Have you had snow this week? I wasn’t expecting that so soon! ❄️☃️

Happy November, we are now on the run up to Christmas which I know is one of the most busy times of the year for schools.

As we approach the end of the year, please be in contact if you are thinking of moving jobs next year. We’re always on the look out for top talent within IT, Data and Finance in educational settings, be that independent schools, maintained schools, MATs and education suppliers.

Have you used AI tools to secure a new job yet?

Read on for some top tips on how can use AI to help you to research a company, generate potential interview questions and research the market.

I also look at early information for the BETT Show in January 2025 where myself and Steve will be on foot meeting with partners, job seekers and providers across the sector.

I also have a need for senior IT Directors and some live jobs to fill which are included too.

Happy reading!

William Townsend

Managing Director

ESP Recruitment wtownsend@esp-recruit.co.uk

Have you used AI to help you secure a new job yet?

We’ve all seen the massive growth in AI tools over the last couple of years and how their use is becoming more common. As a job seeker, you can now do a significant amount of company research on AI tools like Chat GPT or Copilot before your interview (other AI tools are also available!).

AI tools can help you to research the market, you can paste the web address of a company to which you are applying into AI and ask it what the likely interview questions might be.

Here’s an example for you to see using an imaginary role with us at ESP!

Prompt to type into ChatGPT:

I am applying for a new role at https://www.esp-recruit.co.uk as a junior recruitment executive working with school clients to place IT Directors, Data Managers and Finance leaders. What likely questions might I be asked in the interview?

AI Answer

Role-Specific Questions

• How would you approach sourcing candidates for specialised positions like IT Directors?
• Why do you want to specialise in education recruitment?
• How would you build relationships with candidates and ensure they trust you to guide their career decisions?
• How would you evaluate whether a candidate is a good fit for a specific school’s culture?

Education Sector Knowledge

• What do you understand about the current challenges faced by independent schools in hiring senior IT, data, or finance leaders?
• Why do you think there is increasing demand for IT and data leadership roles in education?
• How would you handle the nuanced needs of independent schools compared to state or MATs?
• Can you explain how you would keep up with trends in the education sector to better serve clients?

Recruitment Process Competencies

• What methods would you use to source high-quality candidates?
• Recruitment involves a lot of admin tasks. How do you ensure accuracy in managing job postings, CVs, and interview schedules?
• Recruitment often involves a sales element. How would you pitch your services to a potential school client?
• How would you balance the needs of both the candidate and the client during negotiations?

ESP-Specific Questions

• Why have you chosen ESP Recruitment over other firms?
• How does ESP’s focus on education align with your career goals?
• How would you represent ESP’s values and brand to both candidates and clients?

As you can see, it has generated a long list of relevant questions in seconds!

There were other categories of questions also generated which I have cut down for the purposes of this newsletter, but you can see that using these tools can quickly help you to focus on a role, prepare for your interview and feel confident when you turn up for your interview!

Whilst AI cannot replace all of your online research and personal knowledge of the sector, it can help to cut down the time you spend on research and will speed up your preparation.

For more information please visit:

ChatGPT

Copilot

Zapier | AI Job Search Tips Forbes | How to Use AI to Find a Job

Cornell SC Johnson College of Business | Using AI in Your Job Search

Will You Be Heading to the BETT Show in 2025?

Steve and I will be heading to the BETT Show on 22-24th January at ExCel, London and will be meeting with school leaders, potential candidates and other sector suppliers and partners.

If you would like to meet with one of us at the show, please email me on wtownsend@esp-recruit.co.uk.

BETT now charges for tickets but if you book now, you can take advantage of the Early Bird prices which costs £279 for a general attendee, reseller, distributor or investors. Educators, students and charities go for free.

There will be streams on AI, cybersecurity and digital strategy among others which are hot topics and areas we are leading in knowing that school IT must focus on these areas and deliver cutting edge IT strategies.

