Schools benefit as nearly 7,000 Deloitte laptops get second lease of life

• Firm donates 350 laptops a month to help tackle the digital skills gap
• Over 50% given to schools across the UK*, with the remainder benefiting charities and community groups
• CEO Richard Houston pledges a further 5,000 laptops every year

Deloitte has donated a total of 6,865 laptops to schools, charities and community groups across the UK since first committing to donating the firm’s used laptops in 2021.

Over half (3,600) of the reconditioned laptops have been donated to pupils from 58 schools across the UK, including 25 of Deloitte’s 5 Million Future partner schools.*

A survey of schools* that received the laptops during the third national lockdown in 2021 found that teachers reported an improved quality of learning and attendance in online lessons, improved progress and attainment, improved mental health, and increased digital skills.

Jo Kemp, assistant headteacher at Fitzalan High School in Cardiff, said:

“Our pupils benefitted throughout the year from the laptops donated by Deloitte. During the lockdown period, we allocated all devices to those who didn’t have a computer at home. It opened access to education again and closed the gap for some students who couldn’t make progress without a device.

“We’ve had many success stories from our pupils who received a laptop, including one pupil who clearly made excellent use of her device as she secured eleven A* grades, one A and one B in her GCSE examinations. The laptops continue to be used now that we are back in school, working with pupils who need some additional support.”

The idea to recondition and gift the laptops was first suggested by one of Deloitte’s people writing to the CEO in response to the growing digital skills gap. Against the additional backdrop of a growing cost of living crisis and the continued focus on sustainability, it has since become a long-term commitment of the firm.

Deloitte has today reaffirmed its commitment by pledging a further 5,000 laptops every year.

Richard Houston, Senior Partner and Chief Executive at Deloitte UK, said:

“We live in a digitally divided world with unequal access to technology and the skills to use it. Throughout the pandemic we supported thousands of the most vulnerable children to stay connected to education.

“Today, we’ve committed to donating 5,000 of our used laptops to schools, charities and refugees every year to help bridge the digital skills gap and support people to overcome barriers to education and employment.

“The possibilities that technology brings can transform businesses and our communities, but only if we put people at the heart of technological progress and help equip them for the future of work.”

Damian Collins, Digital Minister for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said:

“We're committed to closing the digital divide so young people can take full advantage of the internet's learning opportunities. We're investing more than £400 million to boost access to remote education - including securing 1.3 million laptops and tablets for disadvantaged young people - as well as rolling out lightning-fast gigabit broadband to thousands of schools.

“It's great that Deloitte shares our goal to get more children gaining digital skills that will last them a lifetime."

-Ends-

Notes to editors

Between 1 January 2021 and 1 September 2022, Deloitte distributed 3,653 laptops to schools, 2,018 to charities, and 1,194 to refugee organisations and individual refugees.

*Deloitte donated laptops to 58 schools across the UK, including 24 5MF partner schools and 34 schools nominated by people in the firm. Schools are required to be state primary or secondary schools with an above average percentage of students eligible for free school meals.

**The small-scale research study explored schools’ usage of laptops donated by Deloitte during 2021. Deloitte donated these laptops as part of schools’ involvement in the 5 Million Futures (5MF) UK Education Programme. Each partner school was provided with up to 100 laptops (including the Windows 10 operating system and power cables) to use as was most beneficial to the school and its pupils. The research was undertaken by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) between June and August 2022. It included virtual/telephone interviews with ten of the 27 partner schools which had been donated laptops.

Deloitte supports the professional development of teachers, school leaders, and governors by providing skill-building programmes, resources, and funding for leadership qualifications.

Deloitte’s 5 Million Futures programme offers further support to headteachers and school boards. The Governors for Schools programme has matched a total of 100 skilled volunteers from across the firm to take on school governor roles across the country, making a positive impact where it really matters.

Deloitte is also supporting strong and sustainable leadership in schools by partnering with Teach First to provide funding for their National Professional Qualifications, which support teachers into leadership roles, and running ‘Impact Labs’ for early career head teachers, based on Deloitte’s Transition Labs leadership programme, through which Deloitte clients have made confident moves into senior leadership roles.

About Deloitte

In this press release references to “Deloitte” are references to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (“DTTL”) a UK private company limited by guarantee, and its network of member firms, each of which is a legally separate and independent entity. Please see deloitte.com/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of DTTL and its member firms.

Deloitte LLP is a subsidiary of Deloitte NSE LLP, which is a member firm of DTTL, and is among the UK's leading professional services firms.

The information contained in this press release is correct at the time of going to press.

For more information, please visit www.deloitte.co.uk.