Spotlight on REPC

Tell us what you do
At REPC we do a number of things. Most importantly, we provide a data wiping service and security facility for large scale IT users. We also refurbish the equipment and upgrade the software as required. We are different from other IT recycling businesses as we put these pieces of hardware back into use. This is key our work as a social enterprise. In addition to this, we also provide high quality equipment to schools, charities, authorities, SMEs, the third sector and students at a low cost. We peovide these to people who cannot afford to buy brand new devices due to their budgets. As an authorised recycler we look to keep these devices in use.

What is your proudest achievement?
One of our proudest achievements is the work we do with young people with disabilities, people who have struggled written mainstream education. We do not discourage any individual and are proud to train and educate these individuals and prepare them for full time employment. In recognition of this, we have won a number of awards including one for greater community cohesion and programmes bridging the digital divide. We are also very proud of our work through connected housing led by 12 London and south based housing associations. This is helping to provide individuals with access to the internet, once again bridging the digital divide.

What is your experience of support received from SCVO?
We have previously trained and gained volunteers through SCVO and have attended conferences and events which they have conducted. This has helped us keep up to date with what is going on in the local area and specifically the third sector.

What is the most valuable lesson you have learnt about working with people in Sandwell?
I have learnt to never right anyone off, give everyone a chance. Lack of qualifications should be a barrier and neither should disabilities or gender. We find that people with disabilities can make the most loyal employees and can carry out very detailed work.  I have also learnt that collaboration with other providers is very important to providing more holistic services. No organisation can do everything so we strive to work with others in order to deliver broader and higher quality services.

What are your plans for the future and some of the challenges you face?
At the moment we are expanding and over the next 12 months we will be looking to double in staff. As a result, we will be looking for new employees and individuals to join and work for our organisation. The digital divide also remains a key issue and as a result we are looking to continue and expand our work towards eradicating this issue. In terms of the challenges, our most immediate challenge is keeping up with demand for our services. It is about having the right staff and training individuals. Therefore, we are looking to share resources with other companies to meet this demand. This is extremely important as this demand will only continue to grow.

How can SCVO help to support your organisation in the future?
SCVO could promote greater levels of recycling and reuse of IT and other resources amonghts its members and the third sector, encouraging them to  spend their money efficiently and use Repc’s  services to help them achieve efficiency saving.  From our experience, no organisation use the full capacity of a brand new computer system so, before you buy new, think about purchasing quality use equipment instead and spend more of your scarce resources on frontline services.

For more information please contact 0121 557 6439 or visit www.repcltd.co.uk