Broadleaf Trust – fourth line IT partnership
The Brief
Broadleaf Trust is a growing multi-academy trust that began as a single school and has since expanded to oversee multiple institutions. Having previously worked with an IT consultant who moved on when the Trust grew, Broadleaf were left without the support required to maintain scale.
Despite having a very capable internal IT team, with growth, came the need for specialist 4th line support to support increasingly complex systems & infrastructure design, cybersecurity demands, and compliant licensing requirements.
The Solution
Broadleaf reached out to several providers and ultimately partnered with Vizst to build a bespoke support model tailored to the Trust’s needs. The collaboration quickly proved successful, with Vizst providing professional, responsive, and specialist services across multiple areas.
Over time, the partnership evolved to include:
- Fourth-line support and infrastructure design: Vizst’s specialist engineers provide architecture expertise, ensuring high performance and reliability for Broadleaf’s server environments.
- Microsoft 365 licensing and optimisation: Vizst helped Broadleaf rebuild its licensing model, replacing outdated systems and eliminating inefficiencies.
- Cybersecurity enhancement: As security became an increasing priority, Vizst supported Broadleaf in reassessing its existing tools, implementing new, fit-for-purpose solutions, and establishing clear visibility and control over cyber risks.
Vizst’s integrated approach allowed Broadleaf to consolidate multiple IT services under one trusted provider, reducing complexity and ensuring consistent service quality.
The Results
As Broadleaf expanded, Vizst’s support scaled alongside them, maintaining the same level of professionalism, personal communication, and technical excellence. Their leadership team gained peace of mind with the new operational confidence in Vizst, knowing that cybersecurity, licensing, and infrastructure were all in expertly supported. While cost savings were achieved, the greatest benefits were qualitative; improved reliability, streamlined management, and strategic partnership.
Instead of managing five different providers, Broadleaf now relies on Vizst for end-to-end IT solutions, from servers and licensing to cybersecurity and support, with a single point of contact they no longer need to worry about juggling unaccountable suppliers. Vizst don’t just support Broadleaf, we stand up for them, tackling third-party issues head-on and keeping the trust’s best interests front and centre.
“Broadleaf’s partnership with Vizst has evolved into a trusted, strategic relationship built on expertise, reliability, and confidence. Vizst continues to act as an extension of Broadleaf’s internal team, a safe pair of hands for complex IT challenges and a proactive partner in supporting the trust’s ongoing growth. I would encourage more educational Trusts to look into a Managed Service wrap around IT services. ”
Key features
- Fourth-line support and infrastructure design
- Microsoft 365 licensing and optimisation
- Cybersecurity enhancement
- Reliable server hosting and infrastructure design