Education Support Professionals https://www.esp-recruit.co.uk

The BETT Show 2025 https://uk.bettshow.com

Latest Jobs

Here are our latest roles, please be in touch to apply.

– MIS Consultant

– IT Field engineer

– In the New Year, we will be looking for an IT Project Management Officer with superb organisational skills and IT experience, preferably within a school setting, for a school in South London.

– We also would like to hear from anyone with School IT Director level experience as we will be handling some new roles in this area in the New Year in Surrey and the Home Counties.

If you are thinking of moving to a new school in 2025, please be in touch now.

This is also a good time to finesse your CV, upgrade your LinkedIn and make sure you are ready to go when you see the ideal role.

Get in touch if you are interested in these excellent roles.

+44 (0)20 8559 2077

info@esp-recruit.co.uk

Click here to search for your next IT, Data or Finance role!

I hope you have all had an enjoyable and restful summer break. I managed a 2-week escape with my family which was fun, enjoyable and relaxing.

On our return, we were into our first experience of GCSE Results Day! I can relate to all the families in the same position with results and how this is a nerve-racking time for teenagers and parents. Well done to all students.

As we move into the Autumn term, schools will be looking to hire for any staffing gaps from January 2025 onwards, whilst this seems a long way off, most senior staff will be on a 3-month notice period so any notices will be received in September.

Next year marks 15 years since I set up Education Support Professionals and we have established ourselves as specialists in hiring for senior Data, IT and Finance positions within education.

Call or email me for a confidential chat if you’re looking to hire, or looking for your next exciting role. info@esp-recruit.co.uk.

Warm regards

William Townsend

Managing Director

ESP Recruitment

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Recruitment Experts for Education

Recently, we have filled three IT Director roles at prestigious institutions: Eltham College, St George’s Weybridge, and Berkhamsted. We’re now in the interview phase for a Head of Technology at The Aldenham Foundation.

As the IT landscape evolves, these roles are increasingly focused on digital transformation and strategic technology management, ensuring schools remain future-proof and have a strategy for the use of new technologies such as AI.

With pressures continuing to mount on the independent school sector with the addition of VAT to school fees from January 2025, we support schools with their staffing plans through our trusted and knowledgeable recruitment advice and consultancy.

More general economic pressures continue on individuals and families with further rises in energy bills and other core expenses. We spend the time to get to know candidates as individuals to ensure we find the perfect roles that suit their skill set and lifestyles whilst providing them with fantastic roles where they can continue to learn and stretch their knowledge.

The employment rate has recently been falling with 74.5% of 16-64 year olds currently in employment. The level of job vacancies also fell in the last quarter.

‘Employment levels gradually rose from 2011 to the start of the coronavirus pandemic. They fell following the UK-wide coronavirus lockdown in March 2020 and continued to fall throughout 2020, before recovering during the first half of 2021 and returning to pre-pandemic levels towards the end of 2022. The annual change in employment levels has been falling in recent quarters’. Source: UK Labour Market Statistics, Aug 2024.

Our expertise and experience mean we have a deep understanding of the roles of data, IT and finance within education, including maintained, independent and international schools and academies, colleges, universities and local authorities. If you need a key role filled for your school, or if you are a candidate looking for a role in this area, please be in touch.

Read more…

UK Labour Market Statistics, August 2024

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A little bit of history

Did you know that Education Support Professionals has been established for almost 15 years?  When you work with us, you partner with a specialist recruitment firm with extensive experience.

Since our founding, Education Support Professionals has become the UK’s leading specialist recruitment firm for senior IT, Data, and Finance roles within education and we are proud to be focused on this area and to keep at the forefront of changes.

The IT sector has moved on considerably and roles are now more focused on digital transformation and the strategic management of technology.

With a deep understanding of how the IT sector has evolved, we are experts in hiring for these types of forward-thinking technology roles.

