If you’re heading to the Bett show in London, it’s easy to assume the event is all about hardware, software, and classroom tools.

But BETT is also one of the best places in the UK for teachers to quietly (or confidently) explore new career directions.

Behind every stand is a team of people working in roles that many teachers transition into successfully, including curriculum design, training, learning and development, customer success, product design, consultancy, project management, sales, marketing, and leadership.

This guide is written for teachers who want to attend BETT with a career lens, whether you’re actively planning a move or simply curious about what else is out there.

*We have to acknowledge that for many teachers it is impossible to get to BETT as it runs only during the school day, but if you are part-time, supply, or in between teaching roles, BETT is accessible.

BETT Is More Than An EdTech Show

BETT brings together:

• Education technology companies
• Training providers and consultancies
• Recruiters and workforce specialists
• School groups, trusts, and system leaders
• Former teachers now working beyond the classroom

For teachers, this creates a rare environment where:

• Your professional background is valued
• You don’t need to “explain” education
• Conversations about skills feel natural, not awkward

Think of BETT as a low-pressure career research lab.

Before You Go: Prepare For Career Conversations

You do not need a new CV or a formal plan, but preparation makes a huge difference.

1. Decide Your Career Curiosity

Choose one or two areas to focus on:

• EdTech roles
• Training and professional development
• Curriculum or content design
• Education consultancy
• Leadership and system roles
• Corporate learning and development

You’re not committing, you’re narrowing your questions.

2. Create a Simple Introduction

Have a short, natural explanation ready:

• Your teaching background
• What you enjoy most
• What you’re curious about next

For example:
“I’m a secondary teacher with a strong interest in curriculum design and assessment, and I’m exploring how that translates into roles outside the classroom.”

This helps people help you.

3. Set a Personal Goal

For example:

• Speak meaningfully to 5 people
• Learn about 3 non-teaching roles
• Leave with at least 2 follow-up conversations

Where To Spend Your Time At BETT (Career-Focused)

EdTech Company Stands

Many companies at BETT employ large numbers of former teachers.

Roles often include:

• Content and curriculum development
• Teacher training and onboarding
• Customer success and school partnerships
• Product and assessment design

What to ask:

• “What roles do former teachers tend to move into here?”
• “What skills matter most when making the transition?”

Recruitment, Consultancy and Advisory Organisations

Some stands represent:

• Education consultancies
• Workforce and recruitment specialists
• Leadership and improvement services

These organisations often place teachers into:

• Training roles
• Advisory work
• Project-based education roles

What to ask:

• “What backgrounds do you see transitioning well?”
• “What experience would strengthen an application?”

CPD, Leadership and Skills Sessions

Look beyond classroom application.

Prioritise sessions on:

• Leadership and systems
• Data, assessment, and impact
• Digital strategy
• Wellbeing and organisational culture
• The future of education and work

Ask yourself: Could this skill transfer beyond schools?

Networking Without The Awkwardness

You do not need to “sell yourself”.

How to Start Conversations

Use curiosity-based questions:

• “What’s your background?”
• “How did you end up in this role?”
• “What kind of people thrive in your organisation?”

People love telling their story, and many people on the stands used to be teachers themselves.

Capture Details While It’s Fresh

BETT days blur together quickly. Writing things down matters.

To help with this, I’ve created a simple, teacher-friendly spreadsheet you can use during and after the show.

Download here:
Download the BETT – Teacher Networking Tracker

How To Use The Teacher Networking Tracker

The spreadsheet includes columns for:

• Who you met
• Their role and organisation
• Contact details (email, LinkedIn, website)
• What they do
• Why the conversation mattered
• Questions you asked
• What you learned
• Agreed next steps
• Follow-up deadlines

You can:

• Fill it in on your phone or laptop during breaks
• Complete it at the end of each day
• Use it later to plan applications or conversations

Keep it practical, not perfect.

After BETT: The Step Most Teachers Miss

BETT’s value compounds after the event.

Within 72 Hours

• Send short LinkedIn connection requests
• Reference where you met
• Keep it human and brief

Example:
“Great to meet you at BETT, I really enjoyed learning about your work in [area]. I’d love to stay connected.”

One Week Later

• Follow up with anyone who offered advice, resources, or opportunities
• Reflect on patterns: what roles excited you most?

BETT should leave you clearer, not overwhelmed.

A Final Reframe For Teachers

You are not “leaving education” by exploring BETT with a career lens.

You are:

• Expanding how your skills can be used
• Learning how the system around schools works
• Gaining language and confidence for future options

Whether you make a move this year, next year, or never, BETT can be a powerful step in understanding what’s possible.

If you attend with intention, curiosity, and a notebook (or spreadsheet), it can be far more than a day out of school.