What are the benefits of BESA membership?
BESA's purpose is to promote, inform and enhance the business of its members.
The businesses of reputable suppliers are built on a desire to satisfy customers. Members of BESA join for a variety of reasons, not least because they want to be part of an organisation that is known to have quality and safety at its heart. Membership also sets them apart from other companies who will not make that commitment.
In addition, BESA also offers a raft of benefits and discounts and is active in lobbying on behalf of the industry.
Benefits to members include:
Marketing and events
• BESA website – now regularly receiving over 70,000 actual visits a month (actual visits are classed as staying for 5 mins or longer) and allowing educational purchasers the opportunity to make an informed decision on which suppliers offer the products they are specifically looking for. Purchasers can feel safe in the knowledge that all BESA members abide by a strict Code of Practice requiring all products to be of proper quality, and safe and suitable for educational use. The BESA website allows direct access to your own website.
• BESAbook – the UK Education and Training Products and Suppliers Directory (The BESAbook), was distributed to over 5000 educational professionals at the BETT show and over 4000 at the Education Show in 2007. We aim to ensure that the BESAbook is circulated to as many schools, LAs and key purchasers as possible providing purchasers with reliable reputable suppliers who comply with the BESA Code of Practice.
• BETT – running annually since 1985, BETT is the world's foremost event for ICT in education - with some 30,000 education professionals attending in 2007. BESA members receive a 5% discount off the cost of exhibiting at the Show.
• The Education Show – co-organised by BESA and taking place at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, The Education Show is increasingly acknowledged as the key event of the year for general school resources. BESA members receive a 15% discount off the cost of exhibiting at the Show.
• Specialist Schools and Academies Trust National Conference Exhibition – as the event partner and exhibition organiser, BESA has made the Specialist Schools Trust National Conference Exhibition an unmissable event with over 2000 Head teachers attending.
• Education Northern Ireland– this popular general resources show in Belfast, organised by BESA, was staged in 2002 and again run in October 2005.
• EducationGuardian – members receive a 20% discount on advertising in EducationGuardian (jobs section excluded).
For information on other magazine advertising discounts contact Mark Rosser.
Networking
BESA is the industry link to Government, advising and lobbying to achieve a good deal for the industry and for education. It provides networking opportunities for members at the highest level providing access to key decision-makers and players. Networking opportunities include:
• Social events – a regular calendar of events allow members to develop relationships within the industry and with fellow professionals. These take the form of gala dinners, awards evenings and informal meeting days.
• Seminars – in order that members may be kept informed of current developments within education, a series of seminars are arranged each year to open the dialogue between the industry and key educational agencies. In 2006, for example, BESA staged a seminar on the subject of Building Schools for the Future (BSF) highlighting the various stages of the BSF programme and Government investment.
• Special Interest Groups (SIGs) – with such a diverse market BESA has recognised the importance of bringing together members with common interests to share ideas, information and maintain a tight focus on each market place. There are currently five SIGs administered by the BESA secretariat:
BEFMG British Educational Furniture Manufacturers Group
BNETG BESA New Educational Technologies Group
BSNG BESA Special Needs Group
ESPA Educational Software Publishers Association
ETEMA Engineering Training Equipment Manufacturers Association
• BESA Forums – w here sufficient interest or numbers of members with a common purpose/interest exist, BESA will try to facilitate a Special Interest Group or forum around a given subject.
Information services
BESA provides up-to-date information to members through various media:
• Website – exclusive access to members-only content (in addition to public access) items on the website, once logged in using a unique password. Members are given exclusive access to up-to-the-minute market information including latest UK and worldwide tender details, other business opportunities, and are kept abreast of education-related and wider developments relevant to the pursuit of business.
• Research surveys – BESA produces several invaluable benchmark reports on the industry including surveys on schools' budgets and ICT usage. These normally retail at around £350 a copy but members receive complimentary copies immediately on publication. BESA can also undertake specialist reports subject to demand.
• Insight - BESA's exclusive monthly newsletter, reporting and analysing commercially significant stories pertaining to education, business and the marketplace.
• E-Alerting services - free subscription to email alerts including UK tenders, export information / overseas tenders and business opportunities, a weekly news summary, and an optional electronic version of the Insight newsletter.
International services
BESA recognises the continuing globalisation of the education equipment market and takes seriously its role in encouraging firms to export. To this end, BESA has two dedicated members of staff who, working with UKT&I, manage a range of activities including:
• Specific sector-related overseas missions, exhibitions and seminars.
• Maintaining close links with various Government departments and agencies who have an international remit to raise the profile of the sector, and to secure funding and opportunities that will increase members' opportunities for developing sales overseas.
• Offering practical advice and information for exporters.