Our uniquely focused experience assists in defining role duties and pinpointing exceptional candidates to take forward to interview. Because we are a small team, each with extensive education sector experience, we treat each client as a unique partnership. Being a small team allows us to offer a high level of personal service.

If your school needs top talent in senior IT, Digital, Data, or Finance roles, partner with us.

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Latest Jobs

Our latest jobs can be seen below. Please send in your CV to us if you are interested. We always have new opportunities coming along so if you don’t see your ideal role but are thinking of moving jobs this Autumn, please be in touch.

Head of Technology for The Aldenham Foundation (in interview)

MIS Consultant (Arbor MIS Use) for ONTO

Primary School Finance Officer

IT Field Engineer

Get in touch if you are interested in any of these roles…

+44 (0)20 8559 2077

info@esp-recruit.co.uk

Welcome to our July newsletter. 

Is your school fully staffed for September? 

• Schools – we specialise in IT Director, Data Manager and Finance leadership roles. Let me know if you need these core roles filled for the Autumn Term. 
• Candidates – if you have these skills, be sure to brush up on your CV, put any new skills or courses on there, and send it through to me.

August will be here soon bringing with it the dreaded results days! Of course, these are all about the students and their achievements but behind it sits vast data and IT work to make it happen. I look at how these core roles can ensure your day runs smoothly. 

Plus, our live jobs this month include all three of our core areas – IT, Finance and Data Management, check out the end of the newsletter for our latest roles!

Email me with any thoughts at info@esp-recruit.co.uk.

Warm regards

William Townsend

Managing Director

ESP Recruitment

Ready for Autumn Term?

Even though it’s the beginning of the school summer break, now is a good time to think about your school’s key support roles, check your requirements and ensure you have all your staffing needs covered for the Autumn Term. 

We’ve seen many schools hire key IT and Data Management roles and level them up to have a core strategic focus helping the school to run more cost-efficiently, bringing in IT strategy and supporting the smooth operations of the school.

Similarly, finance roles can underpin the whole operation of a school with cost management measures. Now that the Labour Government is in power, financial management within the independent sector will be key as the fees, bursaries and scholarship plans are carefully managed to maintain pupil numbers without passing on too much of a financial burden to parents. 

At ESP, we focus on IT, Data and Finance management roles. We understand these roles and the importance they play in ensuring the successful running of a school. If you need staff for these roles in the Autumn term, please be in touch with your requirements. 

Email William at info@esp-recruit.co.uk for more information. 

We’re Hiring

Here are the latest roles we are recruiting for, currently we have some great jobs covering all three of our core areas of finance, IT and data. Have a look at the Job Descriptions using the links below.

Finance Officer at a primary school federation | London-Based

IT Field Engineer | West London Based

Data Manager

Get in touch if you are interested in any of these roles…

+44 (0)20 8559 2077

info@esp-recruit.co.uk

Welcome to our June newsletter.

Finally, today there is some sunshine!🌞

As the election draws near, I think about how the main parties will approach education. This is surely a key area of focus for all parties. Below is a summary of key election promises regarding education.  

Leading on from this, I look at AI in schools and how this is now woven into Ofsted inspections. As a recruiter for IT, data and finance positions, I look at how these developments will impact school support roles.

Lastly, we have links to our live jobs. We have been recruiting for a new IT Director for Berkhamstead School, among other enticing roles!

As ever, please leave me any feedback at info@esp-recruit.co.uk.

Warm regards
William Townsend
Managing Director
ESP Recruitment

Are you One Step Ahead of AI in Schools? 

In April this year, Ofsted published its approach to AI in schools. Many schools and colleges are already using AI within education and this presents opportunities and also risk. Whilst Ofsted will not directly inspect the quality of the AI tools used, they will look at how the AI tools impact inspection outcomes. If using AI improves educational outcomes for children, then it will be supported. 

Across schools, AI has other benefits such as reducing workload and creating more innovative ways of working. As an IT, data or finance leader in a school, it will become more important to have a firm grasp of the range of AI tools available and how these may be used for good in schools, what the cost is (if any) and how this is balanced against the benefits. 

