Procurement people who understand independent schools
We didn't come from the public sector or a generalist consultancy. Ink and Acre was founded specifically to serve independent schools — and that focus has never changed.
Why we exist
Independent schools face a unique procurement challenge. You're too large to ignore the complexity of supplier management, but too small to justify a dedicated in-house team. Public sector frameworks rarely fit. Generic consultancies don't understand your governance structures, your term-time pressures, or the relationships that matter in your community.
Ink and Acre was founded to fill that gap. We work exclusively with independent schools — prep schools, senior schools, boarding schools, and day schools across the UK — and we've spent over a decade building the sector knowledge and supplier relationships that make a real difference.
Our clients are bursars, finance directors, and heads of operations who want straightforward, expert advice — not jargon, not unnecessary complexity, and not a report that sits on a shelf.
How we work
Sector-only focus
We work exclusively with independent schools. This isn't a niche we've drifted into — it's a deliberate choice that makes us better at what we do.
Honest advice
We'll tell you when a contract is actually good value, and when it isn't. Our job is to give you the clearest possible picture, not to justify our fees.
Plain language
Procurement can be made to sound complicated. We don't do that. Our reports are written for bursars and governors, not procurement specialists.
Long-term relationships
Most of our clients have worked with us for years. We think that says more than any case study.
The team
A small, experienced team with deep roots in the independent schools sector.
Josephine Perkins
Founder & Chief Executive
Jo's procurement career spans more than 25 years across manufacturing, pharmaceutical, construction, retail and education. She established the procurement function at Bright Horizons in 2009 and spent five years at Alpha Plus Group before founding Ink and Acre. She is CIPS qualified and specialises in greenfield procurement across operational spend including catering, cleaning, facilities management and transport.