Framework Construction Company, West Yorkshire (May 2020 – Jan 2022)
--- £24m • 1100 pupils • new client organisation • multiple phases • 3rd party asset integration ---
3-year assignment to win, design and deliver the ICT components of a 100% new-build school. The project encompassed the usual ICT workstream from ITT to handover in two phases with co-ordination of the school’s third-party ICT provider and integration of their works to install end-user devices and AV before handover to ensure a school ready to open days after handover. Configuration management was complex with multiple stakeholders requiring input. Testing, over a period during which third parties were required to complete their installations, was challenging.
Secondary Academy, Sunderland (Nov 2021 – Dec 2021)
--- strategic ICT advice • action planning • excellence and transformation in ICT • ICT service design ---
Identify strengths and weaknesses in the existing in-house ICT operational service with a view to assisting the senior leadership team in ensuring they know how to request specific change, monitor service and hold discussions with the specialist team.
Framework Construction Company, Northumberland (Feb 2019 – Sep 2021)
--- £36m • 1900 pupils • school operational throughout • multiple phases • temporary accommodation ---
Extensive engagement to lead the ICT components of a project bringing two schools onto one operational site including building refurbishment, new-build and demolition. Two large school new-builds were completed on one operational school site, with temporary accommodation to allow pre-construction demolition and refurbishment of listed building. Complex on-site comms links were maintained to ensure connectivity, including to temporary accommodation, throughout. Multiple blocks were constructed with a single server room and multiple redundant fibre links.
Framework Construction Company, Cumbria (Jun 2018 – Sep 2020)
--- £15m • 700 pupils • green field site • new telecoms infrastructure • new core • legacy decant ---
30-month engagement to win, design and deliver the ICT infrastructure of a 100% new-build school. The work involved taking the lead on ICT components of competitive dialogue, client engagements, ICT design & programme and integration into the developing building design, and - as part of the selected bidder team - detailed design, CP negotiation and contract close. Successful delivery followed, with zero design/integration issues, through management of the ICT provider, management of the client and school, and an on-time handover, snagging and training programme.
Multi-Academy Trust, Greater Manchester (Nov 2019 – Mar 2020)
--- strategic ICT advice • centralised ICT service design • transformation and excellence in ICT ---
10-day, 4-month ICT strategy development commission to:
1) Identify an document ongoing disparate service at multiple schools in a single trust with a view to assisting the central team to develop a framework for progressing to a single centralised ICT Operational Service.
2) Develop strategy, target operating model and roadmap to obtain Trustee buy-in and support to develop a cost-effective and streamlined service across all schools and enable rapid impact in newly acquired schools.
3) Document as-is state, future desired state and key actions to achieve.
4) Analyse plan for benefits, impacts, risks, implementation costs, revenue cost deltas and other factors.
Framework Construction Company, Northumberland (Sep 2016 - Sep 2018)
--- extension of operational school • no downtime ---
15-day construction management assignment to design, procure and install passive, active, wireless, telecoms & AV infrastructure to extend new-build ICT works completed by Indici earlier in the year as the school took an additional 400 pupils from closing middle schools. Indici were pleased to hear that the school had been delighted with earlier works and were keen to welcome as much of the original team back to deliver the extension.
ICT Consultancy Provider, East Yorkshire & Greater London (Dec 2013 - Jan 2017)
20-day per annum strategic ICT support for a 3-year UK Government capital programme supporting a delivery team with additional technical expertise for bid, design, procurement, installation and commissioning of infrastructure in 11 new schools.
Major Construction Company, NE England (Dec 2013 - Oct 2016)
15-day-per-month Construction ICT Management of a 3-year UK Government capital programme to design, procure and install passive, active, wireless, telecoms, UPS & AV infrastructure in 12 new schools as part of a construction programme, plan & deliver a decant programme and handover the new services. The engagement began with bid support to win the contract and progressed through CP development, detailed ICT solution design, client and school engagement, specialist subcontractor procurement, value engineering, cross-discipline design & integration, specialist subcontractor management, testing, snagging, user training and handover.
Multi-Academy Trust (Jan 2015 - Mar 2016)
30-day, 12-month Construction ICT Management assignment to support a new free school receiving a refurbished building. The work included a visioning exercise, solution design, the management of the school's interests in engagements with the Council sponsor and construction company, and the procurement of school-funded ICT equipoment and an associated managed ICT service. For a temporary period, following partial handover, the 80-metre-separated refurb adn existing buildings operated simultaneously and services from a single shared server room were required in both buildings while works continued. The challenges this posed were significant and introduced delays had to be managed both with school operation and supplier contracts affected.
Multi-Academy (Primary) Trust, London (Qtr1 2015)
12-day, 3-month ICT strategy development commission: 1) Identify best practice at 6 sites and isolate supporting infrastructure & service components. 2) Develop strategy & action plan to extend best practice across all schools and enable rapid impact in new schools. 3) Document as-is state, future desired state and action plan. 4) Analyse plan for benefits, impacts, risks, implementation costs, revenue cost deltas and other factors.
Secondary School, Cheshire (Jan 2014 - Feb 2015)
100-day engagement over a 12-month period: emergency step in to manage the current service while supporting the design & transition to a new service regime. The work involved documenting a poorly understood service & infrastructure while managing service delivery, technical team management, supplier management, service improvement, transition planning, rationalisation and handover to a new provider.
Multi-School (Primary) Federation, NW England (Feb 2015)
2-day short commission to implement a new OpenText FirstClass collaboration platform for a Multi-School Federation including stakeholder management, requirements analysis, supplier management, implementation, Change management, transition and familiarisation.
City Council, UK (Jan 2015)
4-day, 1-month independent review and scrutiny of the ISP market for schools with detailed report into two aspects – a) what the market has to offer / benchmarked appraisal of value for money; and b) what to look out for when selecting an ISP service – pitfalls and additional available benefits.
Secondary School, South Yorkshire (Nov 2014)
25-day rapid service improvement assignment: assess current technical, functional & operational aspects of the ICT installation, service and team. Produce detailed report identifying candidates for improvement (with benefits & impacts), prioritised and costed recommendations, and document pack for initial supplier invitation to build improvement from the foundation up.
Multi-Academy Trust, West Midlands & Oxfordshire (Oct 2014)
3-day short assignment to implement and transition to Microsoft Office 365 for Education including stakeholder management, requirements analysis, technical design and implementation, transition, user familiarisation & change control.
Secondary Academy, Buckinghamshire (Jan – Sep 2014)
20-day, 9-month assignment to provide strategic advice and design, procure & transition to a new ICT service including identifying and documenting requirements, competitive framework procurement support, exit planning, implementation & transition. The engagement continues with various options appraisals to drive service improvement and ensure on-going best value.