How we work

Working for clients, working with contractors

A concierge service

Think of us as a natural extension of your team. We are here to lighten your load and see our role as augmenting and extending your existing capability.

From the outset, we get under the skin of your school to really understand your needs. In doing so, we then effectively design and adapt best practice solutions that align to your school values and suit your budget and current ways of working.

And we never overlook the small but important details. We closely monitor and audit your procurement and contract management lifecycle to ensure you are getting the best value and service for your investment at all times.

Customised to your needs

After getting to know your school and your goals, we then set clear performance targets and realistic service expectations for you and your chosen contractor to ensure a positive start to your contractual relationship.

We recognise that things can change, however. So if any issues arise during your contract, we will act as your mediator and negotiator, effectively handling often complex problems and revising solutions to get you back on track.

Fully transparent

Our fully compliant, fair and transparent tender processes and performance monitoring are tailored to the needs of every school. Hosted on the cloud, these processes operate and report in real time, whilst also minimising the environmental impact of our work.

The Cohesion cycle

Trust Cohesion to be here for you at all stages of the procurement and contract journey.

Strategy Development

Planning resources, contract objectives and investment in kitchen and restaurant facilities

Added Value

Cohesion work to resolve longer term service and cost issues as part of the support package. We provide a ‘help line’ for the school and their contractor, plus on-going support where needed.

Data Analysis

Catering costs, sales data, school roll numbers, cash and FSM sales, operating costs and labour to sales ratios

Service Monitoring

Cohesion audit each site annually and have scope for additional audits for troubleshooting or service

Service Review

Cohesion host termly review meetings to assess financial and qualitative performance; putting action plans into place to rectify issues where possible

What others say

Glenn is professional, knowledgeable and fair, he has been totally invaluable to us with regards to our outsourced catering provision. Services covered to date include tender support, on boarding, implementation and monitoring. ​ Colleagues see Glenn as an extension to our internal resource, which is a reflection on how approaches his work, he views each £ we spend as his own. We see him as a trusted critical friend to ensure we are constantly challenging our suppliers and ourselves!

Large Multi-Academy Trust

Head of Procurement

Our academy has utilised Glenn’s expertise for multiple tenders now and each time have been blown away by his knowledge and dedication to his clients. Glenn truly does go above and beyond to ensure that every step is understood and completed appropriately by all parties.

Large East London Secondary Academy

Head of Estates and Operations

Glenn works with you rather than for you, always going the extra mile to ensure we get the best possible service. His knowledge and experience are second to none.

School Business Manager

Large Tower Hamlets Secondary School and Sixth Form

Our school has benefited from Glenn’s expertise and knowledge over a number of years to support our tendered catering and cleaning contracts. Throughout that time, we have found his advice and support invaluable. He is always happy to make himself available to help with any queries and I think he stands out as his service continues to be provided well into the contracts life cycle and not just at the start where the fees are made. I would have absolutely no hesitation in recommending his services.

Large Secondary School, Barnet, London

School Business Manager

Preparing to deliver UFSM to all Secondary School pupils was a unique and challenging project and Cohesion Consulting were a major player in its successful delivery. Throughout the project they were totally committed to the task, delivering a survey report on all 20 schools within a very short timescale which formed the basis of a Cabinet report that was approved. At every stage of the project, they offered practical and best value solutions that were achievable to ensure that schools could be ready to deliver UFSM. Their expertise in project management, contract negotiations, commissioning and mobilisation was essential and throughout they were honest and approachable with the ability to engage at all levels with schools and the whole project team which made working with them a pleasure during this challenging but exciting project.

Tower Hamlets, London

Head of Contract Services