Leading independent accountancy practice, Whitley Stimpson, has launched a sister company to provide schools and academies with access to expert consultants specialising in school and academy support, complementing the firm’s growing number of clients in the education sector.
Based in Banbury, Inspire2Educate Ltd, trading as ASISST (Academy & School Improvement Services Together) will provide head teachers, governors and staff with bespoke advice covering areas including mock Ofsted inspections, employee management, leadership appointments, governor training, capital project management and legal support.
Founded by Dr Fiona Hammans, who has many years of strategic leadership experience at both school and academy trust level and Martin Wyatt, Head of Education Services for Whitley Stimpson, ASISST’s core aim is to ensure the company’s consultants become an extension of school and academy teams.
Dr Fiona Hammans, Chief Executive of ASISST said: “In today’s education sector, there is a real need for on-the-ground support to help guide schools and academies through the various challenges on the journey to excellence, from coaching a new head; teacher development programmes; enhancing the impact of governance to mock inspection.
Our team of consultants are nationally recognised as excellent leaders themselves, as well as highly effective practitioners still rooted in the classroom with a wealth of current knowledge and understanding.”
ASISST will operate from Whitley Stimpson’s Banbury office, working with schools and academies across the UK.
Whitley Stimpson acts for a broad range of schools and academies providing finance and governance advice in addition to audits. Clients include multi-academy trusts, SENs, studio schools and free schools.
Martin Wyatt, Chairman of ASISST and Head of Whitley Stimpson’s education services team, said: “With our growing number of academy clients across the UK, we recognised there is often a strong need for heads, governors and staff to receive greater support beyond finance and governance advice, to help with the effective running of schools and academies.
With Fiona at the helm and the expert team of consultants she has recruited, I’m very confident ASISST will be successful in making a difference where it matters, to help ensure children and pupils receive the best possible start in life.”
Free Workshop
To celebrate its launch, ASISST is offering all clients who book at least one day of consultancy, before 9 October, a free workshop on the Prevent Duty, which came into effect from 1 July under the Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015.
The workshop will be delivered by a Home Office trained facilitator and is suitable for all staff and governors who are expected to train their staff as part of on-going updates to safeguarding.
For further information, contact info@asisst.co.uk or visit asisst.co.uk
