Independent Schools (Midlands) - Case Studies

Independent Schools (Midlands) - Case Studies

Independent Schools (Midlands)

Case Studies

Estates Director

Maintenance and Minor Works Manager / Estates Contracts and Compliance Manager Due to the recent appointment of a new Estates Director, they reviewed the existing estates team and identified the need for 2 management level individuals to support the Estates Director. The school had tried to directly recruit the roles before engaging with MRG. MRG conducted a specific search to ensure candidates with a more strategic approach and level of experience where engaged. The Brief To secure 2 pro-active and strategic individuals one with a maintenance bias and the other a contracts and compliance candidate, both of which would have a track record of working with in house teams and third-party contracts. The Campaign We identified and approached candidates with experience working across comparable complex estates with a combination of listed buildings, in house teams and third party specialised contracts. We utilised our extensive network of estates and facilities professionals, 10,000 plus, to show the scale and complexity of the Uppingham Estate. The Successful Candidates The successful maintenance manager was a Chartered Engineer, with experience within public sector and high profiles stadiums. The individual had passion for heritage buildings and was excited by the scale and opportunity for maintenance projects as well as the opportunity to support the Estates Director to realise the estates strategy. The Contracts and Compliance Manager was a Chartered and had extensive experience working for leading FM service providers and had a deep understanding and passion of contracts performance and implementing compliance frameworks.

The Brief Malvern were restructuring to a family of schools and centralising their estates team, they were looking for an individual to lead the estates strategy, creating a new masterplan and delivery team. The Campaign We undertook a targeted campaign, looking at those with experience within the sector, higher- education and organisations with comparable estates. We undertook a longlist review with a selection of 10 candidates from across the various sectors. The Successful Candidate The individual came from a competitor independent school and had previous experience of leading complex projects and business innovation. This presented an opportunity to develop the masterplan as well as managing the estates function for both the UK and International campuses.

Director of Hospitality and Leisure

With the appointment of a new Bursar, the Foundation were reviewing the operational capabilities to ensure all the schools within the Foundation, received the same level of service. They created 3 new roles, who would join the newly formed central management team, working alongside the heads and schools team.

The Brief They were looking for someone to commercialise some of their assets in order to generate additional income that could be reinvested to the facilities. They also wanted someone to improve the standard of internal events. The Campaign This headhunting campaign, targeted local venues, hotels and leisure centres. We presented a diverse shortlist with candidates, across hospitality and leisure. This presented an exciting opportunity for those that wouldn’t have considered the independent school sector without direct engagement. The Successful Candidate A previous Hotel General Manager with 12 years’ experience within the hotel environment. They were used to manging complex events and commercial sales strategies.

Director of Facilities Management

The Brief Warwick Schools Foundation were looking for someone with a strong understanding of facilities management from a customer facing environment. The Campaign We looked at professionals from outside the sector, that had the relevant skills to bring to education. The search was targeted on corporate and service focused businesses within the private sector. The Successful Candidate The individual had a strong background in soft service management and had worked for companies such as HSBSC and Cadbury’s World. She demonstrated a passion of customer service delivery.

Head of Health and Safety

The Brief To ingrain a culture of health and safety across the schools. This would be a key role within the senior leadership team working closely with the heads and the bursar to ensure continuous compliance. The Campaign We searched across the education and private sector for those operating in high footfall environments. We targeted both those operating a senior level and those looking to make a step. Five candidates were taken through to the interview and assessment day. The Successful Candidate The successful candidate has an extensive track record within the fire service, with his career starting as fire fighter, before moving to a broader health and safety role with Capita. The candidate knowledge of fire regulations is invaluable to the Foundation.

Our Story The Management Recruitment Group is an industry leading search and selection consultancy, focusing on specialised sectors including Higher Education, Local Government, Healthcare Trusts, and Corporate Real Estate. MRG provide a robust and inclusive search and selection process which has outreach into various useful sectors which provides diverse shortlists for our clients. It is this wide-reaching network that makes our service attractive to our long term partners and sees them use us on a regular basis for mandates in various disciplines. In addition to the case studies in this pack, we have also worked with a number of Higher Education Institutions across the Midlands and surrounding regions, making key appointments within Estates and professional services teams including:

Our Team

Melanie Pye, Manager

Melanie has over 25 years’ experience in recruitment and executive search, with a strong profile working on leaderships roles that require concentrated research and search skills beyond traditional networks. In early 2022, Melanie made an internal move to focus on senior assignments across independent schools and academy trusts. Melanie has been with MRG for almost 10 years and has led major recruitment projects across the public and private sector. Melanie has a strong understanding of the independent school sector, having studied at St Mary’s Hall (now Roedean) in Brighton, as well as having a daughter at a leading independent school in Suffolk. In addition, she was part of the PTA and heavily involved in her daughter’s primary school. Outside of work, Melanie is an avid netball player and is the safeguarding and welfare officer for her local club.

• University of Birmingham • Warwick University • Coventry University • Cambridge University • Birmingham City University • Leicester University • Derby University • Nottingham Trent University

Hayley Mintern - Business Sector Director

MRG’s Independent Schools and Commercial Education practices, led by Hayley Mintern specialises in the appointment of mid-senior leaders. Hayley has been with MRG for six years, as part of her earlier career with MRG Hayley worked with the facilities management team working on senior interim assignments across Higher Education. Before joining MRG Hayley worked with the Rugby Football Union delivering high profile events and educational management programmes.

For more information about out Independent Schools Practice, please get in touch with Melanie. [email protected] 07530 734 568