I served in the army for over five years after leaving school, with deployments to Afghanistan, Cyprus, Belize and Jordan. When I left in 2012, I took a business administration apprenticeship at a school in Manchester. I was soon moved into a finance role, which set the trajectory of my career. I started studying for AAT in my own time, then moved on to ACCA, and qualified in under four years. I worked at another school before moving to my current role as CFO of Vision Multi Academy Trust. There are six primary schools in our organisation.
I am incredibly proud to have played a small part in thousands of children’s lives through some of the decisions and initiatives I’ve taken. My job is incredibly rewarding. For example, in 2023 we delivered new iPads to 1,200 of our children for their learning, all paid for by our financial initiatives. I also find it humbling that I am involved in ensuring that our children have healthy food to eat. For some it may be the only meal they get that day. Giving children exposure to things that they might not otherwise get to experience, and access to the best possible education, regardless of postcode, background, gender or beliefs, is probably the greatest job satisfaction I could want.
I have inverted the famous mantra and like to ‘sweat the small stuff’
We face challenges on several fronts. These include lack of government funding, which hasn’t kept up with inflation, an exponential rise in staffing costs, and difficulty obtaining capital funding for our small trust. So we have had to think outside of the box to generate more income. We run thriving breakfast clubs, and we are letting out our conference rooms, with both initiatives generating additional income.
To drive efficiencies, our estate now has 100% LED lighting, reducing our energy costs by 20% and our carbon footprint by 33%. We are also looking into solar options. We have been using KPIs to make informed staffing decisions and are really reducing wastage to make further cost savings. I have inverted the famous mantra and like to ‘sweat the small stuff’ and target marginal gains. If we do this consistently, it all adds up.
I have volunteered for Bolton Mountain Rescue Team and hope to pick that up again
If I had law-making powers, I would cut the rate of national insurance for public sector employees. This would generate savings and result in more headroom for all public services. I would also remove much of the current red tape from the public sector. It is debilitating and means that we cannot react quickly enough. I’d also ensure that staff pay is agreed in good time so organisations can budget appropriately.
When I’m not at work I like being with my family, especially having days out. I really enjoy sport and I am an avid fan of both Manchester United and the Salford Red Devils rugby league team. I have also volunteered for Bolton Mountain Rescue Team in the past – something that I hope to pick up again in the future.
