IT Service Provider suggestions for small Trust

[smithson83]

Hi Guys/Gals,

 

We've been asked to help a fledgling trust get on their feet.

We've had dealings with a couple of the school sin the trust under the Edtech Demonstrator program the Gov ran over Covid. Now they've started a small trust consisting of Primaries and special schools (less than 1500 pupils in total across 5 schools). We've started them in hopefully the right direction and given them food for thought in how they want to manage the trust from an IT perspective.

 

But, and this is the point of the post, they don't have any technical expertise in any of the schools and currently buy in IT Support individually either from the local council or one-man-bands etc. I was wondering if any of you guys work with (or are ) an IT Service Provider who works in the North West (Blackpool area) what I could recommend to them. As its a new trust, they'll need someone to bring the 5 schools together and modernise their infrastructure etc.

 

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[DGardiner]

Hi Guys/Gals,

 

We've been asked to help a fledgling trust get on their feet.

We've had dealings with a couple of the school sin the trust under the Edtech Demonstrator program the Gov ran over Covid. Now they've started a small trust consisting of Primaries and special schools (less than 1500 pupils in total across 5 schools). We've started them in hopefully the right direction and given them food for thought in how they want to manage the trust from an IT perspective.

 

But, and this is the point of the post, they don't have any technical expertise in any of the schools and currently buy in IT Support individually either from the local council or one-man-bands etc. I was wondering if any of you guys work with (or are ) an IT Service Provider who works in the North West (Blackpool area) what I could recommend to them. As its a new trust, they'll need someone to bring the 5 schools together and modernise their infrastructure etc.

 

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

They need to invest in their own IT, any msp is going to take them for a ride in this position.

[TheHyperTechie]

Personally, I think an internal IT team would be the best route.

 

However... MSP wise, I would recommend iCT4 (https://www.ict4.co.uk/) they look after a large number of schools/mats around the UK. I have dealt with them before and can't fault them to be honest.

[PotNoodleTech]

Yep, it's been proven again and again in almost every industry that outsourcing leads to worse service.

 

If they're starting from scratch and there are not loads of existing contracts to buy out, it's the ideal time to build an in house team to support their future needs.

 

Start by hiring a competent IT Manager who can really drive things forward, then move to hiring technicians.

Edited June 12, 2024 by PotNoodleTech

[Anonymous2000]

These guys do some Blackpool schools and are pretty good - https://www.dataspire.co.uk/

They are the provider for the Cidari MAT so maybe worth speaking to them for reference.

[dapaulio]

I have PM you

[smithson83]

Thanks for the responses so far, both public and private.

 

I do agree completely that they need, at the very least, someone to bat for them on the inside and to steer the ship as it were. It was the first thing I said in the first meeting with them.

 

The schools are being brought onboard over the next year and due to their small sizes, don't have the money to front the salary at present. A catch 22, this is where we're looking for someone to provide the technical skills, possibly with the steering from us for the short term, until they can fill the position themselves, then work with the IT services for the ongoing project work and infrastructure maintenance etc.

 

We can provide the advice, we just don't have the resource to actually do the work needed.

 

Thanks again.

[smithson83]

These guys do some Blackpool schools and are pretty good - https://www.dataspire.co.uk/

They are the provider for the Cidari MAT so maybe worth speaking to them for reference.

Is Cidari the trust that has the CofE schools in Blackburn? The name rings a bell.

[PotNoodleTech]

Aah the old "we don't have the money to hire someone" but presumably based on your entire thread, they can and will find (even more) money to pay a third party support company?

[DGardiner]

Aah the old "we don't have the money to hire someone" but presumably based on your entire thread, they can and will find (even more) money to pay a third party support company?

 

yup, even for the worst MSP youre gonna be looking at 5-10k p/a for half a day a week, if youre lucky a full day x 5 is more than enough to start hiring - especially at edu rates

 

thats not including stuff like them funneling procurement via themselves and taking on a tax, paying themselves exerbitant amounts to "provide install and test" tvs/access points/etc and any other favours they deem "outside the contract"

Edited June 13, 2024 by DGardiner

[jcollings]

Yep. That’s the one but they have schools in Blackpool, East Lancs, etc.

[ColonelPanic]

Can also +1 for Dataspire, they won the DfE bid when our trust opened a UTC, can't fault their technical knowledge, and the account manager they gave us to start with was very prompt.

 

With every MSP though, as has been mentioned above, will monopolise all procurement, and probably overcharge for services.

 

Always an advocate for an in-house team, but I am biased. I understand it does require more effort from the trust in terms of recruitment and management.

[biggjb]

If you looking for a Education MSP that is regional and works with many schools and MATs in the north West have you looked at Computeam Ltd https://www.computeam.co.uk/