INDUSTRY
Education/multi-academy trust
SIZE
254 employees
LOCATION
UK
CLIENT SINCE
2020
About the organisation
LET Education Trust is a cross-phase multi-academy trust bringing together four schools across Blackburn and Accrington. In a sector where tight budgets, government funding deadlines and the safeguarding of pupil data demand reliable technology, the trust needed an IT partner capable of delivering at pace – and being there when it mattered.
THE CHALLENGE
Situation
LET Education Trust needed to deliver the Department for Education’s Connect the Classroom programme – a government-backed initiative to improve digital connectivity in schools – alongside a server and network refresh. With deadlines set externally and multiple sites involved, the margin for error was small..
Problem
Previous IT supplier relationships had been hampered by slow response times, poor financial administration, and quotes that expired before they could be acted on. There was no reliable point of contact – no one who picked up the phone and understood the trust’s priorities.
Pain points
• Slow responses from previous supplier creating delays on time-sensitive projects
• Poor financial processes – inaccurate billing and quotes expiring before approval
• No consistent relationship or account ownership, making escalation difficult
• Pressure to deliver a government-funded programme on a fixed timeline
THE SOLUTION
Highgate took on delivery of the DfE Connect the Classroom programme alongside LET’s server and network refresh. Working closely with David Hazari, the team provided a single, accountable relationship – handling procurement, coordination and communication throughout.
What we delivered
• DfE Connect the Classroom programme – full delivery within the government funding window
• Server refresh across 4 sites – physical to VMware virtual environment, including own datacentre build, with switches, routers, backup hardware, patch panels and fibre links
• Network overhaul at secondary school site – 20+ switches, 3 core switches, 100Gbps backbone, Cat6 cabling and 10Gbps feeds to every WiFi 6 access point
• Ongoing procurement of hardware, software and systems across the trust
THE RESULTS
The Connect the Classroom programme connected approximately 110 classrooms and 40 offices across 5 sites, delivered on time and within the government funding window. Network uptime now runs at 99.6% across the year.
The server and network refresh proceeded without disruption to the trust’s schools. Highgate also introduced LET to iQuila for secure remote access – a solution that has since gone on to win industry recognition.
The trust continues to work with Highgate across ongoing procurement and infrastructure, with further network and server projects already in the pipeline.
'These projects would not have been possible without the support of Mike and Highgate. I couldn’t do my job without them.'
– David Hazari, Director of IT & Operations at LET Education Trust
