VIEWS
BRITISH EDUCATIONAL SUPPLIERS ASSOCIATION (BESA)
The BESA Awards returns with an expanded ceremony and awards night
The prestigious BESA Awards return this year with an expanded ceremony and awards night, bringing together the UK’s top educational suppliers to celebrate innovation, excellence, and impact. The British Educational Suppliers
Association (BESA) is committed to championing the businesses, teams, and individuals who support schools and education providers with high-quality resources, technology, and services.
This year’s awards will take place on 10 July 2025 at the iconic Armoury House, a new dedicated venue for an evening of celebration, networking, and recognition of the best in the sector. What’s new for 2025?
The BESA Awards 2025 will welcome the biggest names in the UK’s educational suppliers sector for a daytime ceremony filled with inspiring keynote speakers, BESA’s latest research insights, and valuable networking opportunities.
Beyond the ceremony, attendees can expect: • Exclusive industry insights from leading experts • A chance to connect with peers and potential partners • A grand awards night celebrating the sector’s finest. Entries for the BESA Awards 2025 are now open. The awards celebrate excellence, innovation, and impact within the UK’s education supplier sector. • Early bird registration: Submit your intent to enter by 14th February 2025 to receive a discount.
• Final submission deadline: Entries must be submitted by 21st March 2025.
With a record 19 categories, the 2025 awards - sponsored by Freeths - will celebrate outstanding contributions across a broader spectrum of the sector. This includes 14 brand-new categories, reflecting the evolving landscape of educational supply.
The new categories are: Outstanding Curriculum and Assessment Resource, Outstanding Educational Furniture, Equipment or Physical, Outstanding Support Service, Outstanding Training and Career Development, Outstanding SEND Resource or Service, Outstanding Early Years Resource or Service, School and Supplier Collaboration, Women in Education Award, Best Place to Work, Sustainability and Net Zero Award, Start-up of the Year, Person of the Year, Exporter of the Year, Best Use of AI in Education.
The awards are open to all UK-registered educational suppliers. Whether you’re a start-up or an established leader in the sector, this is your chance to gain industry-wide recognition for your outstanding work. A panel of esteemed judges
The BESA Awards are independently judged by a panel of respected industry experts. The 2025 judging panel includes: Prof. Adam Boddison OBE – Chief Executive, AQA; Ann Mroz – Former Editor, TES; Jonathan Ledger – Skills & Professional Bodies Specialist, Dept. for Business & Trade; Cat Scutt – Director of Education & Research, Chartered College of Teaching; Caroline Doherty – Head of Public Affairs, Ark; Christine Major – Founder, MajorEd; Dave Smith – Director of Procurement, Osborne Co-operative Academy Trust; Emma House – Director, Oreham Group; Frank Suttie – Director, Freeths LLP; Ian Hunter – CEO, Lime Education Consulting; Natalie Williams – Director of Membership & Engagement, Council of British International Schools; Rachel Rogers – Head of Sales, ISC Research; Prof. Rose Luckin – Founder & CEO, Educate Ventures Research Ltd (EVR); and Seshni Jacobs – CEO, Hachette Learning. Winners’ exclusive
Winners of the BESA Awards 2025 will receive an exclusive invitation to The Educational Leaders’ Exchange in October 2025 - a high-level networking event connecting them with senior school leaders to foster collaboration and industry growth.
With an exciting new venue, expanded categories, and high-profile attendees, the BESA Awards 2025 promise to be an unmissable event for the education supplier sector. Ready to step into the spotlight? Register your intent now.
February 2025 BBC TEACH
Back to basics with careers support
Comment by Cerys Griffiths, Creative Director at BBC Education.
Teachers play such an important role in guiding young people towards their future careers1 and, as we approach National Careers Week which starts on 3rd March, I wanted to tell you about some new resources at Bitesize Careers. But first, what do we know about young people’s aspirations? Last year our top 10 jobs survey highlighted the aspirations and curiosities of today’s teenagers. Becoming a doctor topped the list as the most desired career, reflecting a strong interest in professions associated with helping others. Careers in teaching also featured prominently. However, what was particularly striking was the breadth of career opportunities that remain underexplored by many students—especially those beyond their everyday experiences. Do keep an eye out for our forthcoming top 10 jobs survey due for release during National Careers Week.
This gap in awareness emphasises the importance of accessible, relatable career resources and series two of the Bitesize Careers Podcast aims to address this. It features young people who are at the same stage in life as your students, asking questions to some award winning careers coaches. The podcast features voices from a diverse range of professions, offering stories and advice that resonate with students from all walks of life. This approach not only broadens perspectives but also helps to dismantle the barriers of access and confidence that many young people face when considering their futures. When producing the podcasts we asked young people directly what they needed most when thinking about their future. Their response was clear: they wanted help with the basics. Questions like “How do I network?” or “How do I write a CV?” might seem simple but are often the key to unlocking broader ambitions. The six podcasts address these essential topics, ensuring students have a solid foundation from which to develop their careers and explore the world of work. Alongside understanding the basics about work, and life beyond school, we need to help young people to broaden their horizons and understand the diversity of roles within particular industries. Take football, for example: while many teens might dream of being the next Premier League star, far fewer consider the myriad opportunities behind the scenes. Groundskeepers, physiotherapists, public relations specialists, HR managers, and event coordinators are just a few of the critical roles that keep the football world turning.
Our A-Z list has hundreds of careers and aims to showcase less visible careers and to inspire young people to think beyond the obvious and imagine themselves in roles they may not have encountered before.
Teachers help young people to join the dots between their talents, aspirations and action. The Bitesize Careers podcast can hopefully help you to support your students in the classroom. National Careers Week is an important marker for all young people, but week by week support is also essential to help them to start building their futures with confidence.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/careers www.education-today.co.uk 19
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