
Expert MAT HR Support
Read more
by Rebecca Lister |
Article Summary
Strategic multi academy trust HR support is essential to scale smoothly, manage legal risk, and align your schools under one unified vision. Eclipse HR gives specific guidance to MAT leaders so they can build bespoke HR strategies that drive sustainable growth, improve staff retention, and streamline compliance – let your Trust thrive, not just survive.
Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) expansion involves acquiring new schools and academies, forming new trusts, or sponsoring underperforming institutions. While the goal is to raise educational standards through shared governance and resources, expansion brings complex HR challenges.
From navigating legal frameworks to aligning diverse policies and cultures, MAT leaders face significant challenges during expansion. With expert MAT HR support from the experienced professionals at Eclipse HR, MATs can expand confidently and sustainably.
External HR consultants can offer tailored multi academy trust HR support during transition periods, providing objective insight, specialist expertise, and the additional capacity that internal teams may lack. Their impartiality allows for clearer decision-making, especially when navigating sensitive staffing issues or restructuring initiatives.
Strategic multi-academy trust consultancy HR is essential for long-term success, encompassing areas such as leadership development, organisational design, and workforce planning. At the same time, operational HR support remains vital to ensure day-to-day compliance, effective recruitment, and smooth onboarding processes.
Balancing these two dimensions requires a nuanced approach, one that understands both the regulatory landscape and the cultural dynamics of the education sector.
Eclipse HR offers tailored consultancy services specifically designed for the education sector. Our approach is not one-size-fits-all; instead, they work closely with MAT leaders to develop bespoke HR strategies that align with each Trust’s vision, values, and growth trajectory.
With strategic transformation or delivering hands-on operational support, Eclipse HR ensures that HR functions are not just reactive, but proactive drivers of sustainable expansion.
“As an experienced HR professional with extensive knowledge in Education HR, The Stour Academy Trust engages with Veronica Fox through Eclipse HR on high level matters. Veronica is able to share a wealth of experience and realistic practical knowledge and strategies to support us with our HR needs alongside being personable! As a Trust, we pride ourselves on thinking outside the box which Veronica is more than willing to embrace and often suggests innovative people strategies. Put simply the support we receive from Veronica is well received and always with the best interest of us the client in mind.”
TOMMY CULLEN, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, THE STOUR ACADEMY TRUST
Want to find out more about how we can support your Trust? Explore our HR Services for Schools, or contact us today.
As Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) expand, the complexity of managing people, processes, and performance across multiple schools increases significantly and the need for strategic human resource planning becomes essential to ensure that the organisational structure supports sustainable growth and educational excellence.
Engaging an outsourced HR consultancy for multi academy trust HR support can play a pivotal role in supporting this growth. Expert consultants can help Trustees assess whether the expansion aligns with the Trust’s vision and the collective needs of its schools, while ensuring robust HR structures are in place.
They provide critical support to existing academies, leading interventions in underperforming schools, managing academy conversions, and overseeing the HR aspects of running a multi-million-pound organisation.
According to the NFER Teacher Labour Market Report 2025, teacher retention in England has dropped to a five-year low, with only 67.8% of teachers remaining after five years in the profession. Eclipse’s HR expertise can support MATs with retention strategies through workforce planning, leadership development, and wellbeing initiatives that reduce burnout and turnover.
Legal risk management is a critical component of Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) expansion, particularly when navigating complex areas such as TUPE transfers, employment contracts, and trade union relations. Outsourced HR support for MATs brings specialised expertise to help Trusts manage these challenges with confidence and compliance.
Consultants can lead on TUPE processes, ensuring staff transitions are handled legally and sensitively, while conducting thorough contractual reviews to identify risks in existing agreements. They also facilitate constructive engagement with unions, helping maintain positive relationships and ensuring legal obligations are met.
Acting as a bridge between MAT leaders and legal advisors, HR consultants provide essential documentation support and guidance, safeguarding the Trust against employment law breaches and ensuring a smooth, compliant expansion process.
One of the most complex HR challenges during the expansion of Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) is often the harmonisation of policies and procedures across the different schools. Outsourced HR consultancies can provide invaluable support in navigating this process through strategic planning and expert guidance, grounded in years of experience.
By leading comprehensive audits of existing policies, consultants help identify inconsistencies, gaps, and areas of best practice. They can manage stakeholder consultations, including school leaders, staff representatives, and unions, ensuring transparency and inclusivity throughout the process.
HR consultants also play a key role in drafting harmonised policy frameworks, planning implementation across multiple sites, and delivering training to ensure staff understand and adopt new standards. Their HR expertise in change management and communication ensures that policy alignment is not only legally compliant but also positively received and embedded across the Trust.
MAT expansion presents exciting opportunities for growth and impact, but it also demands careful HR planning and execution. By partnering with experienced HR consultants, MAT leaders can mitigate legal risks, align policies across schools, and build a strong, unified culture.
Multi Academy Trust’s (MATs) are increasingly seeking external multi academy trust HR support. Independent HR consultancy offers schools greater flexibility, responsiveness, and specialised support tailored to their unique needs. This shift allows MAT’s to access dedicated human resources professionals who focus on strategic HR solutions rather than administrative processes.
At Eclipse HR, we provide specialist education HR consultancy services tailored to the education sector. Our team of HR specialists understands the complexities of HR in schools and multi-academy trusts, offering expert advice on all aspects of the employment lifecycle including recruitment and retention, relationships with staff, workplace mediation, compliance, and staff development.
Whether your schools need support with HR compliance, reducing teacher absenteeism or managing employee relations including handling staff disputes and workplace investigations – we are here to help.
By partnering with Eclipse HR for multi academy trust HR support, schools can create a more supportive, compliant, and successful educational environment. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support your school’s HR needs.
Please feel free to explore our website to learn more about the services we provide and how we can best support you and your Trust, or get in touch to talk to a member of our team today to find out more about how we support Multi Academy Trusts.
Author: Rebecca Lister
Rebecca supports the Eclipse HR team and our clients across a range of tasks. Rebecca has recently completed her Master’s degree in Advanced Legal Practice (MLaw) at the University of Kent and is now studying for her Solicitors Qualification Exams. Her academic focus, particularly in employment law, complements her practical experience and deepens her understanding of HR in action.
Read more
Read more
Read more
Please get in touch using the form below.