Certainly, AI will become key in streamlining school operations, data and admin so if you are an IT, data or finance professional in a school, this is an area to stay informed about. It will impact the roles more and more as AI becomes embedded across schools over the coming years. 

How AI is already being used in schools

Here are some examples of how AI is already being used in schools, many of the larger MATs are taking a leading role in looking into this and rolling out sensitive use of AI tools to support teaching and learning. 

• personalised learning
• automated grading
• content creation
• graphics and design
• automation of tasks
• practise questions and real-time feedback
• language translation

For more information

• GOV.UK, Dec 2023 | AI in Schools, Everything You Need to Know
• Schools Week, Jan 2024 | AI: How Are Schools Using the Technology in Classrooms?
• Arbor, Oct 2023 | Three Ways Schools Are Using AI to Transform the Way They Work
• School Management Plus, March 2024 | 5 Great ways to use AI in the Primary Classroom

Latest Jobs!

Here are the latest roles we are recruiting for. I am delighted to say we have been handling some exciting positions at prestigious schools. If you are interested in any of these, please drop me a line! 

• Director of IT at Berkhamsted Schools Group
• IT Technician
• MIS Consultant – The ONTO Group
• Data Manager

Please contact us if you are interested in any of the roles above.

+44 (0)20 8559 2077

info@esp-recruit.co.uk

Greetings from ESP!

We hope you enjoyed our March newsletter where we looked at the MIS market and VAT on school fees in the independent school sector.

This month, it’s the perfect time for a spring clean and by that, I mean a job-hunting spring clean! We’re jumping in with candidate advice on keeping your CV up-to-date, managing your LinkedIn profile, and dealing with larger job boards such as Reed, Monster, CV Library, and others.

I hope you find the tips useful! As ever, please leave me any feedback at info@esp-recruit.co.uk.

Happy Easter term!

Warm regards

William Townsend

Managing Director

ESP Recruitment

In our line of work, we see hundreds of CVs as you might expect. How many do you think are out of date? Sadly, a very high number! What can you do to ensure you stand out in a crowded market and have a crisp, up-to-date CV?

CV Tips

1. Add new job roles up to the date that you submit your CV for a role
2. Add relevant CPD and certificates in the Skills section
3. Check your Interests and Hobbies section, have you missed something?
4. Add any new skills you have learned
5. Remove out-of-date information

Make sure you can respond quickly when a relevant vacancy becomes available. It is also easier to see any training gaps or knowledge gaps you may have.

Learn More…

To learn more about keeping on top of your CV and putting your best foot forward, check out these links.

• Indeed Career Guide, May 23 | How to Update Your CV
• Reed | 5 Ways to Refresh Your CV

Like your CV, your LinkedIn profile is the first impression a hiring manager may get of you as a person, your skill set, and your professional experience. When we receive candidate CVs, they are often completely different from their LinkedIn profiles! Your CV and LinkedIn profile should match and show a professional and complete profile with your whole work history and skill set.

