ACADEMY BUSINESS LEADERS UPDATE 2025: STAYING COMPLIANT, LEARNING LESSONS, LOOKING FORWARD

Earlier in June this year, the not-for-profit team at Cooper Parry held their annual academy business leaders update event – Staying Compliant, Learning Lessons, Looking Forward.

Held at the fabulous X+why Eighteen in Birmingham, we brought together some of the brightest minds in the education sector for a jam-packed morning of updates, insights, and straight-talking advice. No jargon. No waffle. Just what you need to know to keep your trust compliant, confident, and ahead of the curve.

What did we cover:

• Finance & Regulatory Updates: New leasing rules. ESG reporting. Internal audit is stepping up. Cybersecurity standards? Non-negotiable. Sustainability and Leadership Climate Action Plans key actions.
• Employment Tax Shifts: Bye P11Ds. Hello payrolling benefits. Off-payroll working = more scrutiny. Salary sacrifice arrangements still stack up (just watch the DfE hoops).
• Lessons from Audit Season: Messy controls. Missed reporting. Related party red flags. Fixable, if you act early.
• Real-world stories: Governance gaps. Due diligence fails. Leadership missteps. Hard lessons. Shared openly.

The message? The world of academy trusts is changing. Fast. But with the right insight, the right people, and a proactive mindset, you can stay ahead of the curve. And avoid the pitfalls.

Didn’t make it? Don't worry - you can sift through the key highlights here:

Academy Business Leaders Event 2025