Lenovo makes 'biggest-ever investment' in education sector with new partner programme launch

Programme promises new incentives and rewards for partners including training and certification across education products

Lenovo makes 'biggest-ever investment' in education sector with new partner programme launch

Lenovo has made its biggest-ever investment yet in the education sector through the launch of its new partner programme.

Named the ConnectEd Programme, the education-specific scheme promises to give existing and new partners "world-class rewards and incentives".

Lenovo says that the programme represents its biggest-ever investment in the sector to date, and will help it become the UK and Ireland's market leader in education.

Lenovo partners will gain access to new "world-class" incentives and benefits that are only accessible through its education-focused ConnectED community. Benefits include a tech trade-in programme, CPD offerings and additional marketing funds to build future opportunities with Lenovo.

Partners will also receive "comprehensive training and certification" across all its education products to help their staff and customers to get the most out of Lenovo's technology solutions.

Speaking to CRN, Jane Ashworth, SMB and channel director at Lenovo UK and Ireland, said that the programme launch comes while Lenovo is investing heavily in the education space.

"We're making investments not only in the programme, but we've also bolstered the team. We've got a number of pure education specialists now, not only in our channel team but also in our mid-market end user team. So we're really putting that resource in which ultimately supports the partner with their lead generation but also supports the end user," she said.

"It becomes incredibly important for Lenovo that we support and upskill our partners to ensure they really do have the knowledge they need to pass on to their end users. To ensure they're supporting existing estates that are already there, but also able to advise and certify new solutions that may be implemented as well."

Alongside the ConnectEd Programme, Lenovo also announced the expansion of its digital equity programme, which aims to fight digital poverty across the UK and Ireland.

In partnership with United Way, Lenovo is also working with local authorities, education experts and charities including SCC Academy, Ability Net UK, Free At Last Birmingham Community and St Patrick's Football Club.

Lenovo has pledged to donate £1 of every qualifying education device that it sells to selected organisations that fight digital poverty in disadvantaged areas of the UK and Ireland, with the aim of raising £1m this year.

Eighty-two per cent of jobs advertised now require digital skills, according to Lenovo which quoted figures from Ofcom, yet a quarter of vulnerable children do not have access to a suitable device for learning. Ashworth said that the pandemic highlighted the scale of digital poverty in the UK and Ireland.

"The pandemic raised digital poverty to the surface, and we could see that with the amount of home schooling that had to be done. Multiple kids gathered around a single PC, or with no internet. It was fundamental things like that which we take for granted and that actually some children and families don't have.

"That's what we're trying to do, to put back in and make a difference to people that are just not as privileged as we are."