• Industry Spotlight: Argos for Business offers helping hand to schools getting prepared over the summer…

    800 450 Jack Wynn

    Convenient solution provides schools with a streamlined purchasing method and burden free administration.

    As we approach a new academic year, schools have the opportunity to take advantage of the quiet summer holiday period to ensure their facilities are ready in time for September. Assessing broken and damaged items, or even pieces of furniture that might simply have worn out, will all be important tasks to ensure classrooms are ready for the new intake of the 1,189,5781 children heading to a new school this September.

    It’s worth remembering that one in twenty children have some kind of disability2 – meaning it’s even more important for schools to ensure that their classrooms and common areas are prepared, helping new pupils make a smooth and relaxed transition into unfamiliar surroundings.

    Working alongside schools, Argos for Business (AfB), a leading provider of merchandise, has sourced a range of gadgets, devices, appliances and accessories to allow education institutions to invest in new equipment and make reasonable adjustments to their facilities under its Independent Living range. From wheelchair ramps and suction grips to wall rails and stair lifts, the Independent Living products offer stylish, temporary and permanent products that schools can install for pupils with special requirements.

    Jacqui Glenn, director at Argos for Business, says: “As the summer holidays are well underway and the new academic year is fast approaching, schools would benefit from ensuring their facilities are not only are ready for the new intake of pupils but also ensure their classrooms and common areas support the needs of young people with greater needs.

    “To this end, our Independent Living range offers head teachers along with schools’ business and finance managers solutions for good accessibility and equipment helping them meet the required standards. Some of them are essential products that can be easily incorporated into classrooms and common areas to enhance the school experience for pupils and provide peace of mind for families and teaching staff.”

    In addition, Argos for Business also offers the Argos Business Account, a service that allows head teachers and managers access to over 50,000 Argos products in-store or online at argos.co.uk. The free account can be used as and when it’s needed for everything from furniture, TVs and kitchen appliances. Argos for Business is currently offering a four per cent discount on products purchased using the account.

    The Argos Business Account offers schools an exclusive and fully secure payment method. A purchase order facility is available if required, combined with weekly electronic invoicing, with a choice of consolidated or individual invoicing to suit organisations’ payment processes. This makes for easier reconciliation of paperwork and means all orders can be fully accounted for and itemised, giving transparency to how funds are being spent.

    Revolutionising the procurement process further, Argos for Business also offers Fast Track, a same day delivery and collection service, providing increased speed and efficiency to organisations. Schools are now guaranteed same day delivery on many items straight to their premises on orders placed by 6pm, seven days a week. This is desirable should head teachers, business managers or bursars need to replace items as a matter of urgency; avoiding disruptions to students and minimising the amount of time staff have to spend off site. Alternatively, Fast Track Collection allows schools to collect their products from 800 Argos store locations nationwide at specially marked Fast Track Collection counters, where customers will find their orders ready for collection in as little as 60 seconds.

    Committed to creating products that meet customer needs, the Argos Business Account’s payment terms have been extended to allow up to 37 days for payments. This has been put in place following customer research. The extended payment terms will help education institutions to manage their finances more effectively.

    Glenn continues: “The Argos Business Account has been created with schools’ needs in mind and hundreds of education institutions are already using it to help them manage expenditure and ease purchase pressure points.

    “With the option of single or consolidated weekly invoicing, the Argos Business Account offers a seamless and painless way of reconciling purchases to suit school’s own finance processes, and reclaiming VAT is also made easier as invoices are fully itemised. In addition, the extended payment facility can be used to control finances and cash flow. Purchasing responsibilities can be delegated to other staff while control can be retained centrally under one account.

    “There is no minimum spend on the Argos Business Account, so schools can set up an account now and use it as and when needed, including over the summer months which is prime time for refurbishments.”

    Customers can have multiple account cards on a single account – perfect for consolidating spending across multi-site organisations, yet allowing numerous colleagues to have purchasing power. With a single account, schools can maintain control over spending and credit limit. Also, payments can be made via BACS, direct debit or cheques to suit all types of education establishments, whatever their funding process.

     

    To find out more or to open an account, visit: argosforbusiness.co.uk/account

     

    To find out more about Independent Living from Argos for Business, click here

     

    References

    1. DFE, Secondary and primary school applications and offers: March and April 2016
    2. Contact a Family
    AUTHOR

    Jack Wynn

    All stories by: Jack Wynn

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