Welcome to the SEA Commercial Benchmarking Survey 2025

Dear Head, Bursar and/or Commercial Director/Manager

Welcome to the inaugural Schools’ Enterprise Association (SEA) Commercial Benchmarking Survey.  We are pleased to be launching this with the support of our fellow school associations across the sector including ISBA, HMC, ISA & GSA. We are equally delighted to be partnering with the financial benchmarking specialists – Baines Cutler – who are powering the survey on their platform and have been invaluable in their support and guidance as we launch this initiative.

This survey is a vital first step in providing schools and the sector with robust benchmarking data for commercial operations in schools. Now more than ever, schools are focusing on driving alternative sources of income and the commercial revenue opportunities are being explored by schools of all shapes and sizes.

The research findings will support schools starting out on the commercial journey, enabling them to better understand their potential commercial opportunity, as well as schools with a strong commercial revenue stream, providing them with information that will inform and support future strategy.

We will release the key sector-wide findings at the SEA Annual Conference, 23rd - 24^th March 2026 at Epsom College and to thank you for your participation the full report will be sent to all those that complete the survey.

The questions may require input from various managers within the school but only a single response per school is required – please liaise with your colleagues to provide the most comprehensive response to each question, providing the sector with strong benchmark data.

Please note:

• You can save and return to your response at any time (but please make a note of your 6-digit unique code at the top right corner of the screen when you enter the survey).
• All data will be handled confidentially and in accordance with GDPR.

For any survey queries or broader questions about the research, contact Ben Hope, Head of Research, SEA, research@the-sea.org.uk.

On behalf of the SEA and our fellow associations in the sector, I would like to encourage you to participate, making the survey as valuable as possible to the sector.

Your input will help shape the national picture of commercial activity within the independent sector.

Many thanks for your support.

Dorothy McLaren

Chief Executive Officer