BESA

BESA, the British Educational Suppliers Association, is the only trade association covering the entirety of the UK educational suppliers sector. BESA operates on a not-for-profit basis and is accountable to an Executive Council elected by member companies. It has a 90-year heritage serving the UK education sector, and represents almost 400 educational suppliers in the UK, including manufacturers and distributors of equipment, technology, ICT hardware, digital-content related services, materials, books, furniture and consumables to the education market. Combined, they generate upwards of £2 billion in revenue each year and constitute around 80% of the market in terms of the amount spent by UK schools on products and services.

The trade association has a Code of Practice to which all members must adhere, along with a stringent membership process, both of which assure buyers of a high standard of quality in both product and customer service.

As a UK-based company, members will be part of one of two membership categories BESA offers. Full Membership with BESA is designed for established education suppliers and the Launchpad programme for businesses emerging in education.

BESA offers unparalleled support, research, events and advice on both UK and international markets, and the future of the education suppliers industry. BESA is focused on promoting and providing support and advice to members, schools and the industry. BESA founded the BETT show in 1985 and the Education World Forum in 2011 and currently has over 60 start-ups in its Launchpad programme. BESA also runs the EdTech Exchange, which is Europe’s largest network of EdTech founders.

BESA works as a sounding board and advocate on issues in the sector on behalf of its membership. Alongside this, BESA also publishes over 20 market research reports each year on a wide range of topics, from ICT in education to procurement in Multi Academy Trusts for member companies to utilise.
This year, BESA is proud to support Educate Girls, a non-profit that focuses on mobilising communities for girls’ education in India’s rural areas. At the forthcoming Education Resources Awards, BESA will run a collection for the charity to raise more funds for support.

If you want to learn more about the business support BESA can provide, please get in touch with Sam Butter at sam@besa.org.uk.