With the summer holidays in sight and a new academic year on the horizon, we thought now is the perfect time to throw a spotlight on the education sector!
In this blog, our Education Business Development Manager, Sarah-Jane Porter, shares all on how we can support both you and your candidates. From what life is like in this sector to the biggest challenges facing agencies and how to overcome them, there’s plenty of tips and insight you won’t want to miss out on.
Contact: LinkedIn | 07415056724 | 01925 645263 | Sarah-Jane.Porter@parasolgroup.co.uk
Q: Why work with an umbrella company?
A: Due to the rise of fraudulent umbrella companies – often referred to as mini umbrellas – employment providers have had to deal with some bad press within the industry recently. With non-compliance being a real issue amongst these fraudulent companies, it’s understandable why some agencies may be wary when selecting providers for their PSL, opting instead for PAYE to save themselves the hassle.
The issue is, choosing agency PAYE means you risk losing out on a vast number of potential candidates who would rather use an umbrella company and so decide to go elsewhere. What’s more, employment providers offer a range of employment benefits that your candidates won’t have access to if you decide to use PAYE. And in an industry that’s all about retention, what better way to keep candidates satisfied than ensuring they have the benefits and perks they deserve?
Q: How can employment providers simplify your life?
A: Put simply, employment providers offer benefits that an agency cannot provide their candidates. Moreover, they’re experts in payroll and employment, so they’re the perfect complement to your agency. With candidate payroll handled, your time is freed up for you to focus on doing what you do best: recruiting!
Working with an employment provider means you can expect top levels of compliance, you’ll be kept up to date with changing legislation and will rest easy knowing your candidates are being looked after and are getting the full employment benefits they’re entitled to, plus the extra ones we know they deserve. After all, working in schools is a tough gig – that should be recognised with some perks!
For example, at Parasol, your candidates can expect the following:
- Workplace pensions – we pay into any pension provider of their choice
- Employee holiday pay – 28 days per year of paid holiday
- £20million insurance cover – to protect from the unexpected
- And much more…
At the end of the day, it’s not just about outsourcing; it’s about a partnership founded on trust and support.
Q: What are the biggest challenges facing those in the education industry?
Retaining candidates is frequently one of the biggest challenges faced by agencies in the education industry. If candidates aren’t satisfied with their lot, it’s relatively easy for them to move to a different agency. It’s important to make them feel valued and to offer them the benefits they need and deserve.
Working with an employment provider gives you a greater chance of success as you have double the manpower to help with focusing on candidate retention. Plus, with a provider like Parasol, candidates are given access to as many benefits as possible. This drives satisfaction rates and makes the chances of them staying with your agency much more likely.
Another challenge agencies are faced with time and time again is changes in legislation. Being both FCSA accredited and APSCo approved, Parasol gets first knowledge of upcoming changes meaning we’re always able to communicate quickly with agencies and advise them of what they need to know. What’s more, we’re here to support you through the changes along the way too.
Q: What do education candidates value most in an employment provider?
A: Working through an umbrella company has multiple advantages but one of the main attraction points for candidates is that it provides continuous employment despite them taking on different contracts. Having a single employer provides greater benefits than having several does. For example, when it comes to mortgages, continuous employment with one provider is a staple.
Not to mention, they get access to the benefits of regular employment – maternity and paternity pay, paid annual leave, insurance coverage, and more – while still enjoying the flexibility of different contracts.
Q: How does Parasol tailor services to support education candidates?
Alongside our usual perks – such as access to huge savings through Parasol Rewards and exclusive deals available through our industry-leading platform MyMarketplace – there’s a number of ways we stand out from the crowd when it comes to supporting those in the education sector specifically.
- Safeguarding courses: Parasol employees in the education sector will soon be offered level 1 and level 2 safeguarding courses free of charge.
- Dedicated account manager: we know that agency life is busy, that’s why we make it as easy as possible for you to get support. You’ll have a dedicated account manager as your go-to for all questions, queries, referrals, and other.
- Specialists in overseas: a huge percentage of candidates come from overseas to work in UK education. We take the time to really understand their circumstances and provide extra support when it comes to setting up bank accounts and understanding what they need to register in order to receive their pay, for example.
- Expert team: with 25+ years in the industry, the Parasol team is highly skilled and experienced. Plus, our Business Development Manager for education (that’s me!) has been in the education sector for 20 years. It goes without saying you’re in safe and knowledgeable hands!
And did we mention we pay into any pension provider of your candidates’ choice? Because we do!
Q: What is life like in the education industry?
A: While it can be long days and lots of hard work, it’s an incredibly rewarding sector to be in as long as you have the right amount of focus and commitment.
The good news is that there’s always work. Unlike many industries that go through peaks and troughs, there’s always a demand in the education sector. It’s also a sector of networking and forming ties – you’ll often find that once candidates have built a rapport with consultants, they go with them wherever they go.
My advice to consultants thinking about making the jump is that if education is something you’re passionate about, and you’re willing to put in the time and dedication, then you should absolutely go for it! Just remember that building up a network is both useful and important, while finding an agency to work with that you trust is a must.
Final Thoughts
In 2025, supply teacher demand continues to rise due to teacher shortages and recruitment difficulties. In fact, the need for supply teachers is greater now than ever. As sick leave due to burnout and mental health figures soar, Schools are relying more on supply teachers for both short-term cover and longer placements. Supply teachers are vital to the ongoing running of schools, but their role is sometimes overlooked. What’s more, schools are currently facing a shortage of Special Education Needs (SEN) teachers.
With the 6-week summer holiday right around the corner, now is the perfect time to look to your agency and assess how an employment provider like Parasol may be beneficial to you. Not to mention, the summer break is the perfect time to get your consultants trained up and ready for the new academic year. At Parasol, we’ll support your consultants while they train and provide resources where possible so that they feel confident and can hit the ground running come September.
Get in touch
If you have any questions about what you’ve read in this blog or the wider education sector, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our expert…
Sarah-Jane Porter
Education Business Development Manager
LinkedIn | 07415056724 | 01925 645263 | Sarah-Jane.Porter@parasolgroup.co.uk
