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- CST Financial and Operations Conference: 5th Feb 2026
Driving Cost Efficiencies at Scale: Strategic Estates Staffing at the CST Finance & Operations Conference 2026
TIB Services was proud to exhibit at the Confederation of School Trusts (CST) Finance and Operations Conference 2026, held on Thursday 5th February at The Eastside Rooms, Birmingham.
As a membership organisation for multi-academy trusts, the CST conference is always a vital date in our calendar. This year’s event offered a crucial space for trust leaders to explore how to "take the long view," planning with resilience and purpose amidst a challenging funding landscape and significant policy reform.
Aligning Strategy with Operational Reality
The core theme of the conference, long-term sustainability, is something we live and breathe at TIB Services. Throughout the day, we discussed how maintaining a "bold strategic vision" for a trust is only possible when the operational foundations are rock-solid.
We enjoyed meeting with CFOs, COOs, and trust executives to discuss how estates staffing solutions isn't just "nice to have," but a strategic necessity. By ensuring school environments remain safe and well-maintained, without overstretching budgets, trusts can keep their primary focus where it belongs - on delivering high-quality education.
Key Takeaways from Birmingham
Our stand was a hive of activity as we explored the specific pressures facing MATs today. Some of the most frequent topics of conversation included:
- Driving cost efficiencies at scale: How moving from reactive hiring to a trust-wide strategic staffing plan can significantly reduce overheads and administrative burdens.
- Recruitment resilience: Solving the headache of finding reliable, KCSIE-vetted site staff who are ready to hit the ground running from day one.
- The power of the Priority Service: We were delighted by the interest in our free Priority Service, designed specifically to help trusts streamline their caretaker and site manager recruitment.
And, of course, our signature yellow tape measures and radiator keys were a hit! We hope they are already proving useful back at your trust offices and school sites.
Supporting Trusts via our Priority Service
For the many leaders who asked for more details on how we support trust-wide operations, our free Priority Service provides a practical framework to manage estates staffing. It includes:
- Fast-tracked enquiries to minimise downtime during site staff absences.
- A dedicated point of contact who understands the specific needs of your MAT.
- Cost-effective staffing, including free temp-to-perm transfers* (after 12 weeks) and a 10% discount on the first month of cover for all schools within the trust.
Thank You
A huge thank you to the Confederation of School Trusts for hosting such an insightful and professional event. Most importantly, thank you to the delegates who shared their challenges, insights, and visions for the future. Your feedback helps us to continue refining our services and better support the education sector.
Didn't Catch Us?
If you missed us in Birmingham but are currently navigating estates staffing challenges or looking for ways to drive efficiency across your trust, we would love to help.
Get in touch today to discuss how TIB Services can support your trust’s long-term sustainability and operational resilience.
* T&Cs apply