Laptop recycling at Sellafield helps to bridge the digital divide
Source: gov.uk (2025-07-01)

A collaborative laptop recycling scheme, is helping to bridge the digital divide across our local communities.

Passing on a previously used laptop might seem like a simple act of generosity—but at Sellafield, when it comes to boosting educational attainment, our laptop recycling scheme is helping bridge the digital divide across our local communities.

The initiative, in partnership with our IT supplier Atos and Information Services Organisation (ISO), is now in its fourth year of repurposing decommissioned laptops—which are no longer suitable for Sellafield’s secure network—into vital educational tools for schools, charities, and community groups.

Over the past 18 months, our social impact team has revisited recipients to understand the real-world impact of these donations. The results speak volumes.

Thanks to partnerships with Western Excellence in Leadership and Learning (WELL) Programme and Laptops for Kids in Warrington, schools have introduced new courses in graphic design, film, photography, and engineering. These opportunities are helping disadvantaged students build confidence, develop digital skills, and thrive in a technology-driven world.

Teachers, too, are seeing the benefits. With access to reliable, modern devices, they can focus more on teaching and less on troubleshooting outdated equipment—saving time and reducing frustration.

The scheme’s reach extends beyond the classroom. Local charities have used donated laptops to support young people researching opportunities like the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, while others have transitioned from bulky desktop setups to lightweight laptops.

This shift has enabled them to repurpose space for adult learning and job-seeking support, amplifying the scheme’s community impact.

Our commitment to social value continues to drive innovation in how surplus assets can be used for public good proving that sustainability and community development can go hand in hand.

Pam Collis and Emma Graham, from the ISO team within Sellafield Ltd, who introduced this process within ISO, explain the importance:

We all recognise the vital role modern Information and Communication Technology (ICT) plays in the workplace, and the same holds true for school classrooms.

The future workforce needs access to the right tools, software, and equipment to develop their skills and progress. Without this access, they risk being left behind.

This potential for a digital divide is something we were determined to address through our social impact commitments.

By sharing ICT equipment that no longer meets our needs, we realised we could tackle digital poverty and boost digital literacy.

While we donate the devices, our supply chain partner Atos cleans, repairs, and prepares them for reuse, ensuring our data is securely removed. It’s truly a collaborative effort.

Our social impact team collaborates with projects and groups to make sure these devices reach those who need them most. And it’s not just schools, local charities and community groups can benefit as well.

Further information

Sellafield Ltd - Social impact, multiplied (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/social-impact-multiplied)

WELL Education | Western Excellence in Learning & Leadership | WELL project Cumbria (https://welleducation.uk/)