Press releases

Schools, charities and families to benefit as Deloitte donates 5,000 laptops

25 January 2021

Deloitte is donating 5,000 of its laptops to UK schools, charities and families. The pledge, announced by Richard Houston, senior partner and chief executive at Deloitte North and South Europe, is in response to the growing digital skills gap and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Deloitte is committing that all of the firm’s used laptops will be reconditioned and given a second lease of life. Any devices unfit for future use, will be stripped and the parts will be recycled. Deloitte is working with IT disposal experts OCM and N2S Ltd to ensure all laptops are confidentially wiped to factory settings, rebuilt and upgraded.

Schools from Belfast to Jersey will benefit as Deloitte will distribute 2,600 laptops to its 26 partner schools across the UK. Deloitte will then distribute the remaining devices to its charity and social enterprise partners, and to other good causes nominated by Deloitte’s people.

Richard Houston, senior partner and chief executive at Deloitte North and South Europe, said: “Purpose guides our decision-making at Deloitte and during the pandemic our values have never been more important as we remain focused on helping to overcome barriers to education and employment. Our research shows that among those who have an annual household income of less than £13,500, 18% do not own or have access to a desktop or laptop computer. Lockdown has shifted the status of many devices from a nice-to-have to a must-have as education is now predominantly virtual. Digital inclusion has improved in recent years but those without access to the right technology, or skills to use the technology, are struggling.

“There is an urgent need to get computers into homes of children who are currently unable to access online lessons. While 5,000 laptops is a fraction of what’s required, that’s 5,000 additional people getting the critical digital access that they otherwise would not have had.”

Deloitte’s 5 Million Futures programme recently donated £8,000 to each of its 26 partner schools to help with their ongoing COVID-19 requirements. This included the expansion of digital learning, mental health care and food provision. This is in addition to the ongoing tutoring and mentoring the firm provides young people and to the support provided by Deloitte volunteers on governing bodies of schools.

Russell Hobby, CEO of Teach First, commented: “The digital divide remains an immediate and persistent challenge for pupils, particularly those from poorer backgrounds. All schools are doing their best in a challenging environment, yet with unequal access to the tech needed to study at home, the gap between children from wealthier homes and their poorer peers is greatly exacerbated. During this pandemic we all have a role to play to support those most in need, so it’s fantastic to see big businesses like Deloitte stepping forward to help bridge this divide. By coming together, we can help to give every child the best possible chance of a bright future beyond this pandemic.”

By ensuring all Deloitte laptops are reused or recycled, this pledge supports the firm’s global climate and sustainability strategy – to achieve net zero emissions by 2030. In addition, Deloitte is encouraging its people to take action by donating their personal defunct devices. For example, old mobile phones and tablets can be restored, six months connectivity added, and rehomed via Vodafone’s Great British Tech Appeal charity partner, Barnardo’s.

-Ends-

NOTES TO EDITORS

5 Million Futures
5 Million Futures (5MF) is the Deloitte North South Europe social impact strategy, aiming to help five million people get to where they want to be through access to education and employment. 5MF seeks to address inequality by overcoming barriers to education and employment, empowering individuals with the skills needed to succeed in today’s economy.

Deloitte schools partnerships

  • Hazelwood Integrated College, Belfast
  • Moseley School, Birmingham 
  • Saltley Academy, Birmingham 
  • George Dixon Academy, Birmingham 
  • Hannah More Primary, Bristol 
  • Merchants Academy, Bristol 
  • Fitzalan High School, Cardiff 
  • Eastern High School, Cardiff 
  • Hautlieu School, Jersey 
  • Tong Leadership Academy, Leeds 
  • Holly Lodge Girls' College, Liverpool 
  • Swanlea School, London 
  • St Mary Magdalene Academy, London 
  • Maria Fidelis School, London 
  • St Paul's Way Trust, London
  • Holy Family Catholic School, London 
  • Addey and Stanhope School, London 
  • City of London Academy, Islington, London 
  • Whalley Range 11-18 High School, Manchester 
  • St Peter's RC School, Manchester 
  • MK Academy, Milton Keynes 
  • Cardinal Hume RC School, Newcastle 
  • Limehurst Academy, Nottingham 
  • John Madejski Academy, Reading 
  • Cantell School, Southampton 
  • Samuel Ryder Academy, St Albans 

In the last six months Deloitte has partnered The Access Project and Action Tutoring to tutor pupils at risk of falling behind in their studies. In addition, Deloitte has provided services pro bono to help the roll out of the National Tutoring Programme, set up to help pupils keep up with the curriculum through the pandemic. Over 50 people at Deloitte are in the process of, or have become, a school governor through Governors for Schools. Most recently, Deloitte has launched a new partnership with TutorMate, to support primary school children with their reading, enabling the organisation to expand their programme into Doncaster.

About Teach First – a Deloitte 5 Million Futures partner
Teach First is an education charity with a mission to build a fair education for all. The charity believes that an excellent education is the best pathway to ensure that every young person can fulfil their potential and pursue their ambitions.

By recruiting, training and placing excellent teachers, as well as offering a range of school leadership programmes, the charity supports schools facing the biggest challenges to achieve that goal.

About OCM – IT disposal services acting for Deloitte
OCM, based in Pershore, asset track IT from the point of collection, using security vetted staff and tracked vehicles. Tracking of IT assets continues through the disposal process of data wiping, refurbishment, resale, WEEE recycling and in house scanned device shredding. OCM are a Gold ITAD partnering with Blancco whose data erasure software is certified by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), the UK Government’s National Technical Authority for Information Assurance.

About N2S Ltd – IT disposal services acting for Deloitte
N2S ltd (N2S), based in Bury St Edmunds, is a highly accredited and certified professional services company that enables organisations in the finance, telco, media and government sectors to acquire, use and dispose of IT Hardware & Telecommunications equipment easily, securely, sustainably and responsibly. N2S are the leaders in the pursuit of zero waste technology, delivering a disposal service that consistently returns technology waste to maximum re-use and offers services including data destruction, site clearance/de-installations, WEEE disposal, large scale installation services – all delivered using N2S’ own fleet of tracked vehicles and skilled engineers, and science based sustainability reporting that demonstrates how our customers are contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goals & Net Zero carbon targets through sustainable disposition of their IT.

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

Member of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited

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