AN EDUCATION consultancy which offers advice and services to schools and academies has been shortlisted for a national award.

The Darlington-based Avec Partnership was founded three years ago and has helped more than 100 schools and academies in areas such as human resources, finance, health and safety, governance and Government changes to teachers’ pay.

It has also supported more than 50 schools convert to academy status – almost half the total in the region – and has now been shortlisted in the Education Investor Awards, due to be held at London’s Hilton Hotel on November 14.

Julie Sowerby, a former local authority senior officer, and Sarah Monk, a former school vice-principal, founded the company which now employs 26 staff – many of who previously worked for local authorities – and recently moved to larger offices in Lingfield Point, Darlington.

Avec works with schools in Darlington, Stockton, Hartlepool, Redcar, Middlesbrough, Durham, Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, Northumberland, South Tyneside and Leeds.

Recent contracts include project managing the academy conversion of St Michael’s School in Billingham, which has been sponsored by the Darlington-based Carmel Education Trust, and supporting the Marchbank Free School, which opened on September 1, as part of Darlington’s Education Village Academy Trust.

Sarah Monk, who previously worked for Durham County and Darlington Borough councils and helped establish the pioneering Education Village, said: “Head teachers, governors and school business managers face increasing challenges as their roles become more complex and our services are aimed at relieving some of the pressure through our expert and professional support.

“Our services are very much focused on helping schools improve, whether that is helping a school to implement savings, convert to academy status, or recruit a new head teacher.”

The company plans to recruit another apprentice after Gemma Waugh, their first, recently won the accounting technician of the year award at the North East Accountancy Awards.