The only Buyers’ Guide that compares law firms, HR consultancies, software, training and specialist ex-traded services teams - this Guide ranks all suppliers of compliance and legal services to schools and colleges on a level playing field.

Suppliers are ranked from 1 to 5 stars and good suppliers in the ’chasing pack’ are highlighted also. There are no bad suppliers here, but the choice for schools faced with ever increasing pressure on costs per pupil per year is complex and confusing.

In some areas only a lawyer will do; in others specialist HR and payroll teams are essential, and in many cases only ex-traded services teams ahve the breadth of service range to cover all the bases.

NED asked education leaders what they wanted, and this is the result - an independent corporate finance ranking of all types of suppliers, and the service levels and options explained.