Issue 12 | April 2016 asbmnews Draft Agendas 2015-2016 Business Network Training Events New Training Partnership drives up standards for School Business Management Professionals Updates from our Partners

Schools must be proactive in responding to the recruitment crisis

Plus Much More!

in partnership with 2 | Issue 12 - Nottingham ASBM News | April 2016 Chair’s Opening

Welcome to the Spring Term Newsletter Dear Colleagues, years Erica has supported the committee with venue co-ordination, administration and supporting links Thank you so much for your support and contributions with County Council. We wish her this year at the Nottingham ASBM events. Not only well for the future in her retirement. Theresa Shelton- have our conferences been more popular than ever, the Bourke will be taking over as Erica’s replacement on the additional training courses we offer are also giving added committee. Theresa is currently School Business Manager value to you all and I am pleased that we are now able to at Whitegate Primary School (City Authority) and we offer them at no extra cost for the rest of this year to all of welcome her into the committee and look forward to our members. working with her in the future.

We are, yet again, on another exciting journey as a On a personal note, I will be leaving National Church of profession and it will be great to welcome back Stephen England on a transitional basis from the 1st Morales, CEO of NASBM in June, together with Trevor May as I have been offered promotion in the Corporate Summerson and John Musso who will be working with Sector of Diverse Academies Trust as their Business us on establishing our links with the American School Development, Standards and Projects Manager. I will still Business Officials (ASBO). be continuing as Chair of the Nottingham ASBM group and will hopefully be able to bring further expertise We will also be focusing on ‘Balancing the Books’ at our and knowledge on developing the NASBM Professional next conference which I am sure will be of great benefit Standards and the requirements for internal Academy for us all as we will need as much help and support to Business Quality Assurance through this new role. develop (and hopefully balance!) future year budgets and I hope you will continue to support the success of our to ensure we get the best value we can in these times of group next year and here’s hoping that the summer brings austerity. As a profession we are also aware of the great us some lovely weather and a chance to take some rest scrutiny that we are under to ensure tight regularity and and well deserved holidays with our friends and families probity within our organisations, and hopefully we will in readiness for starting all over again in September. also be providing you with strategies and training during the day to support you with this area of your work. I look forward to seeing you again at our next event.

I expressed my thanks for the hard work by Erica Karen Bonser Fletcher at our last meeting. Over the past couple of Chair, Nottingham ASBM Issue 12 - Nottingham ASBM News | April 2016 | 3 Summer Conference Draft Agendas 2015-16

SUMMER – 14th June 2016 Theme: BALANCING THE BOOKS

Agenda topics

8.30-9.15 am: Arrival, Registration, Exhibition 2.30 – 3.00pm: John Musso, Association of School and Coffee Business Officials (ASBO) – Role of 9.15–9.30 am: Welcome and update from Chair, Business Official in the USA and Karen Bonser NASBM/ASBO Links 9.30-9.45 am: Partner Updates – Su Johal, SAAF (in attendance Stephen Morales – 9.45-10.00 am: Sponsor – Medical Tracker CEO, NASBM and Trevor Summerson 10.00-11.00 am: Vic Goddard – ASBO/NASBM Links) 11.00-11.30am: Coffee, Exhibition and Networking 3.00pm – 4.00pm: Andy Whittaker – The Art of Staying 1.30– 12.30pm: Workshops Brilliant Boulevard - Wellbeing Room 4.00pm: Close of day from Chair, • Jakki Pritchard – Lifestyle - Sleep Karen Bonser • PS Financial – Using technology to counter fraud within your school/acadmey Chosen Charity for this event: Rays of Sunshine • Julia Harden (ASCL) - Keeping your Balance • Su Johal (SAAF) - Budget Planning

12.30-1.30 pm Lunch, Exhibition and Networking 1.30-2.30 pm: Workshops • Jakki Pritchard – Lifestyle - Sleep • Jacqui Armand (Nottingham City Council HR) – Sharing an employee across multiple schools or academies – benefits and risks • Adam Watson (Every) – Saving Money and Making your Budget Stretch Further • Vicky Butters (SAAF) - Benchmarking 4 | Issue 12 - Nottingham ASBM News | April 2016

Spring Term Prize Winners Our Spring Term prize winners are listed below and good luck for our Summer raffle!