Here are some key tips…

1. Keep your LinkedIn profile current this is essential for job hunters.
2. Regularly update your LinkedIn profile with your latest achievements, experiences, skills, and qualifications. Add any certificates you have gained through training and CPD at work.
3. Upload a professional photograph that reflects the industry you’re in or the job you’re seeking. A clear, high-resolution headshot with a neutral background is ideal. Steer away from photos of you with your mates, pictures with silly headwear on, etc…yes, we have seen it all!
4. Craft a compelling headline and summary of your expertise, skills, and career aspirations. Use relevant keywords to increase your visibility in searches. Add a concise, engaging summary highlighting your unique value proposition, career objectives, and key achievements. This should be tailored to reflect your career goals.
5. Update all your job titles, descriptions, and accomplishments for each position you’ve held. Focus on quantifiable achievements and use action verbs to demonstrate your impact. There’s no point saying, ‘I achieved significant growth’. You need to state by how much and what the comparison is. eg 70% growth year on year for 2 consecutive years.
6. Keep your skills section up-to-date with relevant skills that showcase your expertise. Seek endorsements from colleagues, mentors, and managers to validate your proficiency.
7. Actively engage with your network by liking, commenting on, and sharing relevant posts and articles. Join industry groups and participate in discussions to expand your network and visibility.
8. Request recommendations from supervisors, colleagues, or clients who can speak to your skills and work ethic. Personalised recommendations add credibility to your profile.
9. Ensure that your LinkedIn profile remains professional at all times. Avoid sharing controversial opinions that may be negatively perceived by potential employers.
10. Regularly log in to LinkedIn to stay updated on industry trends, job opportunities, and networking events. Engage with connections and share relevant content to stay top-of-mind.

We see loads of candidates who have uploaded their CVs to the larger job boards such as Reed, Monster, CV Library and others.  Often, candidates do not realise that they uploaded a CV to these platforms years ago and they still have their information which is now completely out of date.

Here are our top tips for managing your CV on these platforms:

1. Regular Updates: It’s essential to keep your CV up-to-date with your latest skills, experiences, and qualifications. Set a little reminder to review and update your CV every few months.
2. Tailor Your CV: Tailor your CV for each job application. Highlight the most relevant skills and experiences for that particular role. Using relevant keywords is also a good idea!
3. Privacy Settings: Check privacy settings on job boards to control who can view your CV. Many candidates forget about this and leave old data available to hiring managers.
4. Alerts and Notifications: Sign up for email alerts or notifications from job boards to receive updates on new job postings matching your criteria. This is a quick way to stay informed.
5. Remove Outdated Information: If your contact information or employment status changes, make sure to update your CV. If you’ve found a new job or are no longer seeking employment, remove your CV to put a stop to those unwanted messages.
6. Monitor Activity: Keep track of the activity on your CV, eg: views and applications. This can show you important insights into how well your CV is performing.
7. Network: Networking remains one of the most effective ways to find opportunities. Attend industry events, join professional groups on social media, and connect with professionals in your field to uncover hidden job opportunities.

Happy job hunting!

Jobs with ESP

Current roles we are recruiting for!

• ICT Engineer | Independent School | London Area
• IT Technician | Secondary School | Manchester
• Bid Writer / Manager | Managed Service Provider | Remote
• Head of Digital Learning | Independent London Prep School

We are also in talks with an independent prep school near Twickenham that is looking for a Bursar with Management Accountancy experience, if this is you, please let us know!

Get In Touch

Please contact us if you are interested in any of the roles above.

+44 (0)20 8559 2077

info@esp-recruit.co.uk

There is currently an IT expertise brain drain happening in Edutech…

Companies that supply schools and MAT’s with ICT service like Managed Service or annual support contracts are all, seemingly without exception, recruiting heavily to replace staff that are leaving the sector..

Additionally if you have a view of the market like us, or have monitored postings on sites like www.edugeek.net, there is a similar huge demand for onsite technicians in schools that manage their own IT services.

And anecdotally demand for our services, like recruiters in many other industries to be fair, has risen sharpy since Autumn 2021, hitting new heights not seen before in the first 3 months of the year

Why is this?

I think there are 2 main interconnected reasons which most contacts at Bett seemed to agree with..

ICT tech staff in schools are expected in, normally 100% of the time. And at entry and 2nd job level, they are, compared to other commercial sectors let’s be honest, pretty poorly paid.

Of course schools are a local employer and a good place to get your hands dirty with a wide range of tech, so I’m not knocking it..

But the situation has shifted, a wide range of employers are much more open to hybrid or total home working, opening up better paid jobs to talent wherever they are based in the UK

There is also more generally a hike in salaries across the board for IT, schools tech staff have a wide range of skills and this is more attractive than ever before

In response we have seen starting salaries in the private education sector, which are able to respond to rising salary pressures, jump up, sometimes by up to 25% at entry level! State schools unfortunately cannot react as well, but we have seen some positive movement in starting salaries.

