BT brings computing home as HCI market expands

Significant growth in uptake of government-backed Home Computing Initiative
BT Home Computing (BTHC), a division of BT Group, reveals that it has experienced a considerable rise in the number of organisations taking advantage of the government’s Home Computing Initiative (HCI).

Both corporate and public sector interest in the tax-exemption scheme, which offers employees heavily discounted computing equipment for home use, has grown by 60 per cent since the start of the year. In addition to a raft of new customers, several existing ones are planning to roll out second and third phases following ongoing interest from staff.

Volkswagen, West Midlands Co-op, Liverpool City Council, Marconi, Vertex, Toshiba and Hewlett Packard have recently agreed deals with BTHC for their first ever home computing programmes, while Standard Life, Halifax Bank of Scotland and Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council have agreed plans to rollout second phases. Within BT Group the programme is refreshed every quarter prompted by the schemes popularity which, to date, has been taken advantage of by 21 per cent of employees.

Chris Wells, chief executive, BT Home Computing said: HCI is really starting to take off. Organisations are sitting up and taking interest, not only for the tax breaks and the drive towards greater IT literacy, but also because HCI offers a great, no-cost, non-discriminatory benefit for all staff. Customer experience tells us that HCI schemes tribute to employee satisfaction and retention when offered alongside existing benefits packages.

Helen Isaacs, HR Manager, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, adds, The first HCI rollout generated a huge buzz across our fourteen-thousand strong employee base with BT Home Computing really helping us to make the most of the opportunity. HCI is a great idea, benefiting employer and employee alike, so extending the scheme was an easy decision to make.

BT Home Computing has also worked with United Utilities, Castle Cement, Vodafone, Southwark Council and others to implement HCI programmes. As a member of the HCI Alliance, BT works with Intel and Microsoft to promote the scheme within UK organisations.