Dear Ian

At the AGM on Wednesday I went into detail about some of the issues we see affecting our marketplace in the next few years, which is the focus of BESA’s new business plan.

At one level it is the advent of e-procurement - and trying to ensure that this is an opportunity to drive down the cost of sales rather than a recipe for losing the direct links between members and customers.

At another level it is the Government’s desire for value for public money - and trying to ensure that this is in positive partnership with the membership, recognising what a great asset our industry is to UK education, rather than a ‘squeeze industry’ agenda.

It is equally about challenging Government on issues such as state aid -  most notably so far in relation to BBC Jam, but now rearing its head afresh with the proposal for Government to publish its own materials for phonics.

There is also the framework contract concept, beloved by Becta in particular.

In discussion with members it is clear that there is an even wider range of concerns and opportunities. The Executive Council, with the clear support of the AGM, wants BESA to develop consensus approaches on the full variety of these procurement issues and then to lobby fiercely to ensure a fair and positive deal for members in all areas.

We have therefore defined a process which this email starts and I have a series of requests and information points:

1. For the foreseeable future we will have one of more email groups and/or chat rooms for members about the full range of procurement issues. So that we are talking to the right person or persons within your company, **please reply to this email with the name(s) and email address(es) of those who you would like to have input and be kept informed**. Although we will still cover these issues in Insight, the list formed from replies will be those who we will consult and inform on a regular basis.

2. I have raised issues above in a general sense. There will be others and for individual companies there will be a variety of specific concerns and ideas. We need to capture all of these so that we can understand the full range of what needs to be addressed. **Please will you or your nominated contacts email back by next Friday, 17 November** with thoughts, comments, papers, proposals or whatever you have that will best explain your interests and concerns.

3. We will hold a **general meeting on Thursday 23 November**; currently we are planning to run from 11am to 3pm. If the numbers wishing to attend are below 26 it will be at the BESA offices. Otherwise it will be at another London venue. If you are interested in your company being represented please reply with the name of the person you wish to send. **We will guarantee a place for any name emailed to us by next Wednesday 15th November** (when we will make our venue decision).  We will send out final details for attendance no later than Tuesday 21 November. Please look out for them.

4. At or shortly after the meeting we will set up a task force which will meet as necessary to steer a work plan which will be developed from your responses to bullet 2 above and the meeting.

You will appreciate that this is a major initiative and is critical to how the market will function in the future. Your early response would be greatly appreciated.

Dominic


Dominic J S Savage OBE

Director General

Email: dominic@...

British Educational Suppliers Association (BESA)

20 Beaufort Court

Admirals Way

London

E14 9XL

UK

Tel: +44 (0) 207 537 4997

Fax: +44 (0) 207 537 4846

Web: www.besa.org.uk
 

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