Recent projects include...

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.

• Phase 1 was handed over on-time for a single year 7 intake of the new school organisation in September with phase 2 subsequently handed over 6 weeks ahead of programme. The school’s ICT service provider was involved in the handover and training and continued to work hand-in-hand with the construction project’s ICT subcontractor to ensure successful ongoing operations while phase 2 installation, configuration and testing was completed.

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.

• The leadership team were delighted with process and the quality and coverage of the final report and advice for moving from their very good service to a further improved, more robust, modern ICT operational service. The team intend to use the report to produce a Strategy and Roadmap for future developments and tie the process into professional development for their ICT specialists.

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.

• Handover followed successful decant and integration of the two existing independent networks into the single infrastructure in the new accommodation, while maintaining operational state of the facilities so as to support remote learning for pupils unable to be on site.

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.

• All schools opened on time and with continuous operational ICT facilities throughout the programme including the sustained connectivity of retained blocks within sites on which education and construction were progressing side-by-side.

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.

• The trust ICT team engaged with the process and took the completed strategy, target operating model and roadmap to secure buy-in from the trust board and engage with teams across the trust to add value to their individual operations while centralising common services to lighten workload overall. Eventual plans are to further centralise operations so as to leave only those services required on site local to each academy, ensuring local academy teams can focus on education while leaving supporting services to expert, trust teams.

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.

• The seamlessly integrated extension opened on time and on budget with no ICT impact on the operational school. Training was provided although the new works were an identical extension of the existing ICT facilities and staff and pupils moved into the new areas without any reconfiguration of existing assets whatsoever.

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.

• The bids were successful. ICT/build integration continues to be well managed, on budget and on programme.

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.

• 12 schools opened with enhanced solutions, on time and on budget. 10,000 pupils and 1,000 staff now enjoy reliable, modern, responsive ICT solutions that are well-integrated into the building fabric of exceptional new facilities. On-going commercial relationships have been created between the ICT subcontractor and schools.

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.

• The school has new accommodation with well-integrated, reliable ICT facilities and a new support provider.

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.

• The Trust has made immediate savings in opening a new school and has a strategy & plan to develop ICT.

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.

• The school now has a long-term, well-planned ICT solution to support core business activities.

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.

• As a result the Federation’s teams are able to communicate electronically, with no more paper memos.

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.

• The City Council use the report to openly advise client schools and tailor their offering to remain on market.

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.

• The school has an action plan and supporting resources to procure the infrastructure for an improved service.

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.

• The Trust now exclusively and effectively utilise Office 365 for email, storage and collaboration.

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.

• As a result the school has a simplified, rationalised ICT service with clear objectives & commercial structures.