As Chief Operating Officer at Trinitas Academy Trust, Sam Luker is no stranger to the complexities of multi-site oversight. Managing seven schools requires more than just a checklist; it requires total visibility, a proactive safety culture, and a system that site teams actually enjoy using.
Before joining the iAM family, the Trust was struggling with a fragmented system that had lost its way, leaving the central team with a "black hole" of data. We sat down with Sam to discuss how the switch to iAM Compliant has transformed their approach to compliance, moving them from reactive firefighting to "estates excellence."
Before adopting iAM Compliant, Trinitas Academy Trust was managing its compliance without a reliable overview. This created constant uncertainty and increased the risk of failing to meet their statutory duties.
"We had fragmented systems and a black hole of data meaning visibility was hit or miss," Sam explains. "The biggest risk was the unknown, not knowing if a statutory check had been missed until it was too late, as the system wasn’t working for us. The old system was forever called 'clunky,' but with iAM, the new word is 'slick.'"
One of the most common hurdles for any Multi-Academy Trust is embedding a new system into the daily routines of busy site teams. For Trinitas, the onboarding process was a turning point.
"The onboarding is something I speak about passionately," says Sam. "The portal is amazing; I have never seen anything like it. It tracks each task and keeps everything in one traceable place. This is then complemented by the superhuman knowledge and commitment of Jamie Livingston, who guided and supported. It’s a rarity that makes the process surprisingly painless."
The impact was felt immediately at the school level. Angie, the Premises Manager at the Trust’s largest school, found the transition incredibly supportive:
"The transition to iAM Compliant was the smoothest onboarding experience I’ve had," Angie notes. "Having the guidance videos built in at every single step meant I never felt lost or overwhelmed. Honestly, Andy, the narrator’s voice is so soothing I could listen to him all day! It turned what could have been a dry, technical setup into something genuinely engaging."
By moving away from fragmented spreadsheets and manual updates, Trinitas has achieved a "single source of truth" for its estates data. This has moved the Trust from a reactive stance to a proactive one.
"I can see the 'health' of all seven schools from one dashboard without having to chase site managers," Sam explains. "We are currently working on our reporting processes to Principals, Governors, and Trustees, and this is all made easy with health scorecards and compliance overview reports."
This clarity has been particularly valuable during audits. Instead of a scramble for paperwork, the Trust is now "audit-ready" at all times. "Having everything ready at a glance has drastically reduced the stress of audits. We feel ready for any external inspection, for example, if the HSE arrive to check our asbestos management procedures, which iAM helps us manage to a 'gold standard.'"
For a lean central team, time is the most precious resource. Sam estimates that iAM Compliant saves the team several hours every week by eliminating manual reporting and follow-up emails. But the benefits go beyond just time-saving; the data is now fuelling the Trust’s long-term strategy.
"When we’re planning a boiler upgrade or roof works for a large CIF project, we aren’t digging through filing cabinets. The history and compliance data are right there, which makes budgeting much more accurate," Sam says.
Looking ahead, the Trust plans to use the asset lifecycle data gathered in iAM as the foundation for its sustainability strategy. "You can't manage energy efficiency if you don't have a clear picture of your estates' current health. We have struggled to even manage the basics of meter readings in the past, but this data is now giving us the foundation we need."
At iAM, we pride ourselves on being a partner, not just a provider. It’s a sentiment that Sam and his team have felt throughout their journey.
"I cannot be more positive about the team. From chats where Luke and Andy have genuinely listened, to the amazing support from Josh, Ben, Lisa, and the 'Jamies,' this doesn't feel like a standard 'ticket' helpdesk. They actually listen. If we have a specific Trust-wide need, the iAM team treats it as a conversation rather than just a software request."
When asked how he would describe the impact of the system, Sam’s recommendation is simple:
"I would recommend iAM Compliant to other MATs because it turns the headache of multi-site compliance into a streamlined, transparent process that site teams actually enjoy using."
Ready to move from "clunky" to "slick"? If your Trust is ready to ditch the data "black hole" and embrace estates excellence like Trinitas Academy Trust, try iAM Compliant for FREE today.