Prize Winner

M&O Building Group – Wine Bag Kim Stavens – Worksop Priory School Nott’m ASBM – Elemis Spa Bags Sandy Dodd – & Dianne Herron-Wright – Selston High YPO – £50 voucher Joanna Wells – Blidworth Oaks Primary DB Signs – Wine Jill Weedop - Cantrell Primary Rahmqvist – Tri Writers Eddie Heath - National C of E Academy & Valerie Smith – Parkdale Primary NCC ICT – Champagne Kim Fox – Ambleside Primary FSE Deign – Champagne Gail Otton – Flintham Primary Ridge – Smoothie Maker Vanessa Isaac – Colonel Frank Seely NCC – Spa Pack Paula Gallagher – Seely Primary SAS – Goodie Bag Isabel Greenhalgh – Round Hill Primary CEFM – Jacobs Creek Michelle Cavell – Prospect Hill Infants Reprotec – Baylis & Harding gift bag Anne Marie Jordan – Our Lady & St Edward’s SAAF – Red Letter Day Robin Harrison – Mellors Catering – Champagne & Chocolates Kathy Boardman – Crossley Heath

SAAF Wine Winners Jill Weedop (Cantrell Primary), Linda Harrison (Tuxford Academy), Carolyn Taylor (St Peter’s School), Karen Foster (Southglade Primary), Liz Wilson (Cropwell Bishop Primary) & Sadie Fletcher (Ashlea School) Issue 12 - Nottingham ASBM News | April 2016 | 5 6 | Issue 12 - Nottingham ASBM News | April 2016

Business Network Training Events

Details of these events will be emailed to members – so keep an eye out for them.

Summer 2016

• Tuesday, 24th May - Managing Difficult People (FULLY BOOKED) • Thursday, 30th June - CEFM updates (tbc) • Tuesday 12th July – am Audit Process (Schools) & pm Audit Process (Academies)

To book a place on these training events please go to the Nottingham ASBM website: - http://nottinghamasbm.co.uk/ and click on the conferences tab.

We would be very interested in member’s views about how the website and information on it could be improved or developed. Please can you share any thoughts with Craig Wilkie via email: [email protected]

Nottingham ASBM – SUGGEST A LOCAL TRADER

We often have members asking us to invite a particular trader or company to exhibit at our conferences. To help members let us know about a great local company or trader, we have creat- ed a simple online form which can be filled in directly from our website.

You can access the form by navigating to our website (www.nottinghamasbm.co.uk) and follow this route on the menu: Conferences > Exhibitors and Sponsors

Please make sure the trader or company you are suggesting is aware of the exhibition charges and the facilities – these are clearly detailed on the online form. Issue 12 - Nottingham ASBM News | April 2016 | 7

During the last half term, we have been busy supporting schools with budget setting, we are now moving into supporting our academies with budget setting as well as supporting our schools with closing down the 2015/16 financial year.

SAAF Software Budget Planning Application SAAF’s new Budget Planning Application (BPA) has now been launched for Academies and is being used to set 2016/17 budgets. We have already received excellent feedback from many of our City schools regarding the application and its capabilities; it is very easy to navigate and extremely user friendly. The new tool is able to handle full curriculum Phone: 0115 8700 452 costing including apportionable staff costs; ideal for performance related Email: [email protected] pay reviews and great for tracking your Pupil Premium. It also incorporates a maternity calculator, flash reporting; including dynamic and user tailored KPI Website: www.saaf.finance analysis. We also now give you the ability to create multiple budgets in the single application ensuring optimum version control. Brochure:mhttp://brochure. saafinance.com New Team members We are excited to announce that our increasing growth has led us to appoint several new finance consultants;

Sharon Gilbert has joined our Maintained Schools Team.

Steph Gibson has joined Karla Wright and Jake Richardson in our Lincoln Academy Finance Team.

Adam Woodless, Johnathon Perrin and Manpreet Bhella have also joined SAAF as Academy Consultants and will be supporting our Customers in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and the West Midlands.

All of our new team members have extensive experience in education finance.

New Services SAAF are excited to have started working with even more select partners in order to offer you additional services that are excellent value for money. We have recently started working with Minerva Procurement Consultancy, providing no-savings-no-fee procurement reviews and Backs Construction that completes our suite of building services for any new build projects. We are also working with a small group of schools on a bulk purchasing project. Our aim is to set up fixed discounts to reduce the costs of general supplies and cleaning products for you.

