British Educational Leadership, Management and Administration Society

What British Educational Leadership, Management and Administration Society does

The British Educational Leadership, Management and Administration Society (BELMAS) is a UK-registered Learned Society and Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Charity No. 268989) founded in 1971 and headquartered in Sheffield, England. It operates as a membership-based scholarly community for the field of educational leadership, management, and administration, serving academic researchers, school and system leaders, doctoral students, and retired professionals across all education sectors from Early Years through Higher Education. Its name evolved through additions of "Management" in 1980 and "Leadership" in 2000, and in January 2024 it converted to a CIO structure to streamline governance.

BELMAS delivers its mission through a portfolio of member products: two SAGE-published peer-reviewed journals (Educational Management Administration & Leadership, six issues per year; and Management in Education, four issues per year), with optional printed subscriptions at cost; 13 Research Interest Groups spanning topics from AI & Educational Leadership to Gender & Educational Leadership and Leadership for Sustainability; an annual international conference held each July in the UK drawing participants from over 75 countries; and a grants and bursaries programme including doctoral bursaries (£2,000), Research and Development Grants (up to £3,000), a Leadership and Practitioner Bursary (£1,000), Global South Grants (£3,000), and the flagship DSA Research Project Grant (up to £20,000).

Revenue is generated primarily through individual membership subscriptions priced at £25 (students, retired, developing country members) or £60 (standard) annually, with tiered group membership discounts for institutions of 5+ members, alongside conference ticket sales, sponsorship packages (£150-£700+), gala dinners, and hard-copy journal fees. Distribution runs through the BELMAS website (belmas.org.uk), the SAGE journals platform, and the annual conference, with marketing conducted via email newsletters, podcasts, social media, and partner organisations including SAGE, CCEAM, EERA, AERA, UCEA, JASEA, and the Academy of Social Sciences. The employed staff team comprises 3-4 people, with operational leadership delivered through a small Executive Officer-led office supported by elected Trustees and a Distinguished Fellows Advisory Board.

Name

British Educational Leadership, Management and Administration Society

Legal name

British Educational Leadership Management and Administration Society

Website

https://www.belmas.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BELMAS is a UK registered Learned Society and charity (founded 1971) that serves educational leadership researchers and practitioners through membership subscriptions, two SAGE-published journals, an annual international conference, 13 research interest groups, and a portfolio of grants and bursaries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Sheffield

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: BELMAS generates revenue primarily through annual membership subscriptions. Members pay fees ranging from £25 to £60 per year depending on category (student, retired, individual, developing country). Membership includes access to journals, events, research interest groups, and eligibility for awards, bursaries and grants. The society also offers group membership discounts for institutions.
2. Conference and Event Revenue: The annual conference generates revenue through ticket sales. Non-member conference tickets are priced higher but include a free one-year BELMAS membership. Additional conference revenue comes from gala dinners (£60), book of abstracts purchases (£12), exhibitor and sponsorship packages (from £150 to £700+), and premium sponsorship packages (Gold, Silver, Bronze tiers).
3. Journal Hard Copy Subscriptions: Members can purchase hard-copy printed journals for an additional fee: £70 for six editions of EMAL and £30 for four editions of MiE. These are sold at cost price for members. Hard copies are only available to current BELMAS members as a member benefit.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

BELMAS is a Learned Society and registered charity that provides annual membership subscriptions to individuals and institutions working in educational leadership, management and administration. Its core offering combines access to two peer-reviewed academic journals (EMAL and MiE) hosted on SAGE, an annual international conference, 13 Research Interest Groups, and a portfolio of bursaries, grants and awards that support research and professional development. Membership is structured by tier (individual £60, student/retired/developing country £25) with group discounts for institutions, and is delivered primarily through the belmas.org.uk website, the annual conference, and partner channels.

Product overview

BELMAS is a membership-based Learned Society offering a comprehensive portfolio of products and services centered on educational leadership, management, and administration. The core offering consists of annual membership providing access to two peer-reviewed journals (EMAL published six times yearly and MiE published four times yearly), with optional hard copy subscriptions. Members also access 15 Research Interest Groups (RIGs) spanning topics from AI in education to gender leadership, enabling networking and knowledge exchange. The flagship annual international conference brings together over 75 countries each July. Financial support products include Research and Development Grants (up to £3,000), Doctoral Bursaries (totaling £8,000 across four recipients), a Leadership and Practitioner Bursary (£1,000), a DSA Research Project Grant (up to £20,000), and a Global South Grant (£3,000). Recognition products include the Distinguished Service Award (highest accolade), Doctoral Thesis Award, and conference awards for best papers, posters, and blog posts. Additional member benefits include blog and podcast access, Member Hardship Fund, and Membership Support Fund for conference attendance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BELMAS Membership Annual individual or group membership subscription providing access to two peer-reviewed journals, free/discounted event attendance, Research Interest Group participation, eligibility for bursaries, grants and awards, and 30% discount on SAGE books. Priced at £60/year for individuals and £25/year for students, retired members and developing country members.
• Educational Management Administration & Leadership (EMAL) Peer-reviewed academic journal published six times per year covering educational management, administration and leadership, edited by Tony Bush at the University of Nottingham. Available online to BELMAS members via the SAGE platform.
• Management in Education (MiE) Peer-reviewed magazine-style journal published four times per year, aimed particularly at practitioners, covering all aspects of educational management. Available online to BELMAS members via the SAGE platform.
• Hard Copy Journals Optional printed subscriptions to the EMAL and MiE journals available to current BELMAS members at additional cost: £70 for six editions of EMAL and £30 for four editions of MiE.
• Annual International Conference Flagship three-day international conference held annually in the UK each July, welcoming participants from over 75 countries. Features keynotes, paper presentations, awards ceremonies and networking. Non-member tickets include a free one-year BELMAS membership.
• Research Interest Groups (RIGs) Member networking and research groups focused on specific areas of educational leadership — 13 RIGs including AI & Educational Leadership, Gender & Educational Leadership, Emergent Researcher, Leadership for Sustainability, Race & Leadership and others. Non-members can attend RIG events for a small fee (minimum £5).
• Research and Development Grant Grant of up to £3,000 supporting projects that research and develop educational leadership and management, open to all BELMAS members.
• DSA Research Project Grant Research project grant awarded by the Distinguished Service Award Advisory Board providing up to £20,000 to advance state-of-the-art knowledge in educational leadership, management and administration.
• Global South Grant £3,000 grant specifically for colleagues from the Global South to support new research initiatives in educational leadership and management.

