Dedicate Recruitment Ltd

Dedicate Recruitment's Operations Director, Dan Nevitt, represented the Faversham Hopper team last week, accepting 20 volunteer badges on behalf of his fellow drivers - presented by the Mayor of Faversham, Cllr Claire Martin. The badges were part of 1,000 issued across the town to mark Volunteers' Week.

The Faversham Hopper is a community minibus service providing vital transport for elderly and vulnerable residents, connecting people to medical appointments, local services, and social activities who might otherwise have no way of getting there. Dan volunteers his time as a driver - and for the residents who rely on it, that connection is everything.

Volunteers' Week has been celebrating efforts like Dan's for over 40 years. Across the UK, 14.2 million people formally volunteer at least once a month, contributing an estimated £4.6 billion in productivity gains to the economy in 2024 alone.

Recruitment Director Liz had this to say: "At Dedicate, we talk a lot about the importance of community - and Dan lives that. Being recognised during Volunteers' Week is thoroughly deserved."

Dedicate Recruitment is seeking a highly organised and professional Office Manager to join our client's esteemed school.

This pivotal role ensures the smooth, efficient day-to-day operation of the school office, providing comprehensive administrative support across various functions. The successful candidate will oversee office systems, manage pupil data, coordinate communications, and foster a welcoming environment for pupils, parents, staff, and visitors.

Leading a team of two Office Administrators, the Office Manager will ensure high standards are maintained in all administrative tasks, while driving continuous improvement in office processes. This role requires a proactive individual with excellent communication skills, attention to detail, and a strong sense of discretion, especially when dealing with sensitive information and stakeholder interactions.

✅ Experience in an administrative management role, ideally within an educational environment
✅ Proficiency in managing pupil databases, particularly iSAMS
✅ Strong organisational skills and the ability to oversee multiple tasks simultaneously
✅ Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a professional demeanour when liaising with parents, staff, and visitors
✅ Ability to line manage, support, and develop administrative staff
✅ Knowledge of GDPR and data protection requirements
✅ Experience with financial procedures, including processing purchase orders and managing office supplies
✅ Ability to work flexibly and proactively, with a solution-focused approach

In return, the school offers a vibrant and supportive working environment, competitive salary from £38,900 to £40,800 per annum, and 25 days plus bank holidays annual leave.

The role is full-time, year-round, with a standard working pattern of 8:00am to 4:30pm, providing flexibility during school holidays. The position provides excellent opportunities to contribute to a well-regarded institution, with ongoing professional development and the chance to make a meaningful impact on the school community. Dedicate Recruitment is committed to supporting our candidates through a transparent and supportive process, ensuring a good fit for both the individual and the organisation.

Closing date is 19th June 2026. For further information and to apply, please visit our website.

Dedicate Recruitment is seeking a Permanent Cloud, Infrastructure & Security Manager to join our client’s team based in South East London.

This role provides a unique opportunity to lead the strategic development and operational management of the Trust’s IT infrastructure, with a focus on cloud integration, cybersecurity, and network performance. The successful candidate will oversee day-to-day system operations, manage complex projects such as infrastructure audits and redesigns, and play a key role in shaping the Trust’s digital strategy. Acting as senior technical lead, you will ensure the security, resilience, and compliance of the Trust’s IT environment across multiple sites, while developing the skills and capabilities of the IT team. The role offers hybrid working arrangements, providing flexibility to balance work and personal commitments.

✅ Relevant degree in Computer Science, Information Security, or a related field.
✅ Minimum of 5 years’ proven experience in IT management, with at least 3 years specialising in information security and cloud platforms.
✅ Extensive knowledge of routing, networking principles, and MS Azure, Entra ID, Microsoft 365, Intune, and Defender.
✅ Certifications such as CCSP, Azure certifications, or CCNA are highly desirable.
✅ Strong project management and team leadership skills with experience supporting multi-site environments.
✅ Experience in education or Multi-Academy Trust settings is advantageous.
✅ Excellent communication skills and a proactive approach to problem-solving, with a clear commitment to safeguarding and promoting data security.

Joining our client’s organisation means becoming part of a supportive community that values professional development, well-being, and inclusive culture. Benefits include hybrid working, access to Perkbox rewards, a generous pension contribution of 19.80%, and comprehensive staff support through the Employee Assistance Programme and wellbeing initiatives. This is a fantastic opportunity for a motivated IT leader looking to make a meaningful impact within a forward-thinking educational Trust.

Closing date for applications: 19th June 2026 12pm.
Interviews: W/C 6th July 2026.

For further information and to apply, please visit our website.

Over 1 million young people in the UK are currently not in education, employment or training - the highest level in more than 12 years.

A major report published this week by former minister Alan Milburn warns we are at risk of creating a "lost generation", with one in six young people set to be out of work, education or training within five years if nothing changes. The cost to the UK economy? An estimated £125bn per year.

In truth, 84% of those young people actually want a job or training. This is not a motivation problem. It's a structural one. Entry-level jobs have fallen by around 1.6 million over the past 20 years, and vacancies in hospitality - often a first step into work - have halved in just four years.

At Dedicate Recruitment, we work every day to connect talented people with roles across education and the public sector - sectors that sit right at the heart of this crisis. Schools, colleges, and local authorities are some of the very institutions this report identifies as needing urgent reform to better prepare young people for adult life.

