Multi-academy trusts are under growing pressure to make resources work harder, improve operational efficiency and find new ways of working. But what actually enables business innovation across a trust, and what gets in the way?
With 30% of the annual Schools & Academies Show audience coming from MAT central offices and a further 20% from academies within MATs, the SAAS Content Team set out to explore exactly that.
Our latest exploratory research looks at the organisational features that can support or hamper innovation in business practices across multi-academy trusts.
Early findings suggest that business innovation isn't necessarily about creating something completely new. For many trusts, it's about finding better, more efficient and more sustainable ways of operating.
The research has already identified innovation across areas including digital transformation, automation, procurement, estates management, data use, organisational redesign and resource deployment.
There are also examples of trusts exploring commercial opportunities and generating additional income through areas such as traded services, consultancy and estate lettings.
One of the strongest themes emerging from the research is the potential advantage of operating at trust level.
Scale, centralised services, specialist expertise, strong leadership, robust data and the ability to implement change across multiple schools can all create conditions that support innovation.
But there are barriers too. Limited funding, workforce capacity, change fatigue, risk aversion, regulation and legacy practices can all restrict a trust's ability to turn ideas into meaningful change.
The research also raises an interesting question around the balance between trust-wide standardisation and individual school autonomy, with participants highlighting the importance of recognising the different needs of individual settings.
This is only the beginning. The research is still under way, and the current report provides an early look at the themes emerging from interviews with senior trust leaders across finance, operations, estates, transformation and executive leadership.
READ THE FULL EXPLORATORY REPORT →
The full findings, methodology and analysis will be released at the Schools & Academies Show Birmingham, 18–19th November 2026 at the NEC Birmingham.
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