What our clients say
Bid-writing and project management
Rosemary Collard, Bath & North East Somerset Council
“We employed PAG to support the writing of the bid for a new free special school. They were always very responsive to any communication from B&NES and always extremely helpful and well-informed. We had regular meetings and catch-ups so that I was fully aware of progress and any information required. These meetings always involved the relevant people from PAG. PAG put together a very comprehensive bid and we all worked well together to finalise the document to B&NES requirements."
Jayne Jardine MBE, The Rise Partnership Trust
“We retain PAG to advise us on our strategic priorities as a Trust. This allows the trust to access a range of expertise and benefit from up to the moment market knowledge. Recently they guided us through a free school application process up to mock Interview stage where they challenged our thinking and helped us demonstrate best our vision and capacity for the new school. PAG’s responsiveness and genuine care makes them a hugely supportive partner.”
Freddie Adu, Queensmill School
“Premier Advisory’s services were recommended to us by a multi-academy trust for whom who they had worked with previously on a similar piece of work. From our initial discussions until the present day PAG staff have been a valuable source of information, expertise and support. PAG’s initial work was to work with the school on an application to open a new SEND school in RBKC via a local authority competition. This included a concurrent application to become an academy sponsor. Following the success of our free school application, PAG has worked with us on the formation of our new multi-academy trust which will include the new school and a local partner school. PAG has project managed the entire process, helping us to overcome a number of risks and challenges along the way.”
Paul Stone, Discovery Schools Academy Trust
"Premier Advisory worked with us to help us secure TCaF funding to support the delivery of the next phase of our trust´s strategy. PAG helped us refine our growth plan and application form efficiently and effectively, taking time to understand our vision and ethos. We were impressed with how PAG was able to match our narrative style to reflect the aims and ambitions of our trust while ensuring adherence to the TCaF criteria."
Prince Albert Community Trust
“Since 2015, Premier Advisory has been an energetic, trustworthy and reliable partner across a range of strategic projects. They helped move PACT from primary into secondary education with a successful free school application and assisted us in a number of successful bids from capacity grants to school improvement bids. This has assisted the continued development of our trust. Through ongoing advice and guidance, PAG continues to help PACT deliver for the children in our care.”
Jonty Clark OBE, CEO, The Beckmead Trust
“Premier Advisory have worked with the newly formed Beckmead Trust since it was mandated in April 2019. In that time Premier Advisory have written four Free School bids in partnership with the trust which have resulted in four Free School sponsorship interviews all of which the trust has been successful in. 'Mock' interviews conducted by PAG proved to be a vital part of leaders honing their teamwork and skills. Premier Advisory have also engaged with project management including delivering education and governance plans and section 10 consultations. The growth and reputation of The Beckmead Trust reflects the quality of work and partnership with Premier Advisory who have been invaluable in supporting the trust navigate a very different landscape to that which exists under Local Authority management and governance.”
Childcare Sufficiency Assessment
Calderdale Council
"Calderdale Council commissioned Premier Advisory Group in 2018 to carry out a Childcare Sufficiency Assessment parents’ survey. Their approach was professional, we were regularly updated and they listened carefully to our requirements as the project progressed. Their final report contributed to planning for the sufficiency of childcare in Calderdale, and in particular the consultation reported back parents’ and carers’ views on the delivery, process and impact of the 30 hour childcare offer since its inception in 2017."
London Borough of Hounslow
"Premier Advisory Group were commissioned by London Borough of Hounslow in 2018 to carry out a 30 Hours Sufficiency Assessment. They had a professional approach, listened carefully to our requirements, engaged extensively with our providers, gave regular updates on progress and were responsive to requests to further develop data as required. Their final report contributed to planning for the sufficiency of 30 hour places in Hounslow."
Cheshire East Council
"Thank you for producing the Childcare Sufficiency Assessment for Cheshire East Council. The research was managed effectively and the report produced on time. The gaps analysis and actions provide a clear focus for future planning."
Integrated Curriculum Financial Planning
Infinity Academies Trust
"In 2019, PAG supported the Infinity Academies Trust in conducting an ICFP review. The team was diligent in their analysis and the report they provided enabled the trust to look at structuring and planning against measures. PAG completed the work efficiently and effectively, which allowed us to access our MDIF bid."
John Taylor Multi Academy Trust
"Premier Advisory Group supported us in releasing our MDIF grant by conducting a Trust-wide ICFP review. PAG looked at a range of measures to help us use our resources effectively and efficiently and the ICFP findings have helped us with collaborative decision making and the development of our use and understanding of ICFP. PAG were efficient and organised in their approach to the ICFP and provided us with comprehensive information."
Swanland Education Trust
"PAG supported the Swanland Education Trust in 2018 by conducting ICFP analysis on the schools in our Trust and enabling our MDIF grant to be released. A range of measures were taken into account and this opened discussion on how to use even more resources effectively and efficiently in the SET schools. The findings from the ICFP analysis helped SET in collaborative decision making, the development of the Trust and forward planning. At all stages of the process, the PAG team were supportive and allowed the pace of work to be bespoke to our situation. This resulted in a stress free process from start to finish."
Interested in our services?
Bidding for funding
We have experience in assisting schools and trusts in obtaining government funding or other grant programmes. We provide tailored advice and strategic financial planning, to lead the production of comprehensive bids for funding. Examples of the types of funding we have helped our clients access recently are the Trust Capacity Fund (TCaF), the Emergency Strategic School Improvement fund (eSSIF, or the College Collaboration Funding (CCF).
Free school applications
In the last year, PAG has supported over 25 trusts with free school applications in Wave 14 of the mainstream process, Wave 2 of the SEND free school process, and various LA competitions. Applications are drafted by a team of professionals who between them have proposed, opened and acted as a DfE Assessor or New Schools’ Network (NSN) Advisor for over 150 free schools including a significant number of special schools.
Project management
PAG provides project management services to school in their pre-opening phases. We offer a personalised service to help with the volume and complexity of tasks in the pre-opening period.Our service includes tracking progress towards key milestones, documentation control, and ensuring effective and efficient communications between key individuals and stakeholder groups. Our project managers have built a trusted relationship with the DfE, ensuring project success and timely opening of the new schools.
Learn more here!