The public sector has a real role to play here. Education support staff don't just fill vacancies - they change trajectories. Investing in these roles is investing directly in the pipeline of young people who will enter the workforce in the years ahead.

If you work in education or the public sector and want to discuss how your organisation can be part of the solution - whether through workforce planning or bringing in the right support staff - I'd love to connect.

The "old contract" - effort rewarded, each generation doing better than the last - hasn't been broken beyond repair. But fixing it will take all of us.

🏆 Wembley eve at Dedicate Recruitment towers and the atmosphere is… electric.

Tomorrow we're on the train and heading to the FA Cup Final - and with Man City, Chelsea, Man United and Spurs fans all under one roof, it's fair to say opinions on tomorrow's result are… varied.

The City fans are quietly confident. The Chelsea fans are loudly confident. The United fan is trying to work out who to want to lose more. And the Spurs fan? Well, they're just happy to be going to Wembley. It's not something they're used to. 😅

All jokes aside, we can't wait. Whatever the result, it's going to be a brilliant day.

Whoever lifts the trophy, we'll all be back doing what we do best on Monday - finding brilliant people for brilliant schools.

See you at Wembley! 🏟️⚽

This week, Year 10 students at Haberdashers Hatcham College took part in a practice interview day, giving them a valuable taste of the professional world ahead of their upcoming work experience placements.

Supported by a brilliant group of volunteers, students had the opportunity to sit face-to-face with employers, answer interview-style questions, and receive real, constructive feedback. The impact was clear - students left the day visibly proud of themselves, with many saying it had boosted their confidence and left them feeling far more prepared for future opportunities.

We were delighted to be involved. Dedicate Recruitment's Founder and Recruitment Director, Liz Nevitt, attended on behalf of the team, bringing her expertise and genuine passion for supporting young talent to the day.

A heartfelt thank you to the school and every volunteer who gave their time. Your encouragement and feedback made a real difference - and seeing students walk away proud of themselves is the best possible outcome.

At Dedicate Recruitment, supporting the next generation isn't just something we do - it's something we're truly passionate about.

Most schools are paying the apprenticeship levy every month.
Most aren't spending it.
After 24 months, it expires - and goes straight back to the government.

For HR leads and business managers in education, that's money that could be filling support staff vacancies and developing your existing team. Gone.

We've put together a practical guide covering:
📢 Which apprenticeship standards apply to support roles
📢 How the 20% off-the-job requirement works in practice
📢 A five-step starting point for getting moving

If levy funds are sitting unspent in your school or trust, this is for you.

https://dedicaterecruitment.co.uk/white-paper

FREE WHITE PAPER: The apprenticeship levy is a government-mandated training fund that schools and academy trusts are already paying into - but most aren't using it.

Employers with a pay bill over £3m contribute 0.5% into a ring-fenced account. The government tops it up by 10%. Smaller schools below the threshold pay just 5% of training costs, with the government covering the rest.

The funds can be used to recruit new support staff or develop people already in post. And if they're not spent within 24 months, they expire and go back to the government.

For many HR leads and business managers in education, levy funds are sitting unspent - while support staff vacancies go unfilled and budgets get tighter.

We've written a practical guide to help schools and academy trusts use the levy strategically, covering which apprenticeship standards apply to support roles, how the 20% off-the-job requirement actually works in practice, and a five-step starting point for HR leads and business managers.

https://dedicaterecruitment.co.uk/white-paper

Feel free to share with anyone in education who'd find it useful.

We spoke to an HR manager at a multi-academy trust recently who summed it up perfectly.

"We can't backfill. We can't recruit permanently. But somehow we're still expected to run the same schools with fewer people."

If you're a hiring manager or HR lead in education right now, you'll recognise that feeling. Caught between budget pressures and a directive to reduce headcount - and a support team that's already running on empty.

The work hasn't reduced. The schools haven't got quieter. But the resource has.

Budget constraints are real. The pressure to cut costs is real. But so is the operational strain when support functions are left understaffed.

When support roles go unfilled in schools and trusts, it's rarely the gap that appears on a spreadsheet. It's the SENCo drowning in admin. The business manager covering three roles. The good people quietly deciding it's time to leave education altogether.

The HR leads and hiring managers navigating this best are thinking differently:

✅ Planning interim and fixed-term appointments ahead of need - not scrambling when someone hands in their notice mid-term

✅ Using the apprenticeship levy not as a compliance exercise, but as a genuine pipeline for school support staff

✅ Redesigning roles intelligently - combining functions where it makes sense across a trust, rather than leaving site-level gaps unfilled

✅ Partnering with specialists who understand education pay scales, NJC conditions, and the unique pace of school-based recruitment

You don't have to choose between balancing the books and maintaining a functioning support team.

But you do need a smarter approach to how you resource these roles.

We work exclusively with schools, academies, and trusts on exactly this. If you're trying to hold your support team together under these pressures - we'd genuinely like to hear how you're approaching it.

And if you want a conversation about what options are available to you right now, our door is open.

We've been doing a bit of a spring clean at Dedicate Recruitment HQ — and look what we found!

We have a spare copy of Greg Savage's must-read book The Savage Truth, and we'd love to pass it on to someone who will get as much from it as we have.

If you work in recruitment, this book belongs on your shelf. It's one of the most honest and insightful reads in our industry - and we can't think of a better home for it than our community.

Want it? It's simple - be the first to comment below and it's yours.

(Don't worry, we're keeping our own signed copy safely on the bookshelf!)