European Electronique high-fives

VAR to supply ICT to five new academies in deal worth an estimated £9m

VAR European Electronique has bagged a multimillion-pound deal to supply ICT to five new UK academies.

The education specialist beat competition under the Becta framework to secure the five-year deal, which starts with the Sir Robert Woodard Academy in West Sussex. The school is due to open its new building in September 2011 and will be the first to launch under the Woodard Academies Trust.

A further four academies will open under the Wood­ard Academies Trust, and European Electronique is now the ICT partner of choice for all five in a deal worth an estimated £9m.

Tim Killick, head of strategic bids at European Elec­tronique, said the contract was now moving into the implementation phase.

"We will supply everything to do with ICT for the aca­demies - this is not just computers, but also servers, networks, door access control and more," he said.

In a statement, the Sir Rob­ert Woodard Academy said: "Technology in the new build is one of the key drivers for ensuring that the lear­ning is engaging and rewarding for our students. We have been happy with how European Electro­nique approaches all aspects of the project."

Killick added that Euro­pean Electronique has the potential to more than double the bid over the next five years as more Woodard Aca­demies are launched across the UK.

But Yolanta Gill, chief executive of the integrator (pictured), said competition had increased since the demise of the Buil­ding Schools for the Future scheme last year.

"Because of the change in government there was a break, but it started up again two months ago," she said. "There are many tenders out there at the moment, but there are more companies going for the bids. We have won two, lost two, and are currently waiting to hear about two."