To support current and potential members, The Schoolwear Association (SA) is working to make membership more manageable and affordable. With this in mind, it is offering the opportunity for membership to be paid quarterly by Direct Debit. The option to pay in full will still be available.

In 2020, exclusively for SA members and courtesy of The Schoolwear Show Ltd., membership will now also include a free subscription to CWB magazine.

CWB publishes four print copies per year as well as daily news via CWB online and through its Twitter, Facebook and Instagram platforms. It also produces a weekly schoolwear newsletter, which you can sign up to receive here.

Commenting is SA chairman, David Burgess. “Being part of a strong trade association means you will be told about important issues first; plus, how these issues might affect your business and what the SA is doing about them.

“That’s why it is essential to be part of The Schoolwear Association; to benefit from all the work we are doing to help the people who have the responsibility to make the right decisions through good quality information, insightful experience and common-sense discussion.”

Plans for 2020

In preparation for the General Election result, the SA is using lobbying company WA Comms to ensure its collective voices are focused correctly. The cost of this level of expertise, however, is significant.

Subsequently, the SA has opened the Clear & Present Danger Fund in order to start a comprehensive strategy of meetings, contacts and lobbying. Its aim is to deliver an effective answer to the concerted attacks on the schoolwear industry and its businesses. “Statutory guidelines are already in place in Wales and will be coming to England,” adds Burgess. “The SA needs to be able to influence them.”

The Clear & Present Danger Fund has already had some significant donations; over £30,000. However, the SA estimates around £100,000 will be needed before next Back to School in order to make a difference. If you would like to support the fund, please contact info@schoolwearassociation.co.uk.

“By working together, we can help create a significant benefit for all the students, their parents and the schools, where a proper school uniform makes such an important difference on every level and especially for your business,” concludes Burgess.

For further information on the SA, or to become a member, please click here.