Herefordshire Council has negotiated a deal which will save the council and local authority schools thousands of pounds and help schools purchase computers and laptops for their pupils.

During the last year, the council has undertaken a review of how it purchases ICT equipment as a four year replacement programme is required to get the council’s technology up to speed.  After a process of competitive tendering from various suppliers, Dell has been selected as the preferred provider for this project.  

As part of the negotiations, local authority schools in Herefordshire will receive an improved level of discount on desktop equipment purchased by the Council on their behalf.  For example, the cost of a single PC will be reduced by 43% and the cost of a single laptop by 33%, without any compromise being made to the standard of the equipment.

Councillor Phillip Price, cabinet member for ICT, education and achievement, said: “We know how much pressure our schools are under at the moment financially, and yet we need to make sure our children and young people have access to good quality technology.   So we are delighted to be able to offer them such large reductions in costs.  

“We are working hard to improve the services we offer to schools and by the start of the new year, will have provided local authority schools with access to the UK’s education and research network, JA.Net*, free of charge.”