Agency develops technology to tackle school staffing challenges and save schools money

Martin Shipton

A Cardiff-based teaching agency whose director trained with the Disney organisation has developed new software that could transform the way schools across the UK connect with supply staff, making them big savings.

Bay Resourcing Ltd claims it has introduced a system that improves efficiency and reduces costs in an education sector grappling with tight budgets and staffing shortages.

The software enables schools to link directly with supply staff at any time, cutting out delays often associated with traditional agency processes. By streamlining this connection, Bay Resourcing’s system aims to address two pressing issues: ensuring classrooms have the staff they need and helping schools manage their strained finances.

Savings

Cost efficiency is a major focus of the initiative. The company’s booking fees are reported to be almost half those of High Street agencies, offering significant savings to schools.

One Cardiff headteacher, who asked to remain anonymous, described the impact: “The software is incredibly straightforward to use, and the savings have allowed us to reinvest in resources for students. We’ve saved more than £30,000 this year alone.”

The platform has been developed as schools across the UK face rising costs and a staffing crisis that has left many struggling to maintain consistent teaching standards. By leveraging technology to simplify and reduce the cost of securing supply staff, Bay Resourcing claims its approach could signal a broader shift in how educational staffing is managed.

Bay Resourcing was founded by businesswoman Ann Davies, who was raised in Abercrâf, a small village on the edge of Bannau Brycheiniog. She attended Ysgol Maesydderwen in Ystradgynlais, after which she gained a Business Studies degree at West Glamorgan Institute of Higher Education, now part of University of Wales Trinity St David,

Ms Davies subsequently did the Disney College Programme – a one year internship with the Walt Disney Company in Orlando, Florida, and later she gained a Post Graduate Certificate in Education at Swansea University.

She started her career in Education recruitment with Select Education (now Randstad) before establishing Teaching Personnel in south Wales, opening the firm’s Cardiff office in 2003. She started Bay Resourcing in 2004.

Cost-effective

Ms Davies said: “I have digitalised all aspects of the business – the booking process, administration and finance, increasing efficiency and reducing costs substantially.

“We were the first teaching agency to be audited in Wales. We are now audited by Standards in Recruitment, one of the Welsh Government-approved audit companies.

“Our digital booking system for supply teachers makes school staffing faster, easier, and more cost-effective. With real-time availability updates, automated confirmations and instant notifications, schools can quickly secure the right teachers without delays or administrative hassle.

“This streamlined approach improves communication and ensures a smooth, efficient process for both schools and supply staff. Plus, with booking fees 50% lower than our competitors’, we offer a budget-friendly solution that helps schools save money while maintaining high quality cover.

“Education experts suggest that technological innovation like ours has the potential to reshape the industry, balancing immediate needs with long-term cost-effectiveness. For schools like those already using the system, the benefits are clear: fewer administrative hurdles, lower costs, and more resources directed where they matter most – towards students.”

More information about the agency can be found on its website, www.bayresourcing.com.