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School Business Managers’ Network Conference
Overview
We will be having the following sessions in this year’s summer conference
Session 1 – Generating Additional Income for your school led by Mandy Riddington
Many schools are struggling with increasingly squeezed budgets and things don’t look to be improving any time soon. Schools all over the country are looking for ways to generate some additional income to ease a little of the financial burden.
The aim of this workshop session is to come up with some ideas for income generation that are not too onerous on you or your staff. If just one or two ideas work for you, then this could be a welcome additional to your finances. Topics covered during the session include:
Session 3 –Being Well: Unleashing Your Best Self in a World That Isn’t Always Easy led by Martin Burder
We often hear about ‘well-being,’ but what about ‘being well?’ This session is about tapping into your potential to become the most vibrant, positive, and resilient version of yourself. It’s not about lofty goals or overnight transformations—it’s about practical, everyday choices that add up to something powerful. I’ll show you how simple shifts in mindset, behaviour, and daily routines can have a profound impact on your mental and physical wealth. You’ll learn how to start small and stay consistent, cultivating positivity and resilience even when life gets tough.
We’ll also explore the behaviours and habits that hold you back—those sneaky, negative routines that drain your energy and block your progress. You’ll leave with a clear understanding of what to stop doing, along with strategies to replace those habits with empowering actions that fuel your journey to ‘being well’.
Session 3 – Speed networking session led by NEXUS Education
Sourcing the most effective resources, products and services, within your budget, is always a challenge. School Business Managers spend an average of 1.5 days per week researching, emailing and phoning solutions to issues they are having. That doesn’t even account for the time spent in CPD, travelling to trade shows and meeting providers.
We can do all of that research for you, use data to align solutions to your problems and then present them to you in a free, no-obligation, short, sharp, effective 90 min speed learning style CPD session.
DATE: Thursday, 12 June 2025
TIME: 09:30-15:30
VENUE: Citrus Hotel, Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Coventry CV8 3DY
COST: £230 per person for non-subscribing schools
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Schools who subscribe to the Gateway Alliance SBM Network have ONE FREE place on this meeting.
Additional places can be purchased – charges will apply. Costs will be incurred for schools that do not subscribe. Please see our terms for further details.
BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL
If you have any queries please don’t hesitate to contact us on 02476 347697 or email: info@gatewayalliance.co.uk
Mandy Riddington, Istek UK
Mandy has more than 30 years of experience working with schools – particularly school finance and management. She started with Grant Maintained Schools – the very first to opt out of local authority financial control in the late 80s and early 90s – and then more generally with schools looking to take on their own financial management. Mandy worked in schools as a ‘roving bursar’ setting up school systems, recruiting and training finance staff to hand the role on to. In the early 2000s Mandy set up a software company for managing schools’ private funds and helped more than 1000 schools set up their systems.
More recently Mandy has moved into the training of school staff in a wide range of subjects – computing, finance, GDPR and personal development skills. A qualified counsellor, she has also developed and delivered a range of courses for mental health first aid and well-being in schools.
Martin Burder
Martin is a sought-after keynote speaker, with a passion for well being and an authentic approach that creates change in people’s lives. Blending hard-hitting truths with hilarious anecdotes, Martin motivates audiences with an inspiring sense of their own capacity for achievement and change.
But there’s more! Martin has spent the last few years developing a well being curriculum for schools and businesses. He is also a coach who unlocks hidden potential and transforms average individuals into remarkable achievers. By igniting possibility and guiding them through tailored strategies, they empower clients to surpass their limits and realise their true capabilities.
And even more! Out of work, Martin can be found cycling around the world (his biggest achievement so far), playing music or completing ironman races (although not at the same time!) These adventures – and the lessons he learned – have shaped his ideas on positivism.
Nexus Education
Nexus Education is the leading education speed networking company in the UK working with over 3,000 schools and 450 suppliers since 2018. Nexus is a community enterprise, founded by two school governors, dedicated to saving schools time and money via highly qualified, informative networking sessions.As part of their work they have donated 20% of their revenue to schools in the community – £205,000 to date!
