| WWW.THE-LIST.CO.UK |
| REPORTFINDER |
Worldwide Business Information and Market Reports
Table of Contents Executive Summary
Back to Wood Products Index and Shopping
Cart
Back
To REPORTFINDER home page and Search
Engine
Back to Top
There are approximately 36,000 educational establishments in the U.K. Of these, around 94 percent are schools, with the vast majority in the public sector.
There are around 2500 private schools (excluding private nursery schools) and these have been heavily affected by the economic climate, with the number of parents sending their children to board at private schools having deteriorated sharply in the last few years.
Over 9 million children attend school, with the majority of these in primary and secondary schools. This number is on an increasing trend reflecting changes in population mix and is set to continue for the rest of the decade. The comprehensive system is the most widespread for secondary schools with around 86 percent of children attending this type of school. Others include secondary moderns, grammar schools and technical schools.
One major growth area in recent years has been the grant maintained sector which facilitates greater local financial control.
Changes in funding by the Government are likely to have a significant effect on the allocation of funds to the different resource areas. The development towards a wider use of vouchers as a system of funding in both the nursery sector and the further education sector, would mean that parents would have more influence into which educational establishment their children are sent.
The Government continues to encourage market forces to motivate schools to actively compete for pupils. This is resulting in extra funds being spent on the appearance and facilities of the school to attract potential students.
In terms of colleges and universities (higher education) overall Government funds are being frozen. Thus to pay for the ever increasing number of potential students, operational efficiencies and improvements in the buying process are likely with more professional buying procedures introduced.
Colleges and universities are seeking other means of developing their income, with conference facilities offered by a wider range of organisations. Increasingly, universities etc are hiring their facilities to the public, whether these are halls of residence for management courses, or halls etc for weddings/parties. In either case, this is likely to benefit the furniture and furnishings sectors as colleges make their facilities as attractive as possible to compete for business.
The market for educational furniture and furnishings is estimated to be worth around £225m. Of this approximately a third is furniture with the balance furnishings. Factors affecting the market for educational furniture include Local Management of Schools (LMS), funding changes and the introduction of the national curriculum.
The major sectors within the educational furniture market are classroom tables and chairs with 26 percent, and storage and shelving with 19 percent. Major growth areas for the future include halls of residence (study bedrooms), computer facilities and library/resource areas.
In terms of product trends, polypropylene chairs continue to be popular with movability and stackability of tables an important feature especially in schools with younger children. Aesthetics are becoming a greater consideration, both to attract new students and to give current students the best working environment.
Storage is an area which has grown and is likely to continue to grow in the foreseeable future. Major application areas for upholstery are staff rooms and reception areas although it is thought that more may be introduced in student areas.
The market for educational furnishings is estimated to be worth around £150m at manufacturers selling prices. Included in this are floorcoverings, windowcoverings and household textiles, although this latter sector is very small. Key factors affecting the furnishings market include LMS, funding changes, anticipated growth in the nursery sector and a growing awareness of the effect that the educational environment can have on the learning capabilities of students.
Window coverings account for around 46 percent of the educational market for furnishings, floor coverings 49 percent with the remaining 5 percent household textiles. Blinds are by far the most popular window covering with a strong trend away from curtains to venetian and vertical blinds. In terms of end use sectors, primary and secondary schools are prominent.
With regard to floorcoverings, carpet is by far the major product taking 63 percent of the market. There is a trend away from hard floorcoverings such as vinyls to carpet, as schools want to look more appealing and less institutionalised. Parquet/wood is also a popular floorcovering used mainly in halls, such as dining and sports halls.
Household textiles are a very minor sector in education being used only occasionally in state schools in the form of bean bags and cushions. Major end use sectors for household textiles are private boarding schools (where numbers attending have declined) and in college halls of residence. This is a major growth area with new demand as more halls are built and better quality bedlinen etc. is used for conference purposes.
The major suppliers of educational furniture tend to specialise in this area. Leading suppliers include ESA McIntosh, Remploy Profile, Hille International, Hostess, Don Gresswell and Blyde Barton.
In terms of furnishings this has a much more fragmented supply structure, with the vast majority of suppliers serving a wide range of markets. Leading suppliers include Heckmondwike, Bonar & Flotex, Armstrong, James Halstead, Forbo-Nairn, Gerflor, Altro, Tretford Carpets, Burmatex, Sunline Blinds, Faber, London Blind Co, Cope and Timmins, Skopos, VBS Blinds, Shalet, Walker Greenbank, Cornwell Parker, Textra, Sekers and Taftex.
In terms of distribution, educational furniture and furnishings are obtained mainly from Local Educational Suppliers (LES), Consortia, Catalogue Suppliers, direct from manufacturers, local suppliers and local contractors.
Buying processes within educational establishments vary from sector to sector with the simplest at the nursery level, becoming increasingly complex for larger schools, colleges and universities.
Buying is still undertaken by the LEA in nursery schools. Mail order catalogues are a major source for furniture and furnishings with product quality of paramount importance. Factors sought by nurseries include bright colours, ease of cleaning, a relaxed atmosphere and flexibility.
Purchases of furniture and furnishings by primary schools are mainly undertaken by the head teacher, with other teaching staff also involved.
Furniture direct from manufacturers catalogues and consortia are the major information and purchase sources. Personal experience and associates advice are fundamental to the purchase of furnishings. Key sources for furnishings are mail order catalogues, LES and direct from manufacturers. Quality of product is a fundamental factor with price a close second.
In terms of secondary schools a variety of people are involved in the buying process including general teaching staff, those involved with maintenance and the bursar or equivalent. In terms of sources of information, mail order and consortia catalogues are mainly used while personal experience and manufacturers brochures are significant. Consortia and catalogues are also the major sources of furniture whilst furnishings are generally purchased from manufacturers, LES, or retail outlets.
In further/higher education, the need for furniture is identified in most cases by the departmental head whilst the actual decision making is undertaken by the purchasing office or financial staff. Both the need definition and the decision to buy furnishings are in the majority of cases undertaken by either the head of department or the estates officer. Major information sources for furniture are manufacturers brochures and catalogues/mail order, whilst personal experience and associates advice are important for furnishings.
In special schools the head teacher is greatly involved, with the decision making undertaken by the head due to both the small size of the school and the special requirements of the students.
This comprehensive report represents a detailed assessment of the market, reviewing major trends, key factors influencing developments and future prospects for the sector. Analysis is both quantitative and qualitative, based on our substantial experience of the building and home improvement markets.
Text © 1995 AMA Research
Back to TopBack
To REPORTFINDER HOME PAGEAriadne - working together with our customers to enhance productivity and increase knowledge
© 1999 www.the-list.co.uk Ariadne
Last updated by Duncan Nottage 1st February 1999