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The UKSSN Operations Group is a growing network of School Business Professionals, Estates Managers, Ops Managers, Governors and Trustees working together in schools to improve sustainability via procurement, operations, estates, marketing, catering etc. The group, co-chaired by Helen Burge (DCOO, Priory Learning Trust) and Paul Edmond (CFO, Heart Academies Trust), meets online 4-5 pm once a month and has a UKSSN-hosted Microsoft Teams site for discussion and resource sharing. 

A key mission of the UKSSN Ops Group is to raise awareness of school operations and estates in sustainability matters within the sector.

• Look out for members of the Ops Group speaking about school sustainability at various regional and national events, such as the Association of School and College Leaders conference or the Schools and Academies Show.

• Listen to the new UKSSN Greener Schoolscast, produced by the Ops Group co-chairs Paul and Helen in collaboration with the Institute for School Business Leadership: Episode 1 (on school sustainability policies); Episode 2 (on energy); Episode 3 (on whole trust strategies).

• Read Helen Burge’s series of monthly articles in the Education Executive magazine from January 2022 to January 2023 covering each of the Eco-Schools Award’s ten topics ranging from biodiversity and water to healthy living and global citizenship. Helen and Paul also published a response to the Department for Education’s new Strategy based on feedback from Ops Group members in the Ed Exec magazine in July 2022:  Is the Department for Education’s Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy cause for celebration? | Edexec

How to join the Ops Group

• For information on the Ops Group’s latest monthly meetings go to the Transform Our World events pages
• To join the UKSSN Ops Group mailing list email [email protected]   
• You can also follow the UKSSN Ops Group on Twitter (@UKSSN_OpsGroup) and ask to join their LinkedIn group