Monday December 21, 2015: The British Educational Suppliers Association (BESA) announced today that Patrick Hayes will become its new director. Hayes comes to BESA from his position as business development director at TES Global (formerly TSL Education), publishers of TES, Times Higher Education and its online platforms.

As director of BESA, Hayes will work to identify opportunities for BESA members, to support their business growth and improve education standards globally. He will be working with the Government, schools and suppliers to deliver an effective continuum of initiatives.

Having worked with the largest network of teachers in the world, Hayes will bring a wealth of experience to BESA. He has also previously worked as TES Global’s information and research director, having started as a researcher on the TES news desk in 2004. In a voluntary capacity, Hayes is a trustee of the non-profit Young Journalists’ Academy for disadvantaged state-school students, and an active supporter of youth education charity, WORLDwrite.

Hayes takes up the position previously held by Caroline Wright, who was recently promoted to director general designate in the lead up to the forthcoming retirement of director general, Dominic Savage.

Caroline Wright, said, “Patrick’s expertise will be critical in helping to address the opportunities and challenges that our industry faces, and I am excited to have him on our team. He will certainly bring new skills and energy to BESA to enhance our current services to the industry. I know that our members will benefit from the insight, contacts and knowledge that Patrick will bring..

Hayes said, “During my time at TES Global over the past decade, I have been consistently impressed by the world-leading standard of the services and products delivered by British educational suppliers to schools, teachers and pupils across the country and internationally.

“BESA has long represented integrity, quality and accountability in the industry. I am proud to be joining director general designate, Caroline Wright and team to work with all kinds of educational suppliers, schools and government alike to ensure BESA continues to provide the industry with a strong, unified voice in the decades ahead.”

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About BESA

BESA, the British Educational Suppliers Association, is the trade association representing over 300 educational suppliers in the UK, including manufacturers and distributors of equipment, materials, books, consumables, furniture, technology, ICT hardware and digital-content related services to the education market.

With 83 years of experience, BESA offers unparalleled support, research, events and advice on both UK and International markets, and the future of the education supplies industry.  BESA is focused on promoting and providing support and advice to their members, the industry and to schools.

BESA 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.

For more information, please visit www.besa.org.uk.

For further press information contact:

Sue Murray
Mango Marketing
T: 01932 829 077
E: sue.murray@mangomarketing.com

For information from BESA contact:

Caroline Wright, director general designate
BESA
T: 020 7537 4997
E: caroline@besa.org.uk