08 January 2010 - Education sector specialist, BLi Education, has been selected by Becta as one of only six companies currently approved to sell computer and internet packages to recipients of the Home Access Grant.
Home Access is a new government-backed programme targeting low income families that do not have access to a computer or the internet at home.
The owner of brands including Sherston publishing, TAG Learning and SEMERC, BLi Education will be the only company supplying equipment which will include an additional FREE pack worth over £570 of tried and tested educational software and resources, as used in schools today, enabling students to continue using familiar tools and applications as they use their computers at home and elsewhere.
BLi will be selling equipment through mail order and online, offering benefits for those families without access to transport to collect equipment from a high street store.
Following a rigorous Becta tender process, BLi Education was selected alongside Comet, Centerprise, Misco, Positive IT and XMA, and was the only supplier chosen that didn’t take part in the original pilot of the scheme, in Oldham and Suffolk.
Stephen Copeland, Chief Operating Officer at BLi Education comments, “The senior management team at BLi Education has extensive experience supplying computers to homes, having previously operated a company which managed some of the largest roll-outs of the Home Computing Initiative (HCI). With the experience of building an infrastructure to deliver and support 44,000 computers, we are well placed to support the requirements of this programme.”
He continues, “We have excellent ongoing relationships with schools and local authorities across the country which means we appreciate their challenges and needs. We’re proud to be able to support schools in engaging parents, extending learning opportunities and enriching the curriculum.”
For more information on BLi Education’s Home Access offering, please visit www.homeaccesscomputers.com.
Becta is the government agency leading the national drive to ensure the effective and innovative use of technology throughout learning. For more information visit http://www.becta.org.uk/homeaccess
ENDS
About Home Access
Home Access is a new government programme targeting families that do not have access to a computer or the internet at home.
If you are a low income family, you could qualify for a grant to buy a computer and/or at least one years’ internet access to help your child learn at home.
Depending on what you need, the grant allows eligible applicants to buy one of the following packages:
1. Full package (a computer, one year's internet access, service and support).
2. A computer, service and support only.
3. One year's internet access only.
Source www.homeaccess.org.uk
About BLi Education
BLi Education is a leading supplier of educational software, peripherals and hardware into schools in the UK and internationally, with an annual turnover of £7 million and over 100 staff members.
BLi Education's vision is to develop and provide the most appropriate solutions for children and teachers to empower teaching and learning, stimulate creativity and equip them with 21st century technology skills. www.blieducation.com
For further information contact:
Helen Stevens/Beth Wadeson
www.ascentpr.co.uk
bli@ascentpr.co.uk
T. 01454 629741