More information will be sent out in the SAAF e-newsletter and posted on our website www.saaf.finance

Contact us Phone: 0115 9752400 Email: [email protected] Top Valley Academy Website: www.saaf.finance Top Valley Drive Top Valley Nottingham We look forward to catching up with you at the next Nottingham ASBM NG5 9AZ Conference, however please feel free to contact us before then if you have any questions. 8 | Issue 12 - Nottingham ASBM News | April 2016

A hot topic of the minute is recruitment. SAS have asked Michael Pain to contribute this article, which also looks at staff well-being. Schools must be proactive in responding to the recruitment crisis Michael Pain, Forum Education – March, 2016

agenda, they are investing in it, taking sound advice, and looking at how their strategy creates an environment that appeals to top performing staff.

So what can schools do to attract and retain the best teachers and leaders? Here are a few tips:

1. Articulate your organisation’s moral purpose. As Studs Terkel tells us “Work is about daily meaning as well as daily bread.” This chimes with younger workers in particular, who want to work for organisations that make a difference. As the Economist wrote in 2013: “One way to build engagement in Gen Y workers is to appeal to their sense of connectedness to the world and belief in their potential to The quality of any education system, and be agents of change.” Does your school have a clear vision indeed any individual school, will never that taps into candidates quest to make a difference, and exceed the quality of its teachers. For head are you communicating it well enough? teachers and school leaders, ensuring you “the pleasure of teaching and being part of a school, recruit the very best candidates possible – coupled with the crucial experience of ‘making a difference’ is central.” and hold on to them – is absolutely central to your school’s success. Everything else is LKMco & Pearson ‘Why Teach’ October 2015 secondary. 2. Articulate opportunities for career development So it is of great concern to school leaders, policy makers and progression. Research by Ashridge Business and parents, that schools are already struggling to attract School found that 56% of graduates expected to be in a and retain candidates. This month’s new Education White management role within 3 years of starting work. Whilst Paper put the recruitment issue centre stage, and there those expectations probably far exceed the expectations are steps that government can take to help mitigate of employers, it remains important that schools can the challenge. However, with a stronger economy and a articulate the pathways to greater responsibility through more competitive jobs markets, schools cannot wait for professional development. Schools that do this well often answers from high above. provide case studies in recruitment materials of teachers that have accessed such opportunities and gone on to The situation will become more challenging before lead on key areas of responsibility. Others have published it gets better. We know that there will be a steady clear progression structures, which show the opportunities, decline in the population of 21 year olds from 2016 to training, networking and expectations for each stage of an 2022, meaning the overall pool of graduates is likely to individual’s career development. fall. Competition for the best will become even more “ultimately whether you are a corporation or an SME intense. At the same time, pre-16 pupil numbers are set your employee value proposition must include a clearly to increase by about 615,000 over the next five years. In articulated programme that, if they have the right talent, short – this is a perfect storm. attitude and work ethic, a Gen Y employee can go all the way from new starter to senior manager.” The most proactive leaders and governing bodies have already placed recruitment and retention firmly on their Hay Group Issue 12 - Nottingham ASBM News | April 2016 | 9

3. Opportunities to work across a range of settings Promoting such a culture is key to recruiting top and environments. Today’s graduates do not expect to candidates. In addition, providing flexible working – where stay in the same job for very long. Indeed, research by possible – can also make your school more attractive the Hay Group found that 26% of generation y expect to to top candidates. Has your school considered offering have at least 7 different employers during their careers flexible working or job share opportunities for teachers (72% expect to change jobs more than three times). with caring responsibilities? Again, promoting both Variety of work, the opportunity to work across a range this and indeed a school’s commitment to equality and of contexts, and exposure to new challenges are all key diversity, can be key to appealing to the right candidate. to attracting – and crucially retaining – top candidates. The rise of school partnerships – including federations, “More school leaders are now considering the role multi-academy trusts, and teaching schools – provide they have to play in supporting their teams – including an excellent basis for developing and promoting such referring staff to timely and relevant external support opportunities. Schools must ensure that they promote services when required.” the potential opportunities – such as professional networking, secondments, job-swaps, coaching and Mandy Gallagher, Head of Nursing, Schools Advisory Service involvement in school to school support initiatives – that enable candidates to work beyond the individual school. 5. Additional benefits. The wider corporate sector is “Consider for example how you can offer opportunities very good at attracting and appealing to top graduates. for Gen Yer’s to change jobs within your organisation, It also has more flexibility in terms of pay incentives and whether you are a corporation or a small to medium- additional benefits it can offer. As schools gain more sized enterprise.” freedom over the way budgets are spent, it is essential that leaders and governors carefully consider whether more is needed to incentivise high quality candidates – after all, it is an investment worth making. From healthcare insurance through to relocation allowances, schools must be willing to think outside the box in a way that they possibly haven’t done before. As LKMO & Pearson highlighted last year, “pragmatic factors like pay and convenience remain important (and may play an increasing role as teachers settle down and have a family).” At a time of tighter budgets, a commitment to investment in recruiting great teachers is one that must be worth making?

