Co-op to offer school vouchers…

The Co-op will become the next supermarket chain to venture into the educational sector when it launches a voucher scheme which will provide up to 100,000 mus ical instruments for schools around the UK.

Co-op shoppers will receive one voucher for every 10 they spend at one of the country’s 1,250 Co-operative Wholesale Society or Co-operative Retail Trading Group stores.

Customers hand the vouchers in to schools, which can then redeem them against musical instruments made by Yamaha.

Ian Macleod, head of retail marketing for the Co-operative Retail Society, says: “This is similar to schemes run at Asda and Tesco, but is more accessible to schools. We believe there is a lack of musical equipment in schools, which is a problem. We have an image as being community-oriented, and this will reinforce that.”

The scheme will run for 20 weeks from the end of September. It will be backed by a 500,000 television and press ad campaign and a mailing to 21,000 schools. Two agencies have been shortlisted to run the campaign, though a decision has yet to be made.

Other top retailers also run school voucher schemes. Tesco started the trend five years ago with its Computers for Schools programme, and has donated 22m worth of computer equipment. Sainsbury’s followed last year with its Schoolbags scheme, and this year Asda has run Best for Kids.