For all local authorities grappling with the problem of digital exclusion, North Yorkshire may be on the cusp of drawing up the blueprint to solving it.
“We could do something really groundbreaking here that could be a showcase for the rest of the UK,” says Kevin Towers, Chairman of Harrogate-based global business Techbuyer
Kevin is speaking about a recent meeting with Mayor David Skaith, to discuss an initiative that would see end-of-life tech from the combined local authority and other local businesses being refurbished and made available back to the authority, or to charities locally, at very low cost in order to combat digital exclusion in their community.
Kevin reached out to the Mayor having noticed that digital exclusion was something on the Mayor’s agenda, and something Techbuyer and their charity partner Reusing IT can help with.
Operating in over 100 countries, Techbuyer specialises in sustainable IT solutions, including used device trade-in, sales of refurbishing equipment, ITAD and resource recovery. With 20 years of experience to draw on, they also play an advisory role to governments in the field of e-waste, and lead the way in industry best practice.
A partnership with Reusing IT, a digital exclusion charity, has created an incredible synergy that the two organisations are already harnessing to turn over thousands of used devices per year, which are donated to charities working on combatting digital exclusion.
Founder and Trustee of Reusing IT, Ross Cockburn, said, “A formal arrangement with the combined authority has the potential to make serious inroads into solving digital exclusion locally and, crucially, in a way that is sustainable long term. It’s already a proven process. Reusing IT sources end of life tech from large organisations and local authorities, we refurbish it, and Techbuyer provides data wiping security certification to the highest standards that they use in their own business.”
Kevin and Ross were delighted with the Mayor’s initial response to their proposal. “I described what we do and highlighted the partnership we have with Reusing IT,” says Kevin, “and David was immediately very interested and came to see us to see how he could help. It’s not often you reach out to a Mayor and get that kind of response. He came to visit us along with a number of staff members.”
During the tour of the Techbuyer facility in Harrogate, Kevin and Ross were able to demonstrate the credentials, experience and strength of the relationship between their two organisations, and showcase the depth of what is involved in providing a high quality solution.
“The Mayor’s visit gave us the opportunity to demonstrate that this is the bedrock from which we would be running the initiative. David was very interested in all the aspects of what we were doing with refurbishing devices, and he is very conscious of the problem of digital exclusion and committed to finding a solution,” says Kevin. “At no point did we feel that we were having to sell something in terms of the need for this.”
“Our message essentially is that we can process end of life laptops that they are given to us and make them available at very lost cost back to the local authority for distribution to people in need within the community,” says Ross. “To really make it fly, we need formal buy-in from the local authority. We need them to supply us with their end of life devices, and for them to lead the way by showing businesses and other organisations within the region that we are a trusted IT disposal partner. Wouldn’t it be great that most of the devices to solve your own digital inclusion problems come from within your own local authority area?”
It’s hard to judge what the volume of devices would be, but there are some very large businesses in the York and North Yorkshire area who, if they were on board with the initiative as donors, could potentially supply a significant number of devices each year.
Ross adds, “The meeting with Mayor David Skaith and his team was unique in that not often do you get all the pieces of the puzzle in the same room at the same time. We felt that the key is in the door, and the Mayor and his team just need to turn the key to open the door and we can solve this.”
“This is an opportunity for York and North Yorkshire to really lead the way in the UK. We could create a world-class best practice system for solving both end of life tech disposal and digital exclusion within the local community – a problem that no local authority is immune from. The feedback from the Mayor and his team was very positive. We’re on the cusp of a major breakthrough if we have the chance to show that this is viable.”