We continue to work with Sandwell schools to build and support their music offer. It is our goal
to encourage every school in Sandwell to work with us, so that there is an equity of opportunity
for children to learn a musical instrument during their time at school.

We are delighted to share that SIPS Education has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Catering category of the APSE Soft Facilities Management Innovation Awards 2026.

This national recognition follows a rigorous judging process and highlights the exceptional standards, innovation, and impact of our Catering Service—trusted by schools across the Black Country and wider region.


Celebrating Excellence in School Catering

Being selected as a finalist from such a competitive field of UK organisations is a tremendous achievement. It reflects:

  • Our commitment to providing fresh, nutritious meals that help children thrive
  • Innovative and efficient catering practices that support schools operationally and financially
  • The expertise and passion of our skilled catering colleagues
  • Our cooperative, not‑for‑profit approach

We are incredibly proud of our team, whose dedication to high‑quality, child‑centred services made this recognition possible.


Awards Ceremony – February 2026

The winners will be announced at the awards presentation evening:

📍 DoubleTree by Hilton, Stratford‑upon‑Avon
đź“… Thursday 5 February 2026

The ceremony forms part of APSE’s two‑day Facilities, Catering and Cleaning Management Seminar, a leading national event for public sector service innovation.


Looking Ahead

APSE intends to publish details of winning submissions following the event to help share best practice across the sector. Whatever the outcome, being named a finalist is a powerful endorsement of the quality, innovation, and impact delivered by our Catering Service.


Thank You to Our Schools and Partners

As a schools‑owned cooperative, our purpose is simple: to support the best possible outcomes for children.
We are grateful to our member schools and partners for their trust and collaboration, which help our teams to continually innovate and grow.

We look forward to celebrating with colleagues in February—watch this space for further updates!

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SIPS has undertaken a review of the services and infrastructure that we manage, both internally and on behalf of our customers, and can confirm that: Relevant systems have been assessed to determine whether they are affected by the vulnerability. Security updates have been applied where appropriate. DfE and NCSC guidance has been reviewed and will continue to be monitored.
SIPS Education is delighted to announce that its IT Services Team has been named a finalist in the Managed Service Provider (MSP) Service Desk of the Year (Small to Medium Enterprise) category at the SDI Awards 2027.
We're thrilled to share that our IT Services Team has been shortlisted for the prestigious Service Desk Institute (SDI) Awards 2027 in the category of Managed Service Provider Service Desk of the Year! This recognition highlights our commitment to excellence in service delivery and customer experience. It reflects the dedication and expertise of our IT colleagues, who work tirelessly to support schools and make a positive impact. Join us in celebrating this achievement and stay tuned for the next stage, where we present to the judging panel. Discover more about this exciting news and the awards by clicking the link!