Author: Oliver Wakefield-Smith, Founder Digital Signet. Reviewed against DfE Sustainability Strategy (Mar 2025) and Education Estates Strategy (Feb 2026). Verified 22 June 2026.
Once a MAT crosses 5 to 8 schools in scope, framework call-off economics, supplier mobilisation savings and HDP-cost dilution typically deliver 5 to 12 per cent reduction in per-school cost versus school-by-school procurement.
Once a MAT crosses 5 to 8 schools in scope, framework call-off economics, supplier mobilisation savings and HDP-cost dilution typically deliver 5 to 12 per cent reduction in per-school cost versus school-by-school procurement.
DNO connection works can sometimes be batched across nearby schools. ASHP supply can secure volume discounts above 30 to 50 units per programme. Framework call-off effort dilutes with scale.
CIF still operates on a per-school cap, so MAT-wide bids are structured as a portfolio of per-school applications. Trusts should plan the CIF cycle alongside the PSDS programme to maximise stacking.
Trustees should approve the programme envelope, the funding stack, the framework choice and the Salix bid strategy at strategic-plan level. Academy Trust Handbook section 2.10 sets the transparency requirements.