Michael Pain is Director of Forum Education, a consultancy providing marketing & communications, research & analysis, and training to the education sector. Forum Education has successfully worked with a number of schools and school groups on recruitment and retention 4. Create and promote a culture of wellbeing, support strategies, and is currently delivering inputs on this issue and flexibility. One of the key issues in addressing the at a number of national events. recruitment challenge is addressing the perception of long hours, high workload and little support. A NASUWT www.schooladvice.co.uk poll in 2015 revealed that 84% said their job had a negative effect on their health and wellbeing, with a 01773 814400 Ext 227 | [email protected] similar number experiencing more workplace stress during the preceding 12 months. Schools and school leaders that attract high quality candidates know that they must invest in their staff as individuals. Key strategies include offering support such as stress counselling services, health insurance and ensuring a culture whereby colleagues are confident to talk about their concerns in a confidential environment. There are some useful hints and tips by Schools Advisory Service’s Head of Nursing, Mandy Gallagher, here: http://www.teachwire.net/news/ stressing-the-positives-how-to-build-a-culture-of-staff- wellbeing-in-your-s 10 | Issue 12 - Nottingham ASBM News | April 2016

www.nasbm.co.uk

NEW TRAINING PARTNERSHIP DRIVES UP STANDARDS FOR SCHOOL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONALS

Entrust, the fastest growing support services provider to schools and academies, is working in partnership with the National Association of School Business Management, NASBM, to deliver a suite of ‘toolkit’ training which meets and complies with the NASBM Professional Standards Framework.

The training, offered as online webinars and face-to-face workshops, is designed to support the development of school business management professionals to carry out their roles more effectively and assist them in developing their careers.

Using NASBM’s Professional Standards framework, school business management professionals will be able to assess their competencies across finance, human resources, procurement, marketing and infrastructure and take part in training courses to develop these skills. Issue 12 - Nottingham ASBM News | April 2016 | 11

The partnership will also include a school business management support service, including a financial health check. This will give schools and academies the option to call on school business management experts from Entrust and NASBM for support and guidance on specific issues, such as long term financial planning and the use of public funds.

Stephen Morales, chief executive at NASBM, commented on the partnership: “School business management practitioners are responsible for a wide range of professional disciplines in an increasingly dynamic and complex environment. We are delighted to have appointed Entrust, a partner with a strong knowledge of our sector, to enable the practitioners to achieve our new Professional Standards and support us on our shared journey to transform and develop the school business management role.

Emma Pearson, chief executive of Entrust, said: “It’s important that schools and academies have access to training and support services at a time when they are under increasing pressure to manage budgets, which are focussed on educational outcomes, ever more effectively. The training and support offered through this partnership with NASBM will be hugely beneficial for school business management professionals across the UK.”

The training will be available to all NASBM members and non-members.

For more information on the joint venture Entrust, visit: www.entrust-ed.co.uk For more information on NASBM and Professional Standards, visit www.nasbm.co.uk/professionalstandards

For media enquiries, contact:

Tiffany Stromsoe [email protected] 0207 654 2354

David Hendy [email protected] 0207 654 2137

Entrust is a joint venture between Staffordshire County Council and Capita, designed to deliver a range of support services and products to the UK education market designed around raising outcomes and supporting educational attainment. Headquartered in Staffordshire, Entrust brings together the specialist knowledge and experience from within Staffordshire’s Education Support Services together with the range of services, capability and technology and investment of the UK’s leading professional services company. This new joint venture ensures that schools and settings get the support, skills and expertise they need, when they need them, delivered to the highest quality and standards. www.entrust-ed.co.uk

NASBM is the UK’s leading association working exclusively on behalf of the school business management profession, representing and supporting the interests of those individuals fulfilling the school business management function both nationally and locally.

