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.

The current fuel shortage crisis has created new challenges for school meals suppliers, forcing them to introduce a number of short-term measures to ensure children do not miss out.

As soon as news of shortages broke, we got into discussions with our principle suppliers to mitigate the effects of fuel, food and driver shortages on schools; SIPS serves over 15,000 fresh and healthy meals every day (around two million meals every year) to students across the Black Country and wider West Midlands.

Our contingency measures include:

  • Identifying a range of pre-agreed suitable alternatives in case of shortages in particular product lines. This will help suppliers to keep the ordering and distribution process as smooth and speedy as possible
  • Where appropriate and in line with its HACCP (Hazardous Analysis Critical Control Point) procedures, gradually increasing SIPS’ own ‘stores’ of key ingredients and products to help to address unexpected supply and delivery issues in the short term
  • Agreeing and identifying a variety of additional suppliers for certain product lines, where this has been possible

Chief executive, Brian Cape, commented: “Unfortunately, we are not immune to the current fuel and logistics challenges, and the current thinking is that it is likely that the industry will continue to be affected by these issues for several months.

“We’ve been working hard on continuity plans to ensure no pupil misses out; children are at the heart of everything we do, and a healthy, balanced and nutritious meal at lunchtime is a fundamental part of the school day.”

More News Stories

Response to Security Alert Regarding PHP Vulnerability

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.
Read More

SIPS Education IT Team Reaches National SDI Awards Finals 2027

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.
Read More

SIPS IT Services Shortlisted for SDI Awards Finals

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!
Read More