Academies
Academies have the same financial controls and compliance as LA grant maintained schools. Since 1st September 2024 Academies must also comply with the IFRS16 Maintained Schools Finance Lease Class Consent 2024, if they wish to use a lease that would have previously constituted borrowing.
find out more about leasing solutions for Academies below



Our competitively benchmarked Schools leasing solution is available to all Academies. For large specific transactions we will undertake a competitive tender to obtain the best lease rates available in the market at the time. Full disclosure of quotations and compliance with regulations for all new leases is provided.
Why Lease
Some of the benefits of leasing include:
what can be leased?
A wide range of equipment can be leased or financed for academies.
equipment that can be leased includes:
FAQ’s
When are payments made?
Payments may be tailored to meet cashflow, although monthly, annually or quarterly rentals are available. Leases typically run from 2 to 7 years depending on asset type.
What happens at the end of the lease?
At the end of the lease the school has the option to either return the equipment, extend the lease or buy-out the equipment via a third party such as UniLink. We will advise of the costs for these options at the outset of the lease.
Methods of Payment?
Direct Debit or you can pay by invoice, but some lessors may charge.
What if our budgets change?
We will reschedule the payments and do our best to re-arrange the agreement to suit your revised needs.
arranging a lease
Arranging a lease can be daunting. However, UniLink will guide you through the whole leasing process.
below is a quick summary of the process:

minibus leasing
Via our partner Minibus World (www.minibus-online.co.uk) we have access to significant discounts from minibus manufacturers that are available to education bodies. We are also able to quote on minibus conversions such as adapted buses for wheelchair access and lightweight buses allowing drivers without D1 car licence entitlement to drive 17 seat buses.
Quote
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