Leanda Arnold is the Chief Financial Officer for Rainham Mark Education Trust. They're a multi-academy trust with 3 academies in Medway. iAM Compliant is well ingrained in the day-to-day activities for Leanda Arnold as Leanda previously used the software at other organisations and brought iAM into the trust when taking on the CFO role.
We asked Leanda a handful of questions about why she's used the iAM Compliant software for so long, brought it to the Rainham Mark Education Trust and how it positively impacted the Trust's management of compliance.
You’ve mentioned previously that you have used iAM Compliant’s software in previous organisations. With that in mind, why do you feel it is an important tool to purchase for a Trust?
For us, it is a one-stop shop for estates, risk management and compliance. It is simple to use and the service offered on set up to help the organisation develop at their own pace with the product is key to embedding the change.
Your trust has 3 academies within it. How does iAM Compliant help you in your role to keep up to date on what’s happening at each academy?
It allows a simple overview with reports that can be shared directly with the board to give them effective oversight in order to challenge and support effectively. It also enables me to support the estates teams and ensure the budgets are allocated according to the highest level of compliance need.
What is the feedback you’ve received from site managers internally on how they find using iAM Compliant at each academy?
Site managers have found iAM easy to pick up and effective in the planning of short-term and long-term projects. It enables them to be aware of guidance relating to compliance tasks and one-off jobs can be responded to with priority to health and safety.
How have you found access to support from iAM Compliant?
The support is great! Helpdesk queries are answered quickly, customer delight sessions are delivered at a pace to suit the individual with follow-up sessions offered. iAM listens when you contact them with improvements that would be useful and I have seen improvements I have suggested come to life on the platform.
In what ways has iAM Compliant assisted your academies (trust) in maintaining compliance?
Our new Estates Manager has been able to get a good overview of compliance in our schools at the click of a button so that he can focus his short-term plans on increasing knowledge and compliance across our schools. We can review on a weekly basis anything that has fallen behind and support our site managers with this as necessary.
What are the biggest pain points that you believe iAM Compliant solves for academies, trusts and schools?
Budgets - iAM is a cost-effective solution
Coordination - iAM brings together information and reminds you of deadlines
Training - bitesize training for busy people is key in education. The way the training is put together means it keeps the audience engaged and moves the subject matter along quickly.
How are staff at Rainham Mark Education Trust receiving iAM Compliant?
They are finding it easier to use than the previous systems and are realising that jobs reported on iAM are actioned faster.
How have you found iAM Complaint's reporting features to communicate with other members of the Trust board who may not have access to the data?
These are great - they give the right level of overview and detail to enable the Board to support and challenge strategically without getting operational.
How would you describe iAM Compliant in a few sentences?
A great cost-effective, easy-to-use product from a company that supports and listens to its customers.