|
 The
market for educational furniture and furnishings was estimated to be
worth £393 million in 2006 with annual growth forecast to
exceed 6%
over the 2007-2010 period
according to the fourth edition of the “Educational Furniture and
Furnishings” recently published by AMA Research.
The report, which is available for purchase at
£625, provides an overview of the education sector and reviews the
performance of furniture and furnishings in educational establishments.
The report
encompasses overall market sizes and estimates by product sector, a
clear analysis of major market and product trends, profiles of the main
manufacturers and distribution channels and forecasts of future
prospects up to 2010.
The report states
that the Government’s
commitment to
create a suitable learning environment for the 21st
century
has driven substantial increases in new work and RMI output. The
Building Schools for the Future (BSF) program in particular, which aims
to rebuild or renew most secondary schools in the UK and a large number
of primary schools, has
positively impacted on the market for educational furniture and
furnishings.
The market has also benefited from the trading up to
higher quality/specification products influenced by a number of factors.
Greater responsibility given to schools in managing their own budgets,
the deployment of PFI to
fund the costliest projects and the increased pressure on educational
establishments to make
greater use of private funding has influenced the specification of value
for money products rather than low-priced products and driven product
improvements.
In the educational furniture market, all sectors have
experienced healthy growth. As schools and universities seek to develop
in conference business, the upholstered chair sector has been
particularly buoyant. The continued development of specialist schools
has also boosted the demand for science, technology, art & craft and
specialist language furniture.
The furnishings market has benefited from significant
product developments and the increased focus on
lifecycle costing and ease of installation and
maintenance rather than initial cost. However some product
sectors have performed better than others. In the window covering
sector, the supremacy of blinds have remained unchallenged, whilst in
the floor covering sector vinyl still presents the best growth
potential.
AMA’s report also
provides an insight into the future prospects for the educational
furniture and furnishings market. Although
the BSF and other long- running capital programmes
should continue to support good
levels of growth, there are concerns about the deliverability of the
various projects on time and on budget. The sustainability of the
current level of investment in the education sector is likely to be
questioned as the
next general election
approaches.
The “Educational Furniture and
Furnishings Market” published by AMA Research is available in electronic
or hard copy format and can be ordered online at
www.amaresearch.co.uk
or by calling 0871 3103450. | 
