Starkworks is niche consultancy practice that specialises in addressing the key issues that clients face across the education sector.
Either working to support schools and trusts at the interface between commercial, technical and key risk areas to address these and achieve the desired outcomes or working with vendors and service providers serving this sector to increase market alignment and commercial outcomes, our deep sector understanding and extensive network access is what separates us from other providers. By simply staying focussed on the ‘so what’ of key interactions and transactions and eliminating the noise that distracts from making informed, risk-assured decisions, time, effort and resources are more efficiently and readily deployed to achieving your optimal end point.
The Starkworks model is based on providing proven, highly experienced resources to target solutions to your most pressing issues and challenges. The focus is on ensuring that every engagement equates to more than a transactional exchange of fees for capacity – we are determined to ensure that the sum of the total experience of working with Starkworks is an exceptional one.
What we do
Risk management – safeguarding concerns and cyber security breaches to financial instability and reputational damage. Schools and educational institutions are increasingly expected to implement robust risk management frameworks to ensure the safety and well-being of students, staff, and the wider community. This involves identifying potential risks, assessing their likelihood and impact, implementing mitigation strategies, and regularly monitoring and reviewing these measures.
Board performance improvement – regularly assessing board member skills and knowledge gap and providing targeted training on governance, finance, risk management, and safeguarding.
Operational efficiency and cost saving – operational efficiency and cost savings are critical for the UK education sector. By streamlining processes, optimising resource allocation and embracing technological advancements, institutions can achieve significant financial benefits.
Grown and scale maximisation – involve strategies aimed at increasing the reach and impact of educational programs and institutions. This can be achieved through expanding student enrollment, developing new programs and courses, establishing partnerships with other educational institutions or businesses and leveraging technology to deliver education more effectively and efficiently.
Managing underperformance of key units – requires a multi-faceted approach. It is crucial to identify the root causes of underperformance, which may include inadequate resources, insufficient training, poor leadership, or outdated teaching methods. Once the underlying issues are identified, targeted interventions can be implemented, such as providing additional training and support to staff, reallocating resources, or restructuring the unit’s operations. Additionally, open communication and collaboration between the underperforming unit, senior leadership, and other stakeholders are vital to ensure that everyone is aligned on the goals and strategies for improvement.
Contract disputes and vendor performance management – needs clearly defined, well communicated contracts for a range of services in Education, including catering, cleaning, IT support and building maintenance. When contracts are not properly drafted or performance expectations are not clearly defined, disputes can arise, leading to financial losses, service disruptions, and reputational damage. Effective vendor performance management involves establishing clear performance indicators, conducting regular reviews, and implementing appropriate corrective actions when necessary.
Market Intelligence – gathering and analysing data on student demographics, educational trends, competitor activitie and market demand allows institutions to make informed decisions about program development, resource allocation, and marketing strategies.
Our clients include
• Multi-academy trusts
• Local Authorities and Councils
• Promoter and founder groups
• Managed service providers
• Individual schools and federations
We work to deliver
• The ‘so what’ to all situations – applied, practical answers to key questions
• Uncompromising approaches to solving issues quickly and effectively
• Targeted inputs to resolve skills-gaps to provide sustainability in problem solving
• Client-first advisory services – your agenda is paramount
• A lack of clutter – in our thinking, approaches and engagement with clients