42 jobs to go at long-running Newcastle business

More than 40 jobs will be lost from Newcastle CBD when a longstanding educational resources company ceases operation in May.

Educational Experience, a business launched in Newcastle in the late 1970s, is being dissolved by its parent company Winc.

Winc, a workplace resources business formerly known as Staples, is consolidating its offerings in education under its own brand.

Educational Experience has been one of Australia and New Zealand's leading suppliers of learning resources, toys and gifts for decades.

The Newcastle Herald's archives show the business was started by three Novocastrians - Stephen Thomas, Tony Sedgwick and Murray Jackson - in 1977.

The company, which is based out of offices on the corner of Newcomen and Hunter streets, is understood to have been headed by general manager Angela Gibson for more than a decade.

Educational Experience management did not return calls on Friday, but a Winc spokesperson said the Newcastle offices would close by the end of May.

The spokesperson said Educational Experience staff were "being made aware of current opportunities available within Winc" and the parent company was "in discussions with a number of people about these".

About 42 staff are expected to be out of a job.

"As part of the ongoing transformation of Winc, Winc will no longer operate a stand-alone business dedicated to early learning," a company spokesperson said.

"The Educational Experience business will be exited as Winc streamlines and consolidates its offer in education under one brand - Winc.

"We would like to take this opportunity to thank our valued Educational Experience team members who have worked so hard for their customers and for the business.

"To our valued Educational Experience customers, many of whom are also Winc customers, thank you for your support. We look forward to continuing to assist you with your early learning needs through Winc."

We would like to take this opportunity to thank our valued Educational Experience team members who have worked so hard for their customers and for the business.

Winc spokesperson