Background
Star Academies has been officially recognised for its exceptional approach to procurement, becoming only the third Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) in the country to achieve the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) Procurement Excellence Standard Award – a globally respected benchmark of commercial capability and world-class standards.
In 2020, Star Academies approached Litmus to provide a proposal and quotation to manage the tender for catering provision across 25 of its schools. The tender was divided into four Lots covering Lancashire, West Yorkshire, the Midlands and London. Litmus was subsequently appointed as the Trust’s partner to manage what was, at the time, an OJEU-compliant tender process.
In 2025, Litmus was again appointed as the Trust’s partner to manage the next catering tender, this time covering 30 of the Trust’s schools under the Procurement Act 2023.
Approach
Our work with Star Academies has been a true collaboration. The Trust has high expectations and an impressive attention to detail, both of which closely align with the Litmus approach.
For the tender process, Litmus produced all necessary documentation, refining it for each Lot and tailoring it to the specific requirements of individual schools. Diana Lishman, Senior Consultant at Litmus, and Jenny Lenton, Associate Consultant, were the key contacts throughout the process, liaising with potential suppliers and meeting regularly with the Trust.
Following the contract award in 2020, the contractor appointed to two of the Lots declined to proceed. Diana supported the Trust in resolving the situation, with the Northern supplier subsequently appointed to manage the Midlands Lot and the second-place London supplier appointed to manage the London schools.
Following contract commencement, Litmus has continued to work closely with Star Academies and the catering provider to establish reporting systems, provide termly KPIs, and support annual budget and end-of-year profit share negotiations.
Outcomes
A strong and professional client–contractor relationship has been established, underpinned by transparent reporting, regular communication and a shared commitment to continuous improvement.
Over the initial five years of the contract, Litmus played a key role in securing savings on the catering contract in excess of £600k, delivering significant value for the Trust while maintaining high standards of service.
Through the development of a detailed, bespoke specification and careful evaluation of tender submissions, the Trust also achieved savings of over £100k against the catering budget that was in place at the time of the 2025 tender.
