing up. In return, they pay for our lunch. We share good practice, new ideas and


initiatives and have enjoyed group discounts on things like photocopier deals and paper purchases. I’ve probably saved around £5,000-£6,000 this year alone! Rebecca Cunliffe, school business manager, Lomeshaye Junior School


Our LA support has reduced, so I set up a local group to help SBMs source good


value contracts and create bargaining power. We’ve joined forces with a nearby school and secured good quality paper at a


six-month fixed price. Better still, we can store the paper with the company and call down the


orders as and when we both need them, with next day delivery. This made me think about how else


we could work together. I’m looking at joining with other schools to tender our school catering contract and I’m hoping to make a saving of around £5,000-£7,000. Sarah Casling, school business manager, Hazeldene School


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