Resellers can go back to school and earn big

The education sector still holds massive revenue opportunities for VARs

The education sector still holds massive revenue opportunities for VARs, especially in training and managed services, according to a report claiming that few teachers make full use of IT in the classroom.

Although the government has already pumped billions into IT for schools, a four-year study conducted at the University of Bristol found IT use in schools, both in the UK and internationally, to be “sporadic” and “disappointing”.

Professor Rosamund Sutherland, who led the research, said: “Most schools have the equipment but don’t use it productively. Teachers need training support to enable them to use IT effectively, combining self-help with internal and external training.”

Earlier this year the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency named 16 resellers, including Stone Computers and Trustmarque Solutions, that won exclusive contracts to supply IT software to UK schools (CRN, 18 April).

Nick Carr-Brown, education director at Stone Computers, said: “There are still multi-billion pound opportunities for the channel to make revenue from IT in education. Schools aren’t looking for box-shifters, they need a managed service to help with the refit of IT systems,” he said.

Ross Miller, chief executive of VAR Trustmarque Solutions, said: “Schools do use IT a fair bit. We have seen considerable sales into schools and there are still a lot more sales to be had there, such as in the classroom and in admin procedures.”