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Academy of Social Sciences (AcSS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBELMAS works in partnership with the Academy of Social Sciences. The society recommends members for fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences through its Distinguished Fellows Advisory Board (DFAB).
• Commonwealth Council for Educational Administration and Management (CCEAM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partnership with CCEAM, which holds its own membership program. BELMAS members can access CCEAM events and networks as part of international collaboration in educational leadership.
• International School Leadership Development Network (ISLDN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational network partnership for school leadership development, connecting BELMAS with global colleagues in the field.
• SAGE PublicationscoreTechnology or IntegrationBELMAS partners with SAGE for publishing its two journals (EMAL and MiE) and providing members with access to four additional SAGE journals. SAGE also handles journal submission through ScholarOne platforms and offers members 30% discount on SAGE books.
• JASEA (Japan Association for School Education Administration)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal strategic partnership celebrated at the 2025 BELMAS Conference. JASEA President Masahiro Mokotane delivered a speech highlighting shared commitment to advancing educational leadership through global collaboration.
• NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBELMAS holds AGM and other events at NCVO venues. Partnership provides access to NCVO's infrastructure and resources for the voluntary sector organization.
• EYUDER (Early Years Universal Development Education Resources)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerEYUDER offers free membership exclusively to all BELMAS members. BELMAS members can register through a dedicated link to access EYUDER's early years education resources.
• Chartered College of TeachingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership allowing BELMAS members to apply for Chartered College of Teaching membership through BELMAS channels.
• IPDA (International Peace and Development Architecture)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBELMAS members can purchase IPDA membership online through the BELMAS partnerships page at discounted rates.
• Visit Belfast / Belfast City Council / Tourism Northern IrelandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBELMAS received conference support from Visit Belfast Conference Support Scheme for the 2023 Belfast conference. Partnership with local tourism bodies to support international conference hosting.
• EERA (European Educational Research Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean partnership connecting BELMAS with the broader European educational research community through ECER conferences.
• AERA (American Educational Research Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmerican partnership connecting BELMAS with the US educational research community. AERA holds international sessions relevant to BELMAS members.
• UCEA (University Council for Educational Administration)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistorical partnership dating to BELMAS's origins through the International Intervisitation Programme. Connects UK educational leadership scholarship with US academic networks.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• British Educational Research Association (BERA): The UK counterpart learned society for educational researchers, providing membership, an annual conference, special interest groups, and journals. BERA is the closest direct peer to BELMAS in mission, governance model, and member base, differing mainly in its broader educational research remit versus BELMAS's leadership-and-management focus.
• University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA): A US-based consortium of higher-education programs preparing educational leaders, with a mission, journal readership, and practitioner-academic community closely aligned with BELMAS. UCEA is a longstanding formal partner of BELMAS tracing back to the International Intervisitation Programme.
• Commonwealth Council for Educational Administration and Management (CCEAM): A Commonwealth-wide membership body for educational administration and management, with parallel regional networks and a closely aligned scholarly remit. CCEAM is a formal BELMAS partner and the most direct international peer in ELMA.
• Society for Educational Studies (SES): UK-based learned society publishing the British Journal of Educational Studies and the British Educational Research Journal (with BERA). SES is a comparable UK academic society in educational research with a similar membership-publisher model.

Broad incumbents

• American Educational Research Association (AERA): The dominant US educational research association, with multiple journals, divisions, and an annual meeting. AERA is a larger, broader organisation but overlaps with BELMAS on educational leadership research and is already a formal BELMAS partner.
• European Educational Research Association (EERA): The European umbrella for national educational research associations, hosting the ECER conference and multiple networks. EERA is a regional incumbent partner of BELMAS with broader scope but overlapping educational leadership scholarship.
• National Education Association (NEA): The largest US professional employee organisation representing public-school educators, with broad policy and professional-development activities. NEA is a broad incumbent with leadership-development functions that intersect BELMAS's mission at practitioner level.

Regional players

• Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL): Australia's leading professional association for educational leaders, with membership, conferences, and leadership development programmes. ACEL is a regional peer with comparable practitioner-scholar crossover but focused on Australia and Asia-Pacific.

Emerging players

• Chartered College of Teaching: A newer UK chartered body for the teaching profession with growing membership, resources, and research dissemination. The Chartered College is a partial peer with overlapping practitioner audience and is already a complementary BELMAS partner.
• International School Leadership Development Network (ISLDN): An international network for school leadership development connecting BELMAS to global colleagues. ISLDN is a niche, emerging partner with comparable thematic focus but smaller footprint and lighter resource base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BelmasLPDRIG
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/belmas

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about British Educational Leadership, Management and Administration Society