GKA are working in close partnership with Solent Academies Trust to develop and implement a comprehensive People Strategy that will support the Trust’s development while nurturing a thriving, values-led workforce.
With five specialist schools already in place and two more due to open by 2028, Solent Academies Trust recognised the need to future-proof its approach to workforce planning, culture, and staff development. As a trusted partner GKA were asked to lead the development of a People Strategy.
GKA has worked across all levels of the organisation — engaging with staff, school leaders, the central team, governors, and trustees to understand the Trust’s strengths, challenges, and aspirations. We have facilitated whole staff surveys and strategic workshops with executive leaders and HR leads, reviewed policies and workforce data, and identified key areas for improvement.
Drawing on insights gathered through this collaborative process, we developed a Trust-wide, three-year People Strategy grounded in core themes including talent attraction, staff wellbeing, leadership development, equity and inclusion, and succession planning. We also produced a detailed implementation roadmap, complete with defined responsibilities, key milestones, and performance indicators to support delivery and evaluation.
GKA continues to provide hands-on support throughout the rollout of the strategy – offering additional capacity and guidance as the Trust grows, while ensuring that people priorities remain deeply connected to its wider organisational goals.
“Our partnership with GKA has laid strong foundations for meaningful change. Their insight and collaborative approach have helped us shape a People Strategy that reflects who we are as a Trust and who we aspire to become. While we are still early in the implementation, we are already seeing encouraging signs of engagement and alignment across the organisation. This strategy gives us a clear direction for building a culture that is inclusive, supportive, and aligned with our values — and we’re excited to see how it develops in the months and years ahead.”
Sharon Burt, Chief Executive Officer, Solent Academies Trust
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