For more information contact Bethan Cullen, Commercial and Business Development Director – 02476 231221 or email [email protected] 12 | Issue 11 - Nottingham ASBM News | January 2016

Evaluating on-line advice and guidance?

CEFMi is recognised as one of the most comprehensive online resources for school managers.

No other provider in the education sector offers such a broad range of services specifically for schools and academies.

Substantial discounts are available to members of the Nottingham ASBM.

Call 01494 459183 | Email [email protected] | Visit www.cefm.co.uk

Education Services Nottingham (ESN) ESN is the Nottingham City Council brand for your Traded Services. Offering nearly 60 LA services available to regional schools and academies and segmented into four sections of Business Services, Additional Needs, Facilities Services and School Improvement there are services to suit every specialism in your school. We also offer a handful of carefully selected external services, we have negotiated discounts on your behalf and also believe them to be the best offerings in the market. Visit www.eduserve.co.uk to see services that you can hand over to our teams of experienced and ded- icated professionals. Please contact Frances Rowland or Michelle Gabbitas to arrange a visit to your school to discuss your service requirements. All Nottingham City Council services are non-profit.

Twitter Follow us on Twitter - EduServe Nottingham (@EduServeNottm) to see grant opportunities, local initiatives and the occasional cracking discount!

Get in touch with the ESN Team: [email protected] or 0115 8764598 [email protected] or 0115 87646401 Issue 11 - Nottingham ASBM News | January 2016 | 13

And finally, our Foxy Loxy poet struck yet again at our Spring term conference! We hope you enjoy her latest offering (number three & counting):- Foxy Loxy Poem It’s spring time now, a whole new year Breathe 7 in and 11 out So let’s drive forwards, no time to fear Don’t have a relaxation draught I can, not I should To reach you goal, work in a team I will, not I ought Motivate staff and live the dream. Remember what you have been taught. So thanks again, it has been great Paul says “think! and change something” The NASBM team – there’s no debate To the rest, what can you bring? You help us out You bring us on Listen to Pam and do not stress So come in June – bring it on! Don’t let your head get in a mess Breath deep and long and yet relaxed And do not let your brain get taxed.

v v v v v £35.00

The World Of Spa includes:- Aqua Meditation Room, Greek Herbal Bath, Ice Fountain, Indian Blossom Steam Room, Japanese Salt Room, Japanese Zen Garden, Laconium, Multi-Sensory Showers, Reflexology Footbaths, Spa Pool, Tyrolean Garden, Turkish Hamman, Tyrolean Sauna, Tepidarium and Waterbeds. Complimentary use of towels and robes are included. To book, please call 01623 827482

Terms and Conditions: This offer is subject to availability and all bookings must be pre booked prior to arrival. To book, please call 01623 827482, Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm. This offer is not available through any other booking system. This offer does not include treatments. Full payment for each session is required at the time of booking. [email protected] www.nottinghamasbm.co.uk

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Chair Karen Bonser, The National CofE Academy, Hucknall E-Mail: [email protected]

Vice Chair/Treasurer Jane Fowkes, School Consultant E-Mail: [email protected] or [email protected]

Membership Secretary Trina Ridgill, Colonel Frank Seely School, Calverton E-Mail: [email protected]

Sponsorship / Exhibitions Clare Stokes, Newark Orchard Special School E-Mail: [email protected]

Schools Forum/Business Network Anne Hall, Carlton Central Jnr School Events/Fundraising & Marketing E-Mail: [email protected] Co-ordinator

Nottinghamshire County Kirstie Phillips, Nottinghamshire County Council Council Liaison/Legal & E-Mail: [email protected] Insurance Advice

Nottingham City Liaison/ Frances Rowland, Nottingham City Council Workshop Provision Email: [email protected]

IT Management Craig Wilkie, eLearning Team E-Mail: [email protected]

Venue Co-ordinator Theresa Shelton-Bourke E-Mail: [email protected]

Sponsor/Marketing Support Les Marshall, Schools Advisory Service [email protected]

Committee Support Vickie Lievesley, Finance Consultant E-Mail: [email protected]

Sponsor/Business Trainer, Jason Foster, CEFM Finance & HR Partners [email protected]

Committee Representative Andi Brown, SAAF [email protected]

For further information please email [email protected]