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
• Ongoing purchasing of systems and solutions across the trust
THE RESULTS
The Connect the Classroom programme was delivered on time and to David’s satisfaction. The server and network refresh proceeded without disruption to the trust’s schools. For David, the most significant change was the quality of the day-to-day relationship: faster responses, accurate billing, and an account manager who understood the trust’s needs without needing to be briefed from scratch each time.
The trust has since continued to work with Highgate for ongoing hardware, software, and systems procurement – with further infrastructure projects in the pipeline.
'Highgate has been an exceptional partner for our organisation. Their support has delivered significant cost savings, but just as importantly, they’ve built a truly outstanding working relationship with us. Our account manager, Mike, consistently goes above and beyond – his responsiveness, expertise and proactive approach make a real difference to our day-to-day operations. Quite simply, I couldn’t do my job without the support Highgate provides.'
– David Hazari, Director of IT & Operations at LET Education Trust
