Leading retailer John Packer Ltd has been nominated as a ‘Most Innovative Retailer’ in the 2014 Music Teacher magazine 'Awards For Excellence’.

Widely respected

Hosted by the widely respected publication, the awards recognise musical businesses, institutions and groups who excel in a variety of given categories.

The ‘Most Innovative Retailer’ category looks to highlight the retailer that has in their words, ‘proactively met and developed the needs of the music education sector’.

Hosted by Classic FM’s Margherita Taylor, the awards evening will be held on Thursday 20th March, at the Barbican Centre in London.

Close association

John Packer Ltd has worked closely with the education sector for over 40 years and has contributed greatly to enabling an innovative shift in the business relationship between music retailers, schools and colleges.

Their involvement in the creation of the Assisted Instrument Purchase Scheme (AIPS), which quickly became a nationwide provision, supported the growth of music in schools by making high quality instruments more accessible.

Fighting

And despite music provision losing significance in some areas of the country, John Packer Ltd is fighting not only to restore its rightful position, but also to change the way in which is it perceived.

A John Packer spokesperson told 4BR: "The wide variety of benefits that music offers is already well documented — positive impacts on mind, health, socialisation, self-esteem and academic prowess — all of which generate positive outcomes in the education system and also far beyond in the wider community.

Through the creation and promotion of the AIPS, and integration with a wider educational policy, we hope to be able to contribute to the fight against what’s been described in The Times newspaper as a ‘national tragedy’."

Integral commitment

More recently, their integral commitment to supporting the needs of the educational sector has seen the company produce their own critically acclaimed instrument line, JP Musical Instruments.

The range has been developed in collaboration with world class woodwind and brass designers including Smith-Watkins, Sterling and Rath (above — with Michael Rath and John Packer), and has seen the production of high quality instruments at an accessible price, allowing parents to gain better value and schools and LEA’s to get more from their budgets.

The John Packer range has helped schools and colleges to recapture some of the magic that great music provision provides — enabling more students to play better instrumentsJohn Packer Ltd

Recapture the magic

The spokesperson added: "The John Packer range has helped schools and colleges to recapture some of the magic that great music provision provides — enabling more students to play better instruments."

They added: "John Packer Ltd is committed to continue working with the education sector both locally and nationally to inspire musicians and support the resurrection of practical music making in schools across the UK."

Proud

Jon Parkinson, John Packer's Retail Director added: "I’m proud to be part of a business whose interests are not purely commercial as is so often the case.

Music in all its forms has been part of the fabric of education and society and we are determined to support all interested parties in ensuring that music has a sustainable future."