WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY....
WHY PURPOSE OVER PAY IS KEY TO SCHOOL SUPPORT RECRUITMENT
Comment by NICK ORDE-POWLETT, Managing Director at TIB Services “
Money is not my motivation.” This is a phrase we hear increasingly often, and for schools struggling with tight budgets, it might just be the most important sentence in recruitment today.
We all know the pressure school leaders are under. Finding reliable, skilled support staff, particularly caretakers and site managers is becoming harder by the day. If the conversation starts and ends with pay, schools will often lose.
However, recent research from TIB Services suggests that schools have a different, more powerful card to play: purpose.
In a recent survey of nearly 200 school support staff aged 50 and over, we found a striking disconnect between what employers think candidates want and what this demographic actually values. While financial necessity is often assumed to be the driver for employment, our data shows that for the over- 50s, it is rarely the main priority.
In fact, only 33% of respondents cited financial reasons as a primary motivation for working. While pay certainly still has a part to play and fair remuneration is always a baseline expectation, it is clearly no longer the sole driver. By contrast, 90% were driven by a desire to stay mentally active, 88% wanted to stay physically active, and 73% were looking for a meaningful way to use their skills.
This reflects the changing mindset of the modern over-50s workforce; professionals who have left their primary careers not to put their feet up, but to find a new challenge that offers structure, community, and a sense of worth.
For schools, this is a game-changer. It means that when you are recruiting for a site manager or caretaker, you aren’t just looking for someone to open the gates. You are offering an opportunity for a former engineer to apply their technical problem-solving skills in a community setting, or for a military veteran to bring their discipline and calm leadership to a busy school site. One of our candidates, a former engineer named David, put it best: “I have a new freedom… The caretaker role is ‘basic DIY’ standard, but as an engineer, it allows me to practice and hone my practical skills associated with running a school.”
These individuals bring more than just technical ability; they bring life experience. They offer a calm, practical mindset that is invaluable in a school environment. They are less likely to view the role as a stop-gap and more likely to see it as a contribution to the community.
So, what does this mean for school leaders? It means schools need to change the way they advertise and talk about these roles. If your job advert focuses solely on the list of duties and the hourly rate, you are missing the mark for this demographic.
Instead, recruitment should highlight the impact of the role. Talk about the value of the work, the integration into the school community, and the opportunity to stay active and engaged. As the digital community Rest Less noted in response to our findings, midlife is a time of transition where flexibility and purpose become paramount.
By pivoting the conversation from “pay” to “purpose,” schools can tap into a rich, underutilised group of talent. The over-50s workforce is not just a solution to a role; it is an opportunity to bring stability, resilience, and genuine care into the heart of the school.
LIGHTING CONTROLS: THE KEY TO SUSTAINABLE
AND EFFICIENT SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS Comment by DAN GLYNN, Sales Director at B.E.G.
W
hen it comes to transforming a school’s lighting system, be it through a refurbishment or the creation of a brand-new facility, the integration of intelligent lighting controls is often the key to achieving long-term sustainability, energy efficiency, and a better learning environment for students and staff alike. The challenge of ageing lighting systems
In many schools, outdated lighting systems are not just inefficient, but they also fail to meet the modern needs of the educational environment. Inefficient lighting consumes more energy, which impacts both the school’s running costs and its carbon footprint. Moreover, with rising energy prices and growing pressure on schools to become more sustainable, it’s never been more important to invest in smart lighting solutions. Lighting controls such as occupancy sensors, daylight dimming, and programmable time schedules can drastically reduce energy waste. For example, occupancy sensors automatically turn lights off when classrooms or hallways are unoccupied, while daylight sensors adjust lighting levels based on the amount of natural light entering the room, ensuring that schools use only the energy they need, when they need it. Sustainability at the core of school refurbishments With sustainability now a top priority for schools across the UK, the need for energy-efficient systems has never been greater. Lighting accounts for a significant portion of a school’s energy consumption, and by using smart controls, we can reduce overall energy usage by up to 40 per cent, which not only helps schools meet environmental targets but also reduces operational costs.
In a refurbishment or new school build, lighting controls can be integrated seamlessly into the existing design. For instance, DALI controls offer scalable, easy-to-implement solutions, with the flexibility to retrofit into old buildings or seamlessly integrate into new ones. This flexibility allows schools to enjoy the benefits of a modern, efficient lighting system, regardless of the building’s age or design.
February 2026 The benefits of human-centric lighting
One of the most exciting developments in lighting technology is human- centric lighting (HCL) – a solution that adapts the lighting environment to mimic natural light patterns throughout the day. By adjusting light intensity and colour temperature to follow the rhythm of natural daylight, HCL can significantly improve the well-being, focus, and productivity of both pupils and teaching staff.
Research shows that HCL promotes better concentration and enhanced learning experiences, as well as improved mood and reduced stress for students. For teachers, it supports sustained energy levels throughout long working hours and reduces eye strain, making for a healthier and more productive classroom environment.
By combining HCL with smart lighting controls, schools can optimise the lighting to enhance both educational outcomes and staff performance. For instance, lighting can automatically adjust during key times of the day to provide a stimulating environment in the morning with a cool white illumination and a relaxed, calming atmosphere as the day progresses, as the LED lighting adjusts to produce a warm light, completely changing the environment.
A tailored solution for schools
At B.E.G., we work with schools to create tailored lighting solutions that meet their specific needs - whether it’s retrofitting an outdated system or designing a smart solution for a new school build. By focusing on both energy efficiency and the unique needs of the learning environment, we ensure that our lighting controls not only save energy but also improve the comfort and productivity of students and teachers. In today’s educational landscape, the integration of smart lighting controls, coupled with HCL, is not just a luxury but a necessity. It’s a simple, cost-effective way for schools to improve their sustainability credentials, enhance the learning experience, and support the well-being of both pupils and staff.
www.education-today.co.uk 21
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