At TTS, we’re proud to be part of the Backed by BESA campaign – but what does that actually mean for schools, trusts, and the wider education sector? To understand its importance, it helps to start with the organisation behind it.
Who is BESA?
The British Educational Suppliers Association (BESA) is a not-for-profit trade body founded in 1933. It represents more than 400 UK-based companies that provide equipment, digital technology and services to education. Its purpose is to support educators by setting clear expectations for how suppliers operate.
Being a member of BESA isn’t just about joining a network. It requires a formal commitment to its Code of Practice – a framework that defines professional standards across the education supply sector.
In a busy marketplace, the BESA logo shows that a supplier understands the responsibilities that come with working in education and has committed to meeting agreed standards. That’s why the Backed by BESA campaign message is clear: If it’s built for schools, it should be Backed by BESA.
What does the BESA Code of Practice cover?
As a BESA member, TTS has committed to upholding standards across five key areas:
- Quality and Standards: ensuring that products and services are safe, fit for purpose and delivered professionally
- Integrity: acting ethically in all interactions with educators and stakeholders
- Transparency and Openness: providing clear communication, honest representation and transparent pricing
- Safeguarding and Data Security: respecting safeguarding responsibilities and complying with UK data protection legislation, including GDPR
- Fair and Respectful Conduct: working in a way that reflects the values of the UK education sector
These aren’t optional principles – they are expectations that all BESA members formally agree to uphold.
Julia Garvey, Deputy Director General of BESA, explains:
“BESA membership is grounded in a formal Code of Practice that sets out clear expectations for how suppliers operate. That includes transparency in communication, safeguarding, responsible marketing and fair conduct. When a supplier is Backed by BESA they have made a formal commitment to those standards.”
Why does ‘Backed by BESA’ matter?
For schools and trusts, choosing suppliers is an important decision. It requires confidence, not just in the products themselves, but in the way a company operates.
Being Backed by BESA signals that a supplier has committed to:
- Clear professional standards
- Responsible engagement with the education sector
- Accountability through a recognised industry body
It also means there is a formal complaints process in place through BESA, offering an additional layer of reassurance for educators.
It’s important to be clear about what this is and what it isn’t. Being Backed by BESA does not mean that products are individually certified or guaranteed by BESA. Instead, it reflects a company’s commitment to operating responsibly, ethically and transparently within the sector.
What Backed by BESA means for TTS
Being Backed by BESA reinforces our commitments that always been central to how we work.
This strong signal of trust shows:
- We are committed to delivering high-quality, fit-for-purpose resources
- We operate with integrity and transparency in everything we do
- We take safeguarding and data protection seriously
- We align our conduct with the values and expectations of the education sector
- We are committed to evolving in line with the needs of the education sector, to give every child, everyday a reason to love learning
Tanya Wilson, Marketing Director at TTS, commented:
“Being a BESA member reflects our commitment to building long-term, trusted partnerships with the schools and educators we serve.
“We believe that trust isn’t built overnight – it is earned through consistent, responsible action. Being Backed by BESA is one way we demonstrate that commitment, every day.”
