Edinburgh audiobook business announces distribution partnership and continued expansion into education sector – Scottish Business News

VOXBLOCK, the screen and wifi free children’s audiobook player business, has today consolidated its move into the education sector by announcing a new distribution partnership with fellow Scottish business, Scotia and Chameleon, one of the largest distributors of school and educational products in the UK. This partnership augments the Edinburgh based audiobook business’s presence by delivering an approved public sector procurement option for schools and educational establishments prohibited from purchasing direct from independent businesses. 

Since launching 18 months ago, the Edinburgh based audiobook business has sold thousands of players and over 14,000 audiobooks. The business has experienced strong demand over the last year and recently added Amazon and Debenhams marketplaces to its distribution channels alongside its own online shop. While the consumer sector continues to be the core market, the business recently expanded into the educational sector in response to requests for a multi-user classroom option for use as an additional reading aid.

Voxblock Schools launched in 2023 as the first dedicated schools and educational settings multi-user audiobook product on the market. Already being used in over 50 schools around the country, the educational Voxblock Schools offering, supplements existing literacy education resources, helping to engage even the most reluctant readers. 

Recent research from The Literacy Trust shows that audiobooks help improve literacy skills, engage reluctant readers and support wellbeing (National Literacy Trust, 2022).

Voxblock Schools offers a wide range of different school packages; including players, hundreds of age appropriate audiobooks, supporting  resources, headphones for individual listening and aux cables for group use. Schools have the flexibility to integrate Voxblock into their classrooms or libraries; as well as incorporating it into special education (SEN) or learning enhancement programs. 

Scotia and Chameleon, based in North Lanarkshire, are an approved supplier for the Scotland Excel Framework Agreement – Supply and Delivery of Library Books, Educational Textbooks & Multimedia Supplies.  This framework provides UK councils with a mechanism to procure a range of library and classroom literacy resources. Councils will now be able to procure Voxblock audiobook players and audiobooks through Scotia and Chameleon. Users of the framework are likely to include schools, nurseries and community centres. 

Rebecca Lundgren, co-founder of Voxblock, commented: “Building on our work with schools over the past 6 months, we are very excited to be partnering with Scotia and Chameleon, whose experience and distribution network throughout the UK allows more schools to use Voxblock and therefore their pupils to ultimately benefit from the power of audiobooks.”

To learn more about Voxblock visit https://voxblock.co.uk/