We are 1st Pillar, providing all your education operations needs in one place, leaving you to focus on what's important - your pupils
Take a look at our comprehensive range of services to support all your operational needs.
Our Services for Education
Finance Support
Budgeting, Reporting, ICFP, Compliance, Internal Scrutiny, maximising your funding, support in securing additional self generated income.
Staffing
Supporting recruitment of your key operational staff. Benchmarking, Structures, Training, Mentoring.
Change Management
Supporting your development strategy with project management, due diligence, planning, forecasting and becoming ‘conversion ready’
Training in operational monitoring, challenge and compliance. Internal Scrutiny, Risk Register and Benchmarking.
Capital
Supporting your learning environment, technology and estates with audit, project management and funding application.
Start your Sustainability Strategy and Climate Plan journey with 1st Pillar, getting you ready for alignment with DfE standards in 2025
Finance Support
Budgeting, Reporting, ICFP, Compliance, Internal Scrutiny, maximising your funding, support in securing additional self generated income.
Staffing
Supporting recruitment of your key operational staff. Benchmarking, Structures, Training, Mentoring.
Change Management
Supporting your development strategy with project management, due diligence, planning, forecasting and becoming ‘conversion ready’
Training in operational monitoring, challenge and compliance. Internal Scrutiny, Risk Register and Benchmarking.
Capital
Supporting your learning environment, technology and estates with audit, project management and funding application.
Start your Sustainability Strategy and Climate Plan journey with 1st Pillar, getting you ready for alignment with DfE standards in 2025
From the blog
What our customers say...
Frequently Asked Questions
These are the questions we get asked the most! Please do get in touch via our contact us page if you’ve got a different one.
How are you? How is it all going?
I love that this is our most frequently asked question. We’re all good, thank you for asking.
Starting something new is such an exciting time. We’re full of optimism, enthusiasm and we’re just buzzing with ideas. We’re so pleased you’re coming with us on this journey. Sign up for our newsletter and keep in touch, either directly by email or via our socials.
The power of the SBL network is AMAZING!
What made you decide to set up your own business?
Good question! Sometimes I wonder that myself!
After 22 years as an SBL, it was time to try something new and share my skills more widely. It’s a scary thing, setting up a new business. I know school business, not small business, but the SBL in me is resilient, and has a very positive attitude. I’ve always loved my job. I know I can help schools who don’t have the resources to directly employ all the business skills they require.
The vision of 1st Pillar is to be there when help is needed, supporting schools to be able to afford the best resources for educational impact.
Are you writing again?
Yes. During covid I got out of the routine (in my defence there was quite a lot going on) and I didn’t rediscover my writing mojo until this year. It’s exciting to be back in the swing of it and have my ideas buzz back.
Check out my blogs on this website and Workingsbm is still live if you want to look back into the archives.
Can you send me a quote?
Yes of course. What do you need?
We have developed a range of services which can be tailored and priced to your requirements. Our aim is to be that extra pair of hands available for whatever you need, whenever you need us.
Need someone to support your new SBL? Need someone to talk your experienced SBL through ICFP? Need someone to lead and reassure your support team for a few weeks while you focus on recruiting into an SBL gap? Need to deliver some training to your governors or trustees? Just need someone to cast their eye over your budget? Got a project that you don’t have the capacity to manage? Looking for internal scrutiny? Want to get started on a sustainability programme for pupils?
Whatever it is, call us for a quote.
Can I afford you?
We get it. Budgets are tight. If you’d love to work with us as much as we’d love to work with you, whether it’s a one-off, short term or long term, we can help you find the resources.
If we can, we want our budget management skills and experience, and our innovative self-generated income ideas, to ensure working with us has the effect of improving your budget.
In short, we want working with us to make good business sense for you, your pupils and your community. Start the ball rolling with a no obligation chat about what you need, and we can take it from there.
From the blog
The 1st Pillar of School Business Management
It’s a big responsibility upholding the 1st Pillar of school business, but the SBM does not have to do it alone.
Improving on a Mars Bar
Let’s say it like it is. All schools have the capacity and desire to improve.
My What Else?
The ISBL Conference reminded me that no SBL is on their own. We’re all here for each other.
It takes more than 3 words
It takes more than 3 words to convey to your customers why they will find a sense of belonging with you.
Throw your net(work) as wide as possible
Business Leaders have been saying it for years, but now I really feel like living proof, maintaining a network is EVERYTHING!
Those vital ‘1st 100 days’ for the new SBL
Can you afford not to invest in your new SBL, bring them up to speed asap, and give them the support them need? (No, you can’t)
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