Two trust merging can bring unique challenges to the table. Explore how SAAF made a difficult process easy with tailored solutions and expertise.
The client
Established in 2023, ONE Academy Trust is a multi-academy trust encompassing 8 schools in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. With over 2,000 pupils and 400 employees, the trust is dedicated to providing engaging, inclusive, and safe learning environments that nurture every child's potential. Formed through the merger of Believe Academy Trust and Willows Academy Trust – both longstanding SAAF clients – ONE Academy Trust inherited a rich history of collaboration with SAAF dating back to 2014 in some of its schools.
The client's challenges
The formation of ONE Academy Trust brought unique challenges, including the need for efficient, unified payroll and financial management services to seamlessly integrate existing and new operations.
Having worked with Willows Academy Trust since 2015 when it transitioned from local authority services, SAAF proved itself during leadership changes and periods of uncertainty. Meanwhile, Believe Academy Trust, which joined SAAF as a payroll client in early 2023, required a provider that could offer responsiveness and consistent support to meet their needs.
The newly formed ONE Academy Trust needed a partner adept at handling complex mergers and expansions, capable of scaling services and adapting to their evolving structure.
The solution
“We’ve had an outstanding experience with SAAF’s payroll team. They go above and beyond and are always there to answer our queries.”
SAAF responded to these needs with a multifaceted approach. Their payroll team delivered consistent, reliable service tailored to ONE Academy Trust’s specific requirements, ensuring the transition process was seamless. The team’s proactive engagement and adaptive approach were pivotal as the trust evolved, handling payroll queries efficiently and addressing any issues promptly.
A key aspect of SAAF’s support was the provision of interim CFO services during a critical time when the trust’s CFO was absent. This assistance maintained financial leadership, strategic oversight, and uninterrupted operations. Additionally, SAAF's financial consultancy helped streamline the budgeting process and identify cost-saving measures, enhancing the trust's overall financial planning.
As ONE Academy Trust expanded, SAAF’s technical finance team played an essential role in integrating new academies into the trust’s software framework. The team seamlessly added locations to the existing systems and configured them without disruption. Willows Academy Trust was a client of SAAF Cloud before the merge and has continued to use the cloud platform since, which has significantly helped the trust to scale and protect its institution’s data. Furthermore, ONE Academy Trust benefited from being free to use any finance software on SAAF Cloud, a benefit that their previous solution didn’t offer.
SAAF also provided quality supply staff when the trust required – which helped them fill gaps and maintain a robust staffing strategy.
The results
"The payroll service is highly efficient, and cost-effective for our trust."
SAAF’s support has led to measurable improvements for ONE Academy Trust. The integration of payroll services across the newly merged trust was smooth, resulting in no payroll errors – a testament to the reliability and accuracy of SAAF’s team.
The comprehensive support from SAAF’s technical finance team facilitated the smooth onboarding of new academies, allowing for seamless transitions without operational delays. The team’s efficient and timely assistance significantly reduced administrative burdens, enabling internal teams to focus on core educational activities.
SAAF’s unwavering reliability and adaptability have laid the foundation for a lasting partnership, one that continues to support ONE Academy Trust’s evolving needs as it expands and enhances its educational offerings.
"We couldn’t ask for a more reliable and supportive partner."
'Partnering with SAAF has been one of the best decisions we've made. Their expertise and unwavering support have been invaluable during our merger and subsequent expansion. The team’s seamless handling of payroll, interim CFO assistance, and proactive financial consultancy have allowed us to focus on what matters most—providing top-quality education for our students. SAAF’s responsiveness and dedication have exceeded our expectations, making them an integral part of our success. We couldn’t ask for a more reliable and supportive partner.'
— CFO, ONE Academy Trust
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Case study developed: January 2025