British Educational Suppliers Association

This article is part of the Spinwatch privatisation of Schools Portal project.

British Educational Suppliers Association (BESA) is a lobby group and trade association for UK-based companies that supply goods and services to the education sector.

Core activities

BESA says it:

• 'lobbies Government and decision-makers on policy issues',
• 'provides information, training and advice to our members', and
• 'arranges and promotes marketing opportunities and exhibitions for BESA members in the UK and internationally.'

Lobbying for edtech

BESA's Caroline Wright describes BESA as 'the largest association representing digital' [education suppliers].

It represents 'about 80% of the education market and more than half of all [BESA's] companies - more than 150 BESA members – work in educational technology'.

BESA lobbies to reduce barriers to the use of digital technology in the classroom. It has identified three key barriers:

• Teacher professional development: it's about teachers 'not having enough time to actually understand innovation and technology, and using it effectively.
• Wi-fi and broadband: '42% of [UK] schools still say they have problems with their wi-fi and broadband connectivity.'
• Management and security: 'tablets in schools... you’ve got to keep them safe. You’ve also got to keep the data that you’re using safe on behalf of the schools and the children. You’ve also got to keep the children safe online... And getting schools to use the management systems they’ve got effectively.
• Funding. Spend more money on technology.

As a result, BESA says it has been 'lobbying the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Education to get schools 'fast-tracked' for super-fast broadband.

It also worked with ETAG, a national expert group advising government, to look strategically at technology in education.

It also says it is 'having discussions and working with officials' at the Department of Education on a macro edtech strategy.

Caroline Wright of BESA also says that she knows 'lots of commercial organisations that are working with governing bodies' in schools on how technology becomes embedded across the curriculum.

But, with all the barriers identified, the solution according to BESA is 'political will'. 'We the need the messaging to come from Government that actually they’re supporting EdTech.'

Parliamentary lobbying

BESA funds the secretariat for the All Party Parliamentary Group for Education. The APPG is run on BESA's behalf by Ranelagh ltd, the lobbying firm of former Conservative MP Jonathan Sayeed.

The APPG provides a forum for MPs to debate issues around education, and a means through which BESA can inform these debates.

The APPG for Education is charied by Danny Kinahan MP (Ulster Unionist Party). Its vice chairs are Conservative peer Pauline Perry (Baroness Perry of Southwark); Conservative MP, Andrea Jenkyns; and Labour MP Fabian Hamilton.

Members

BESA members include manufacturers and distributors of equipment, materials, teaching aids, books, consumables, furniture, technology, ICT hardware and digital content.

People

• Caroline Wright, director general. A PR professional, Wright is a former Director of Communications at the Department for Education and Ofsted, the schools regulator.
• Patrick Hayes, director. Previously Business Development Director at TES Global.

Contacts

• Website: www.besa.org.uk
• Twitter: @besatweet
• Address: 20 Beaufort Court - Suite 19, Admirals Way, London E14 9XL