With education procurement teams under pressure to balance constrained budgets with growing expectations around security, compliance and long-term value, choosing the right solutions is becoming increasingly complex. We caught up with ABUS UK‘s Colston Hendy DipGAI, to discuss the impact of Martyn’s Law, the growing role of smart locking and connected access control, how AI could influence education estates – and why traditional mechanical security still has an important role to play…
What have been the biggest challenges the Education Procurement industry has faced over the past 12 months?
The biggest challenge has been balancing tighter budgets with increasing demands on expanding education estates. Procurement teams are under pressure to demonstrate value, while also considering security, safety, sustainability and the longer-term cost and reliability of products for pupils, staff and visitors.
There is also greater scrutiny around suppliers, supply chains and compliance, making procurement decisions more involved. The challenge is finding the right balance between immediate budget pressures and investments to deliver value over the longer term.
And what have been the biggest opportunities?
One of the biggest opportunities is to strengthen physical security across education sites in a proportionate way. Schools and colleges are looking more closely at access points, internal doors and restricted areas, and how they can better control movement around their buildings without disrupting day-to-day learning timetables.
There is also an opportunity to take a more joined-up approach, making sure security products work together and communicate, being robust enough for the demands of busy education environments that operate for the school hours and community requirements outside.
What is the biggest priority for the Education Procurement industry this year?
Martyn’s Law will be a major focus for education procurement. Schools, colleges and trusts will need to consider whether their existing security arrangements meet the new legislative requirements, from controlling access to buildings and restricted areas through to managing the movement of people across larger sites.
This will put greater emphasis on reviewing existing security provision and identifying where investment is needed, rather than treating physical security as a one-off procurement decision.
What are the main trends you are expecting to see in the market this year?
We expect to see continued growth in smart security solutions, particularly products providing schools and colleges with greater control and visibility without requiring major changes to existing infrastructure.
There is also likely to be more focus on connected locking and access control, with procurement teams looking at how technology can help manage access across multiple buildings and sites, while still considering reliability, security and long-term value.
What technology is going to have the biggest impact on the market this coming year?
Smart locking is likely to have one of the biggest impacts on education security, with solutions such as ABUS One showing how technology can move beyond traditional keys. Permissions can be managed through an app, issued or removed remotely, with options including smartphones, keypads and fingerprint scanners.
For schools and colleges, this can simplify the management and maintenance of security across buildings and sites. Permissions can be updated without replacing keys or changing locks, while lost or compromised credentials can be removed without the cost and disruption associated with traditional key management.
Next year we’ll all be talking about…?
AI has the potential to change how schools, colleges and trusts manage their estates, particularly in security, maintenance and building management. We could see it analysing security data, identifying unusual activity, predicting maintenance requirements and helping teams manage large estates more effectively.
Steve Van Till (Founder and President of BRIVO) in his book on the “The technological forces disrupting security” has called AI a “once-in-a-generation technological development,” and its impact will extend well beyond individual products or systems. For education, the challenge will be understanding how AI can be carefully incorporated into existing infrastructure without creating new security, privacy or management issues.
Which person in, or associated with, the Education Procurement industry would you most like to meet?
I’d like to meet someone who is shaping the future of education estates, particularly around how security, technology and procurement will come together. It would be interesting to hear their perspective on how schools and trusts will manage the balance between existing infrastructure, new technology and the changing security requirements they face.
What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learnt about the Education Procurement sector?
What has surprised me most is how much of the existing security infrastructure in education still relies on core traditional mechanical solutions, even as schools and trusts are looking at smarter technology.
There is a real opportunity to bring the two together. Smart solutions can improve how security is managed, while well maintained mechanical security remains an important part of protecting buildings. Finding the right balance between the two is becoming increasingly relevant across education estates.
You go to the bar at the Education Forum – what’s your tipple of choice?
I’m from the west country so it would have to be a cider for me!
What’s the most exciting thing about your job?
As a Technical Sales Manager, the most exciting part of the job is often being the person who turns complex technology into real business value.
And what’s the most challenging?
The most exciting part of my job is also probably the most challenging and it’s something I thrive. Every project is bespoke and it’s my opportunity to work out the best way to establish the business value.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
It was given by my first manager at my first ‘proper’ industry job, who told me to make decisions your future self will thank you for. It’s something that has stayed with me.
Succession or Stranger Things?
Actually, I’d go for Sons of Anarchy!
