Central Support

The Central Team

Our Central Services Team provide a professional, flexible service to schools within the Trust through their support with day-to-day operations, finance, human resources and school improvement. Our qualified team (CIMA, CIPP, CIPD), offer an established, professional and flexible service.

The Central Team also implements strategic decisions agreed by the Trustees.

Finance

Duties include:

• Take monthly reports and prepare management accounts
• Take quarterly reports and make VAT returns
• Provide support and regularly budgeting assistance
• Provide training and support to Business Managers
• Assist with reports for local committees
• Assist with annual budget formulation
• Ensure all funding from ESFA is correct and received in a timely manner
• Manage all cash flow
• Manage all investments
• Set programme of internal audit, review and act upon the findings
• Set programme of external audit and facilitate
• Manage all payroll
• Make all payroll related payments
• Administrate two pension schemes
• Be the group lead on data management
• Ensure compliance in respect to legal, ESFA and Trust requirements
• Seek best value across all Academies
• Undertake regular reviews of contracts and services to reduce costs

Payroll

Our professional service ensures payroll is compliant with HMRC legislation, all pension schemes rules and current employment law, interpreted and processed with an expert knowledge of the burgundy and green book.

Delivered with a proactive and responsive approach, specific to individual requirements to create a comprehensive payroll solution tailored to organisational needs.

HR

The importance of good practice in HR is not just about ensuring compliance with legislation, an integrated HR service can also ensure that we get the most out of all our staff and make us the education employer of choice in the region.

We offer advice and assistance on matters affecting employment, with practical policies and strategies which reflect the needs of each academy and the strategic aims of the Trust such as: HR Metrics and reporting to LGCs and the Board of Trustees, recruitment, absence, disciplinary/grievance/capability cases, performance management, staff records, maternity/paternity, staff policies/procedures, FOI requests.

Facilities

We offer the following:

• Full responsibility for the management and implementation of H&S across the Trust
• General support for facilities management and capital project works – the level of support is down to the individual establishment’s requirement and is to be arranged on a needs basis
• To provide assistance in formulating rolling maintenance and building repairs.

Admin

• SEN administration support for EHCP plans;
• Secretarial support provided to the Trust/Directors;
• Experience of academisation;
• Legal support available;
• Admissions/appeals support.

Media and Marketing

• Photography/videography: attendance at key events, images and video for school use;
• Graphic Design: logos, branding, signage, banners/posters, prospectuses, presentation resources;
• Website: compliance, design, amendments, communication support;
• Social Media: administrative support, event coverage, graphics, campaigns, compliance.