Customer Story: Rainham Mark Education Trust

The challenge

Before implementing Access Education People, the trust, like many trusts, faced challenges around payroll accuracy, onboarding, and managing HR processes. Sharon had first-hand experience of using other platforms at different trusts and described them as “cheap but not very good at all,” with clunky and limited functionality.

Sharon highlights how even small errors (e.g. a missed pay rise, or inconsistent expense claims) had a disproportionately negative effect: “The one thing that will upset staff is if we get their money wrong.” Trust with staff matters deeply, these operational inefficiencies were more than just inconvenient, they risked undermining confidence and creating extra work in resolving issues.

The solution: Access Education People

For Rainham Mark Education Trust, Access Education People has become a single, reliable platform for managing HR and payroll. Sharon describes it as a “one-stop shop” that makes life easier for both staff and leadership.

The system supports the Trust in multiple ways:

Accurate payroll, fewer errors – Payroll queries are minimal, giving staff confidence that they will be paid correctly and on time. Sharon highlights this as a major differentiator compared with other trusts using different systems.

Onboarding new staff – From the first day, new starters are onboarded smoothly with their details, training, and compliance requirements logged and accessible in one place.

Streamlined expenses – Moving away from paper forms to online mileage and expense claims has saved time, reduced errors, and ensured staff are reimbursed more quickly.

Appraisals and training – Staff performance management and training records can be tracked in the system, helping leaders and employees stay on top of appraisals and development.

Compliance and audit readiness – With clear segregation of duties across HR, payroll, and finance, the Trust can evidence compliance easily, which auditors value highly.

Ease of use – Sharon praises the simplicity of the platform: “It’s easy to use and staff don’t need to learn a new system for every process—it all sits in one place.”

Pay scales and pensions – Importing pay scales into the system is “so easy,” according to Sharon, and having a payroll clerk in-house means pension queries are resolved quickly and efficiently.

Central hub for staff – The platform has everything all in one place, including quick links to services like HMRC and the Teachers’ Pension Scheme, as well as Trust policies and resources. Staff no longer have to search for key information, it’s all there for them.

She sums it up simply: 

“It makes your life easier and gives you accurate payroll. Why wouldn’t you love Access?”

What makes Access different

Rainham Mark’s experience with Access stands out not just because of what the Product does, but because how Access delivers it. Sharon identifies several distinct areas.

Quality of the product

The software itself is robust, reliable, and increasingly refined. Sharon notes payroll accuracy has improved dramatically; errors and missed pay rises no longer happen. The interface is more intuitive, and features like expense and mileage management mean less paperwork and fewer loopholes. The product feels like it has been built with real understanding of the education sector, deadlines, regulatory demands, staff roles, which reduces friction for staff and leadership alike.

Customer success & support

One of the striking differences is the level of support Rainham Mark receives. Rather than feeling like just another customer, Sharon says Access acts as a partner. There are named contacts, responsive help when issues arise, and guidance, not just fixing bugs, but helping the Trust understand how to use product features to their fullest. When problems are raised, Access doesn’t just patch them; the team listens, learns, and sometimes suggests alternative workflows or configurations that Rainham Mark hadn’t considered. This kind of ongoing, consultative support gives Sharon confidence that the system won’t stagnate, even if the Trust’s requirements shift.

Constant development & innovation

Another factor is how Access continues to evolve. Sharon sees regular updates, new features, and better reporting being rolled out; it's not a static product. Whether improvements in compliance reporting, usability (for example for managers or non-HR staff), or enhancements in analytics, there’s a sense that Access is listening to customer feedback. This means Rainham Mark doesn’t need to re-implement or seek alternatives quickly as their needs grow; instead, many of those needs are built into the roadmap or can be developed via custom-configuration or via Access’s professional services.

FlexPoints in action

Further strengthening the partnership between Rainham Mark and Access is FlexPoints. This is an add-on service that allows the Trust to access value-added services, especially training, bespoke configurations, or advisory work, using pre-allocated “points.”

Rainham Mark has used FlexPoints to:

1. Secure bespoke training sessions tailored to their specific workflows or challenges, rather than one-size-fits-all sessions.
2. Make sure no resource is wasted: Access helps prompt the Trust to use the points so they don’t expire or go unused.
3. Adjust configurations or build out reporting tools as their internal demands evolve, making sure the system flexes with their growth and changing needs.

Sharon says: 

“I like the fact that you can build up the FlexPoints, and the team makes sure you use them, so you get real value.”

It gives Rainham Mark the flexibility to ask for help or improvements without having to re-negotiate large new contracts.

The results

Since implementing Access Education People, Rainham Mark Education Trust reports:

• Fewer payroll and administrative errors. Payroll is more accurate; expense claims and mileage submissions are more consistent and timely.
• More efficient HR and onboarding workflows. New starters are onboarded with greater speed and fewer delays; training and appraisal records are more complete and auditable.
• Improved staff confidence and morale. When staff know pay is accurate, processes are transparent, and issues get fixed, they trust the system more; fewer grievances or manual corrections.
• Time savings and capacity freed up. HR and finance teams spend less time chasing paperwork, resolving mistakes, and instead can focus on strategic or value-adding tasks.
• Better compliance and audit readiness. Records are more complete; reporting tools enable senior leadership to quickly see gaps or risks and address them.

“It’s easy to use, accurate, and gives us confidence in our HR and payroll. It streamlines processes and frees up time.”

Recommendation

When asked whether she would recommend Access to other trusts, Sharon doesn’t hesitate.

“Yes, I would recommend Access Education People because it streamlines processes, makes your life easier, and delivers accurate payroll. Why wouldn’t you move?”

Sharon believes that for trusts of similar size or complexity, especially those juggling multiple sites and evolving leadership, having a partner rather than just a supplier matters. Access is more than software, it is a system designed specifically for education, plus outstanding support, and that combination makes a real difference.

Transform your HR and payroll

Join over 9,000 schools, academies, and trusts that rely on Access Education to streamline processes, reduce errors, and give staff confidence in every payslip. With seamless integration across HR, payroll, finance, and reporting, Access Education People helps you eliminate inefficiencies, simplify compliance, and free up time for what really matters — supporting your staff and students.