School business professionals: training and development
Source: gov.uk (2025-12-05)

Sources of training and development for school business professionals (SBPs) in schools and trusts.

School business professionals (SBPs) lead the financial and operational management of schools and trusts. An SBP often has responsibility for a school’s or trust’s:
- operational leadership
- finance
- procurement
- estate management
- marketing and communications
- human resources
SBPs play a vital role in ensuring that the focus of a school or trust remains on improving educational outcomes.

Continued investment in their professional development and training is essential.

The Department for Education (DfE) currently provides training and development to SBPs working in local authority maintained schools and academy trusts.

There are also:
- peer networks (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/join-or-create-a-network-for-school-business-professionals) to help schools and trusts work together and share their knowledge
- resources on workload and wellbeing (https://improve-workload-and-wellbeing-for-school-staff.education.gov.uk/) for school staff
Qualification bursaries

Applications for bursaries are currently closed. This page will be updated when we have more information about future rounds of bursaries.

We fund bursaries covering 75% of the cost for SBPs to complete the Level 7 Diploma in School Financial and Operational Leadership (https://www.cipfa.org/training/accredited-training/diploma-in-school-financial-and-operational-leadership).

To be eligible for a bursary, you must be employed in a maintained school or an academy trust.

You must also confirm that:
- your employer endorses the training and will allow you the time to complete it
- you or your employer can meet the remaining cost of £915
- you can commit to the full duration of the course (about 12 months)
Bursaries are limited. If you wish to apply, email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) for more information.

Training workshops

We fund in-person training workshops, delivered by the Institute of School Business Leadership (ISBL) (https://www.isbl.org.uk/).

These are available to trusts and regional network groups who would be interested in facilitating a workshop for their SBPs or colleagues within their region. The workshops run for up to 3 hours and are available for up to 30 attendees per session.

To find out more information on hosting a session, email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) or xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

SBP procurement training

DfE is offering fully funded places on sector-specific procurement training. The training is delivered by the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) in the spring term. Places are limited. Email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) for more information.

The CIPS Procurement Excellence Programme helps schools and trusts:
- make the most of their budgets
- develop procurement skills for day-to-day management
You can also complete a free online health check (https://pep.cips.org/surveys/healthcheck/1).

You can access contract management foundation level training through the Government Commercial College (https://www.govcommercialcollege.co.uk/login/index.php). You will need to register to use the site.

Estate management: competency framework and relevant training

Guidance on the functions, skills, knowledge and training needed to manage the school estate. The Estate management competency framework (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/estate-management-competency-framework-and-relevant-training) helps schools to recruit and develop the essential levels of skills and competencies for estate management roles.

SBP mentoring

As part of the school resource management advisers (SRMA) programme (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-school-resource-management-advisers-srma-programme), we offer a free one-to-one mentoring programme for SBPs.

This programme helps to build SBPs’ knowledge, ability and confidence through establishing a supportive peer-to-peer relationship with experienced professionals.

Places are limited. Email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) for more information.

Further sources of training and development

The following organisations provide training and development for school and trust leaders:
- Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (https://www.cipfa.org/) is the professional body for those in public finance
- Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (https://www.cips.org/) is the professional body for those in procurement
- Confederation of School Trusts (https://cstuk.org.uk/) is the national organisation and sector body for school trusts in England
- ISBL (https://isbl.org.uk/) represents and supports SBPs and has published professional standards (https://www.isbl.org.uk/isbl-professional-standards) for the profession
- local authorities often offer training in financial management for their local schools and to other schools and trusts too
This list is not exhaustive. Other organisations provide training and support that may meet your needs.

We do not endorse any particular organisation. You should follow your procurement process if you choose to buy any of the services offered.