Category Archives: Procurement

How useful would more secure on-site storage be?

Need more space?

Are you worried that your sheds and outbuildings are not as secure as you would like them to be? Perhaps you’ve already suffered from an attack by thieves or vandals. Would you like one central place to keep all the things you need rather than having them scattered throughout the school?

A secure, weatherproof container is the answer to all these problems and more but don’t just take our word for it. Debbie Stephens, Business Manager at Perry Court School, told us:

“Having been broken into 3 times and had all the equipment taken and our sheds broken, not only did we have to keep replacing everything but our insurance company refused to insure us.  Since we have had our container in place we have had no attempts by people to break in, no arson and no vandalism.  The container is green so it blends into the environment perfectly and we use it every day.” Debbie also told us that she believes wooden sheds are false economy because the locks are flimsy and can easily be kicked in and shipping containers last a lot longer. We couldn’t have put it better ourselves!

Prior Park College in Bath bought two containers to replace their tatty sheds which were deteriorating. They have helped tidy the area up and Mike Crudge told us “We tried everybody but Container Team delivered what we wanted and came in on price.”

Mark Malone from Salesian School, Surrey is using his container to keep tools and furniture in. Previously these things were all over the place, so the container has helped centralise things and has given them much more storage space within the school. He said “Container Team turned up when they said they would, they are competitively priced and it is what it says on the tin – a container for storage purposes”

Site Managers all over the country have already discovered the benefits of using our containers. Our high security locking system ensures that your equipment will be stored securely.

Containers are affordable whether you hire or buy, starting at only £12 per week. The lease can be as short as a month and in some schools the cost is met by PTA.

A wide range of sizes is available starting at garden shed size right up to a whopping 40ft long unit. If you have an awkward space, we can manufacture a unit to fit it.

For more information and case studies please check out our website storage-for-schools.co.uk.

We deal with schools on a daily basis so we’ll be able to answer all your questions and offer plenty of help and advice. Just call Sarah on her direct number 01934 245026 or email mailto:sarah@containerteam.co.uk and we’ll see what we can do to help you.

Beat the price rises on Postura Plus chairs and stools…………

 Postura Plus classroom chairs have a TWENTY year warranty and an outstanding  record of reliability and durability  in thousands of schools.  Available in sizes for nurseries through to schools and colleges  they provide comfortable, ergonomic seating  in a choice of 15 attractive colours.

The prices of Postura  chairs, stools and IT chairs are due to increase on January 1 2017  ………so if you need new chairs why not order now to avoid paying higher prices next year…  Contact us now  to order and benefit from our current highly competitive prices.

The Postura Plus range can be found on the website of Central Educational Supplies Ltd  together with more information and pricing.

www.centraleducational.co.uk

Central Educational Supplies Ltd., can be contacted by phone on 020 7515 1797 (please ask to speak to Martin Evans)   by email info@centraleducational.co.uk    or fax on  020 7515 4420

Central Educational Supplies Ltd.,  PO Box 999  London  E14 6SH

P.S. Should you need new tables, desks, storage units etc then these can also be found on the above website.

How to avoid time-consuming administration, bureaucracy, and cash flow problems when procuring a brand new school sports facility.

It would be an understatement to say that having a brand new sports facility installed in your school is costly. And, in addition to the expense, such a project typically comes with a significant amount of time-consuming administration, bureaucracy, and cash flow implications.

So how can you get a brand new cricket facility (for example) installed in your school without encountering any such problems?

The answer: Notts Sport and the Fast Track Funding Scheme.

Notts Sport will design a bespoke cricket facility (or refurbishment) that’s perfect for your needs. Then, using Fast Track Funding, we will provide you with a flexible funding solution with monthly, quarterly, or annual repayments to suit you.

This means that no (or very little) payment is required until the facility is complete, and we won’t expect you to pay it all back at once, which will help to minimise the impact on your cash flow.

If you have any questions about the Fast Track Funding Scheme, please don’t hesitate to contact us, either by calling us on 01455 883 730 or emailing us at info@nottssport.com.

There is further information about Fast Track Funding on our website.

What’s more, you can find out more about the various pitch surfacing systems designed and developed by Notts Sport, by visiting http://nottssport.co.uk/.

Are these not the most convenient arrangements for leasing a minibus?

