Business Brunch Podcast

Join our policy specialists, Emma Harrison, Louise Hatswell and Julia Harnden - all former school business leaders - for our informal catch-up conversations aimed at business leader professionals, talking about the issues you are dealing with now.

Emma Harrison, ASCL Business Leadership Specialist talks to Heena Dave, Co-founder, Climate Adapted Pathways for Education (CAPE) and Paul Edmond, Chief Financial Officer, Heart Academies Trust about sustainability and climate change.

ASCL Sustainability Conference 2026
05 June 2026 | Birmingham
The conference coincides with World Environment Day and is dedicated to providing schools, colleges, and trusts with the tools and support needed to enable leaders, governors and students to create a lasting sustainable culture. Book your place.

Emma Harrison, ASCL Business Leadership Specialist talks to Melanie Moffatt, ASCL Pensions Specialist to discuss all things pension related.

 

Emma Harrison, ASCL Business Leadership Specialist talks to Tiff Harris, ASCL Primary and Data specialist and Rob Gould from Barker, to discuss the latest round of school-based nursery application phases.

Emma Harrison, ASCL Business Leadership Specialist talks to Emma Searl, Chief Finance Officer at The New Guild Trust who won the National SBL of the Year at the School Business Services awards.

 

Emma Harrison, ASCL Business Leadership Specialist, and Julia Harnden, ASCL Funding Specialist, are joined by Nigel Brunning, Chief Operating Officer, South East Essex Academy Trust, and Gareth Edmunds, Chief Operating Financial Officer, Northern Education Trust, to talk about treasury management. 
 

Emma Harrison, ASCL Business Leadership Specialist is joined by Kelly Potton, Advocate Director, Education Mutual, and Pam Burrows, People Booster to discuss the forthcoming Business Leaders’ roadshows, taking place in June 2025, which will focus on personal wellbeing and professional development.

To find out more or book your place, please click here.

Emma Harrison, ASCL Business Leadership Specialist talks to Paul Edmond, Chief Finance and Sustainability Officer, Heart Academies Trust, and Helen Burge, Consultant School Business Leader about sustainability and climate change.

For more information on the UK Schools Sustainability Network (UKSSN) visit https://ops.ukssn.org/

To book your place at ASCL's Conference for a Sustainable Future on 5 June, please click here.

 

In this edition, and on Time to Talk Day 2025, ASCL Business Leadership Specialist Emma Harrison speaks with Scott Sivier, Business Manager at Havant Academy, about men's mental health. 

 

In this edition, Emma Harrison, ASCL Business Leadership Specialist, discuss cyber crime with Dave Cobb, Business Manager, Saint Cecilia's Church of England School and Aston Smith, Headteacher, Charles Darwin, Biggin Hill.
 

In this edition, Emma Harrison, ASCL Business Leadership Specialist, and Louise Hatswell, ASCL Conditions of Employment Specialist: Pay, discuss flexible working in the education sector for all staff with Antonia Spinks, CEO, Pioneer Educational Trust.

In this edition, Emma Harrison, ASCL Business Leadership Specialist, and Julia Harnden, ASCL Funding Specialist, discuss PFI contracts in schools with Cheryl Campbell from Thomas Tallis School and Sian Turner from The Co-operative Academies Trust.

In this edition, Emma Harrison, ASCL Business Leadership Specialist, and Julia Harnden, ASCL Funding Specialist, discuss allergy awareness and management in schools with Helen Blythe from The Benedict Blythe Foundation.
 

Emma Harrison, ASCL Business Leadership Specialist, discusses sustainability with Paul Edmond, Chief Finance and Sustainability Officer, Heart Academies Trust, and Helen Burge, Deputy Chief Operations Officer, The Priory Learning Trust.

For more information on the UK Schools Sustainability Network (UKSSN) visit https://ops.ukssn.org/

To book your place at ASCL's Conference for a Sustainable Future on 5 June, please click here.