Our education practice comprises four key sectors:
- Schools and academies
- FE / skills
- Higher Education
- Government and policy.
Reinventing secondary education
British classrooms are changing fast, and the best leaders in our schools and academies are operating in an environment of unprecedented excitement and challenge.
Veredus has been one of the principal consultancies recruiting to academies, and has recently been contracted by the DCSF to support the development of academies through a three-year programme.
Academy Heads work at the heart of their communities, with a breath-taking range of partners and local people. So when we were asked to find the Chief Executive of a 'fast track' academy, we created a bespoke process which recognised the ambition and individual character of the institution – and its community.
We drew up a shortlist which included serving head teachers alongside people from other backgrounds entirely. We eventually appointed an inspirational leader from the NHS.
But that does not mean we ignore the best leaders to emerge from the classroom. (In fact, we are proud of our record in recruiting career teachers into a range of roles in schools - and beyond.)
It means living up to our promise to our clients: every search is bespoke, every assignment starts with original candidate research, and everything we do is driven by a deep understanding of the demands of the role.
Above all, it means giving the best value possible, when our clients absolutely must get the decision right.
The skills agenda
Veredus brings an impressive track record of recruiting college leaders, and we have recruited Chief Executives to many of the agencies driving the renaissance in vocational education.
Our business is all about people, and we are well-connected within post-16 education and learning. Strong networks within the sector - and in the regions - enable us to work effectively with colleges, sector skills councils, and others delivering the skills agenda.
As with all Veredus practices, our consultants bring a mix of specialist knowledge and generalist expertise in search and selection.
But we also come with values and a strategic view, and a strong understanding of the issues you face.
For example, we believe fundamentally in bringing private sector skills into public services. In education, we see this as essential to ensure that learners enter the employment market with job-ready skills, and we pride ourselves on our ability to think laterally and creatively when we recruit college leaders.
The UK’s universities – competing with the world
We are a rapidly growing presence in the field of executive search within higher education.
Working with a wide range of Russell Group, pre and post 92 institutions, we are developing a formidable reputation in higher education through our searches for senior management, academic leaders and support function directors. Our wider commitment to the sector is demonstrated through our role in supporting the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education and the Association of Business Schools' management development programmes.
Higher Education clients tell us that the rigorous, transparent process, which we developed through searches for Chief Executives in other sectors, adds value for universities too - particularly in the increasingly competitive international recruitment markets in which they compete.
For example, when one UK university set up a world-class research facility, they needed an exceptional individual to run it. We conducted a search on four continents, before recruiting a Director from a prestigious post in the USA.
Change at the system level
We seek to develop long-standing partnerships with our clients, and see ourselves as trusted advisers to our clients.
So, while we are experts in search and selection, we believe that we add most value when we are involved from the beginning in designing structures and shaping operations, and can work with the new team to facilitate strategic planning.
Having recruited board-level posts in many key organisations, locally and nationally, we believe we are playing a major part in building leadership capability and capacity within the education system.