Government disability regulations due to come into force this autumn are already creating increased business between panel products distributor James Latham plc and a special needs furniture manufacturer.

About £70m will be injected into improving facilities and access in mainstream schools as a result of the Disability Discrimination Act which says schools and local education authorities need to make reasonable adjustments to ensure disabled pupils are not disadvantaged.

Thorpe Kilworth, a major customer of James Latham, has landed several significant contracts to provide flexible environment, ergonomic and special needs furniture to schools throughout the country.

Chris Sutton, panel products director at James Latham, said: ‘As Thorpe’s exclusive supplier of all panel products and solid iroko wood, we have seen a significant increase in volumes over the last few years and particularly over the past few months and are obviously delighted. It is a real win-win situation’.