About Us
A UNIQUE BUSINESS WITH FLEXIBLE SERVICES TO MEET YOUR BESPOKE NEEDS
Here to help...
Who we are
SIPS is the not-for-profit education support services provider for Sandwell, the Black Country and the West Midlands.
Our mutual status enables us to focus on people, communities and places.
Our primary purpose is not to make huge profits, but to enrich children and young people’s learning and well-being through excellent service partnerships and products.
We’re owned and governed by schools – who are co-operative voting members of the organisation; the SIPS board is made up of representative community headteachers and local authority colleagues.
What we do
We’ve crafted a proven customer-focused approach to get to know your individual demands, and offer assistance when and where they’re needed.
SIPS’ versatility and expertise are underlined by our many established working relationships within the mainstream and specialist sectors.
We can help…
- Nurseries
- Primary schools
- Secondary schools
- Maintained schools
- Special schools
- Academies
Our overarching aim is to become the first-choice education service provider in the region. We do this by offering high quality, effective services that are tailored to meet the needs and expectations of our members and clients.
What we offer
We can help you in a myriad of ways – our breadth or services includes Catering; Information Management (IT); Music & Arts; Human Resources (HR); Governance Services; Education Business Partnerships; Governor Training; School Improvement; Newly Qualified Teachers (NQT); and Risk Management.
Contact us today to find out how we can help you: enquiries@sips.co.uk or call 0121 296 3000.
We would welcome the opportunity to understand your unique requirements, so please get in touch for a no obligation, informal conversation.
Guardian House, Cronehills Linkway, West Bromwich, West Midlands, B70 8GS
enquiries@sips.co.uk
">0121 296 3000 or email enquiries@sips.co.uk
0121 296 3000 or email enquiries@sips.co.uk
Meet the team
Brian Cape, Chief Executive Officer
Brian joined SIPS in January 2020 from Birmingham City Council, where he was Head of Service at Cityserve Education Catering, and a member of the council’s Extended Leadership Team, including council-wide business partnering for commercial performance and innovation.
“I consider myself very lucky to be part of such an incredible co-operative. Being able to put children, people and communities at the heart of everything I do is a genuine privilege.
“As a not-for-profit, schools owned organisation, SIPS is the natural first choice for education services across Sandwell, the Black Country and the West Midlands. Being governed directly by school leaders with no owners or shareholders demanding profits, means that we always aim to do the right thing whilst creating genuine social-value.”
Craig Felton, Strategic Director, Finance & Resourcing
Craig has been part of SIPS since its formation in 2013. He oversees all of the financial functions of the business, leading on financial vision and strategy; sustainability; contracts and procurement, and risk management. Craig is also the Company Secretary with responsibility for corporate governance and compliance.
In addition, he leads the Schools Financial Services Team.
“I have worked for SIPS since its inception in 2013 and am incredibly proud of what we have achieved and the value that’s been added to the schools and communities that we serve.
“As a not-for-profit organisation, I believe that, working with our members, we are able to deliver high-quality support services to schools, and other educational establishments, that both meets their needs and offers great value for money.”
Kim Whiting, Strategic Director, People & Product
Kim, who has been part of SIPS since its formation in 2013, oversees the product and service delivery teams working in partnership with the service managers within Governance, HR and Learning, IT, Music and Arts and Risk Management. In addition, she leads on SIPS People Strategy and Trade Union Consultation
“I am incredibly proud to work for SIPS Education, I’m passionate about the work we do, and I believe that the support services we offer to schools are all of a high quality and designed with schools at the heart.
“We pride ourselves on strong effective partnerships and dedicated support for and with schools; we are owned by our members who shape the services they want and provide our company with its strategic direction. I believe this ensures that we deliver and design quality services offering best value, that schools, customers and communities.”
