The Consortium

INTO AFRICA WITH THE CONSORTIUM FUNDRAISERS

The Consortium, the leading national provider of schools supplies and services, has joined an international drive to help provide a better education for children in East Africa.

The Company has selected Build Africa as its chosen charity for this year and will be raising money to build a school in Uganda.

The Trowbridge-based Company, which has already given more than £50,000 to Cancer Research, is organising a series of events and sponsorships to raise funds for the African project.

The company‘s 250 employees are taking part in an all-year fundraising programme, including a Euro 2008 sweepstake, raffles, a pamper day, race night, golf day and quiz night in support of the charity, which is also active in Kenya.

Chief Executive Melanie Teal, said: “The Consortium and its employees have a rich history of charity work and as a business heavily involved in the education sector, we think this is a very worthwhile cause to support.

“These are among the poorest and most vulnerable youngsters in the world and education is a stepping stone in the fight to break the cycle of poverty.”

Build Africa works in rural areas of East Africa, focusing on providing quality education and business skills training.

It works with local communities to help children learn in a safe and clean environment and develop the skills they need to provide for themselves and their families as part of the overall objective to create an economically self-sufficient Africa.

Build Africa‘s, “ Build a School” initiative supports schools that currently teach in makeshift buildings devoid of furniture or learning materials, and more than 80 new schools have been built since its launch in 2004.

As well as classrooms, Build Africa installs water supplies and provides desks and textbooks. It also helps parents and teachers take responsibility for maintenance and development of the schools.

The Consortium was among those attending a recent reception for the charity‘s supporters at the House of Commons hosted by shadow charities minister Greg Clark, MP for Tunbridge Wells, where the Build Africa support organisation is based.

Susanne Niedrum, CEO of Build Africa, commented: “We are delighted that The Consortium has chosen to support the work of Build Africa. As a small charity we rely on the generosity of our donors in order to undertake our work. This valuable contribution from The Consortium will ensure that we are able to transform a school in Uganda, and as well as having a positive impact on the children who currently attend the school, it will continue to do so for generations of children in the future.

ENDS 3rd June 2008

For further information please contact Neil Fraser, Sturgess Van Damme on 01275 349011 or email neil@sturgessvandamme.co.uk

Notes to Editors

The Consortium is a national procurement and fulfilment business focused on meeting the needs of its many customers in the education, training and social care sectors. It also provides free tailored e-procurement solutions, which give its customers central control over non-core supplies purchasing and radically reduces the time and cost associated with paper-based purchasing.

The company has a fast-growing multi-million pound web business. Its product range of over 30,000 products covers four key areas:

janitorial products
furniture
office and business equipment
educational supplies

Our supplies business is combined with a growing services business, which focuses on fleet management and food contracting. Many organisations find they save time and money by outsourcing these arrangements to The Consortium.

Key dimensions:

annual sales turnover of over £40 million
services 25,000 customers per annum
supplies over 30,000 products per annum
250 employees
100,000 sq ft warehouse and office complex in Trowbridge, Wiltshire

The Consortium offers all its customers:

Prompt delivery – next day in UK if required
One-stop convenience
A low-price guarantee (thanks to our £100 million plus buying power)
Thousands of branded and own-brand quality-assured products
No quibble return and refund
Easy ordering by post, fax, telephone or online