New salary survey to come very soon to get some real evidence together..

But this is great for ESP right?

Yep we have been extremely busy and it’s great for candidates but the struggle to source suitable people for schools and business’ is REAL! I’ve never felt so drained and unable to switch off at Easter break

Poor you I hear you cry, and if you have got this far you deserve something positive

My advise to schools facing these challenges:

• Hire on potential and cultural fit, and put more time and expense towards CPD (that’s not something universal in all schools, but it has to happen)
• Hire apprentices as often as you can, reward them with incremental rises throughout, so when their apprenticeship matures they are more loyal if you wish to promote them into a higher role.
• If you cannot budget for salaries that can compete, really emphasis the other benefits to working in schools in your adverts (so many adverts we see really sell the academic achievement of the school with no mention of what the role could do for the potential applicant, detail rich but attraction poor).
• Make the recruitment process slim lined and FAST, as fast as possible, compliant of course but asking for an application form to register an interest will put rare candidates off in a busy market, better to insist on one at selection to interview. Make closing dates sooner, you will have less candidates falling out of the process later on.
• Asking for references before interview will also prevent candidates from applying, if they have several applications, they will not want their current employer bothered by multiple requests for reference. This practice is only commonplace in teaching

Of course using an agency like ESP is additional cost but:

• We have access to other advertising channels and our own database of education tech candidates
• You only pay when we are successful
• We commit time and resources, at our cost, to pro active searches to find more passive candidates, not necessarily with lots of other offers already on the table
• We try our best to deselect inappropriate candidates and are hands on with real Talent to guide them through the process
• We act fast and exclusively

But i’m interested to know?

Have you any clever ideas to attract and retain IT technicians?

Or are you a technician finding your prospects dramatically improved?

Would love to know your thoughts..

And William Townsend and Clint Gibbins will be there to bring their experience in working with K-12 education clients, to speak to you about recruitment and staffing or your career in L+D in the workplace

Here is the website https://www.learningtechnologies.co.uk/

Learning Technologies is Europe’s leading showcase of organisational learning and the technology used to support learning at work. And it continues to grow in importance, value and attendance year on year.

With more than 8,500 visitors, 150 free L&D seminars, over 200 exhibitors, an exhibition hall packed with the latest learning technologies, innovation and best practice and the industry’s leading L&D conference, it provides a unique and exciting environment for all those involved in workplace learning.

If you are attending and would like to meet please let us know in advance

Education Support Professionals, the leading Education ICT/EdTech/EdMIS recruiter, will again be attending Bett 2019.

Bett 2019 ( https://www.bettshow.com ) is a large annual trade show for the education technology industry, held over four days at ExCeL in east London. Attendees can expect to meet a range of education technology suppliers, from big players through to smaller, individual organisations looking to make their way in the EdTech world as well as a number of workshops, seminars and smaller event.

If you are looking for a new IT position, or represent an organisation looking for talent from Technician through Network Manager to IT Director, we are the company to connect with!

Our extensive client base includes Schools (primary to 6th form), Colleges, Independent and State, International, Managed Service Providers plus a growing host of Edtech businesses.

We also work on related positions including Sales, Business Development, Marketing, Data Management, Software Development, Exams, HR etc.

To meet at the show, please get in touch directly to arrange a convenient meeting place.

Like some other major players in the market this year, we do not have a stand, we are looking at more effective and bespoke ways to connect with our network!

You can connect with us at

Email: info@esp-recruit.co.uk

Twitter: williamesp

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willtownsend12/

And follow us on: https://www.facebook.com/ESPRecruitment

https://www.instagram.com/esp_recruit/

If you can’t attend the event but want to connect/chat/register, please do visit the website, upload your details or follow us on social media.