The team here at Benchmark Leasing have for some time been working hard to create the most convenient minibus leasing packages especially for schools – evolving the arrangement through feedback, primarily from administrators and school managers.

Here are the arrangements that we have put together to date:

The New Ford Transit Minibus
Key features: Daytime running lights, Bluetooth, power side step, curve control, tinted glass, and remote central locking. The Trend in addition (for a modest rental increase) includes such items as metallic paint, power heated and folding mirrors, heated front windscreen, and parking sensors.

Ford Transit Minibus 12 Seater
2 years, 20,000 Total Miles gives Monthly Rentals of £299 + VAT.
A favourite as it can be driven on a regular driving license due to its light weight.

Ford Transit Minibus 15 Seater
2 years, 20,000 Total Miles gives Monthly Rentals of £317 + VAT.

Ford Transit Minibus 17 Seater
2 years, 20,000 Total Miles gives Monthly Rentals of £368 + VAT.

Renault Trafic Minibus
Key features: 62 mph speed limiter, electronic stability control, digital tachograph, two 2kg fully compliant water/foam fire extinguishers, first aid kit with VOSA approved content, electric side step, individual spot lights and air vents for passengers, and rear safety doors.

Renault Trafic 9 Seat Minibus
2 years, 20,000 Total Miles gives Monthly Rentals of £318 + VAT.

Vauxhall Movano
Key features: Padded head restraints, dual front passenger bench seat, individual saloon lighting, optional air conditioning, illuminated rear passenger walkway, overhead storage and coat racks, retracting side step, and standard Electronic Stability Programme (ESP).

Vauxhall Movano 17 Seat Minibus
3 years, 30,000 Total Miles gives Monthly Rentals of £470 + VAT.

All prices include a Full Maintenance package consisting of tyre replacement, servicing, Road Tax, MOT, and 6 Monthly Safety Inspections. Based on an initial rental equivalent to 3 monthly rentals.

You can find more information about Benchmark Leasing’s school minibus packages by visiting our website. Or, if you’d prefer, you can call us on 01753 859944 or email us at minibus@benchmarkleasing.co.uk

Understanding all there is to know about school procurement

School Procurement is significant in terms of expenditure and time.  The Certificate of School Procurement provides Business Manager/Executive Officers with the tools to ensure that procurement is carried out in a transparent way.

If you wish to::

  1. Gain control over procurement
  2. Have confidence in procurement
  3. Protect the school from high risk procurement
  4. Reduce reliance on supplier focused contracts

then this online training is for you.

The benefits are:

  1. Increased confidence in procurement
  2. Better understanding of leasing versus purchasing issues.
  3. Focus on school contract for suppliers.
  4. Managing contract performance

The 14 week online modular procurement course can be undertaken at your own pace and can be completed within six months. The training will give you a benchmark as to how school procurement is currently operating and provide a guide for improving.

More information can be found at http://www.admin.org.uk/CCMintro.html

Schools are saving money by using eco-friendly technology

Eco-friendly technology that will reduce your school’s carbon footprint and running costs.

The attitude that “for something to be eco-friendly it must be expensive” has become somewhat out-dated – particularly when we consider the advances in eco-friendly technologies over the last decade or so.

In fact, in the modern world eco-friendly technologies are typically much more cost-effective. And eco-friendly charging trolleys for the laptops, Chromebooks, iPads or tablets in your school are no exception to this.

The Power Management system, which is built in to the ABS charging trolleys supplied by NUWCO, features an energy-saving timer module which will help to reduce both your school’s carbon footprint and your school’s running costs.

And to further save your school money, the timer can be set to charge your school’s devices at the time when electricity is at its cheapest, including in the evenings and at the weekends.

What’s more, in the event of a computer or the mains having an electrical fault, the Power Management System and the charging trolley’s plastic shell will ensure that the fault is isolated at once.

Our plastic charging trolley, which is 100% recyclable, also has the added benefit of it being 70% lighter than a traditional metal charging trolley which will of course make the process of moving the trolley around much easier.

To review all the details and see the pictures please visit our site at www.nuwco.com.

Just choose the device that you think is right for you, click on that trolley, and you will be able to see a full description, including the dimensions. You will also be able to download the product specification and device compatibility sheet – in fact, everything you need to know.

If you have any questions please do call 01628 666 775 or email me at sales@nuwco.com

Ashley Hutton