Businesses that operate within the education recruitment sector have a responsibility to ensure best practice and value are common place across the supply chain. This is the view of Marios Georgiou, Chairman of leading ethical recruitment solutions organisation, Step Teachers. “The education of our children and young adults is only as good as the quality of the teaching they receive. It is therefore essential that individuals placed into educational establishments are vetted appropriately. In cases where they are not, action needs to be taken,” remarked Georgiou.
Step Teachers are one of several approved suppliers on the UK government Supply Teachers framework. This provides a direct procurement channel for government and public sector organisations to purchase goods and services from vetted and approved suppliers.
Georgiou added, “Step Teachers welcome the introduction of the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) framework for Supply Teachers as it positively influences procurement practice, quality and value. Schools need protection from agencies who are not carrying out the appropriate checks as stipulated by the Department for Education’s ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ and other statutory obligations. Importantly the framework offers this assurance and provides transparency regarding supplier pricing, which enables schools to obtain the best value.”
Contracting authorities using the framework can select from a pool of suppliers, who have all been through a thorough compliance process.
“As specialists in Education recruitment for over 18 years we can guide organisations through the process of working on the framework. Schools need to know that we care about our teachers and that is why we deliver value and ensure every candidate is vetted in line with industry standards,” added Georgiou.
An intimate understanding of the Education sector has served the team well in providing recruitment solutions for teachers, teaching assistants, SEN specialists, classroom support workers, cover supervisors and nursery assistants. Step Teachers recruit from overseas, but only place teachers in the UK.
Georgiou went on to say, “Step Teachers are leading the way in ethical and honest recruitment centred around a strict code of conduct, rigorous compliance procedures and transparent processes. We continue to be run by teachers for teachers and lead on safe recruitment practices.”
As part of the framework process Step Teachers contracted the services of government business specialists, GovData, to manage their full end to end submission process.
Chris Hugo, CEO for GovData said, “Frameworks are an accessible channel for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME’s) to procure directly with government and the public sector. Step Teachers identified the Supply Teachers framework as a vehicle for educating the market around best practice and this can only be positive for the education recruitment industry. This approach is fundamental to encouraging and attracting the best teachers into this sector, which in turn will enhance the standards of learning for children across the UK.”
The government operate an initiative that encourages organisations to report any issues as part of the procurement process.
Hugo added, “The Public Procurement Review Service, formerly known as the Mystery Shopper Service, forms part of the Cabinet Office and allows government suppliers to raise concerns anonymously about poor procurement practice within the public sector. This serves to maintain standards of best practice in the supply chain.”
GovData has assisted hundreds of SME’s to secure places on government and frameworks covering a wide range of sectors.
About GovData
GovData understand what it takes to do business with the public sector and assist Small to Medium Sized Enterprises (SME’s) access and profit from this market in the UK and overseas.
Our specialist expertise enables clients to secure places on sector specific government frameworks. Similarly, we play an active role in winning government contracts for businesses too.
Bespoke managed services include:
Improve lead generation.
Assist in developing new products and services.
Provide targeted market research and industry analysis through in-house research.
Access to an unrivalled network of global industry and government contacts.
Identify market trends and profile decision makers within global market agencies.
Provide competitor analysis to improve forecasting / business planning.
Identify and win live contracts.
About Step Teachers
Since 2000, Step Teachers has placed some of the best teaching and support professionals into nurseries, primary, secondary and special needs schools across southern England and beyond. From our established branches in London, Norwich, Cambridge, Stevenage and Plymouth, our expert teams deliver the compliant and ethical recruitment services that have established us as a pioneer of Safer Recruiting Practices for the UK’s teaching agencies.
As ex-teachers, we are passionate about developing winning careers that raise the standards of education. That’s why we work hard to maintain meaningful and long-standing partnerships with teachers and schools, offering advice, guidance, and support when it’s needed the most.
Access to fully-qualified, subject and key stage specialist teachers through our established network of regional branches
Experienced cover supervisors, teaching assistants and learning support assistants, SEN teachers, and support workers on-hand when you need them
Assignment Confirmation & Vetting Checklist (in line with Ofsted recordkeeping requirements) before our teachers or support workers arrive at your institution
Transparent and cost-effective services from the proud holders of the REC Education Audited Award, demonstrating our dedication to providing professionals who are vetted to the highest standards in education today.
