A school ICT refresh has a deadline nobody can move. The equipment has to be out and the replacement in before children come back, and the window is the summer holiday.

This multi-academy trust refreshed around 450 devices across six schools in a single summer. Surplex UK Limited provides IT disposal for schools, colleges and multi-academy trusts, and the collection was free, which for a budget-held buyer is the part that matters most.

The Challenge: A Window That Cannot Move

Six schools had to be cleared and re-equipped in six weeks, and the trust had no budget line for disposal. Safeguarding data on the old machines meant nothing could simply be given away or skipped.

The Surplex Solution: Free Collection, Scheduled School by School

The collection was free, because the value recovered from the retired equipment covered the cost of collecting, destroying and recycling it. Each school was booked on its own date inside the holiday, so no site was cleared before its replacement equipment had arrived.

  • 1. Booked Across the Holiday

    Six separate collection dates were agreed before term ended, sequenced so each school was cleared once its new equipment was on site.

  • 2. Data Destroyed to a Named Standard

    Where value was recovered from hardware, data was erased with Certus certified software, the Purge method defined by NIST 800-88. Everything else was shredded to BS EN 15713:2023.

  • 3. Reported Per School

    Each school received its own certificate set and asset report, because academies within a trust account separately and a single trust-wide report is no use to an individual school business manager.

  • Sector

    Education

  • Scope

    Six schools within one multi-academy trust

  • Assets

    Around 450 devices

  • Key Win

    Completed inside the summer holiday, collection free

"Six schools cleared and re-equipped before September, and it cost the trust nothing. For a budget like ours that’s the whole decision."

Trust IT Lead, multi-academy trust

The Results: Back in Time for September

All six schools were cleared and re-equipped inside the holiday, and the trust paid nothing for the disposal. The value recovered from around 450 retired devices covered the whole programme.

Metric
Outcome
  • Scale

    Around 450 devices across six schools

  • Window

    Completed within the summer holiday

  • Cost

    Free. Recovered value covered the programme in full

  • Reporting

    Certificates and asset reports issued per school

Why Schools, Colleges and Academy Trusts Trust Surplex

Surplex UK Limited works with individual schools, colleges, universities and multi-academy trusts. There is no minimum quantity, so a single laptop is booked the same way as a full estate. Most customers find their collection is free, because the value recovered from redundant hardware is set against the cost of collection, destruction and recycling. Where it does not cover that cost, a small logistics and processing fee is payable, agreed upfront.

Team Meeting 1

Frequently asked questions

Most schools find their collection is free. The value recovered from retired equipment is set against the cost of collection, destruction and recycling, and on a normal refresh it covers it in full. Where it does not, a small logistics and processing fee is payable, agreed upfront.

Yes, and it is the normal request. Dates are agreed before term ends and sequenced so each site is cleared once its replacement equipment has arrived.

Where value is recovered from hardware, data is erased with Certus certified software, the Purge method defined by NIST 800-88. Otherwise drives are shredded to BS EN 15713:2023. Either way a certificate names each device serial number.

No. There is no minimum quantity, and a single device is booked the same way as a full estate. Most customers find their collection is free, because the value recovered from redundant hardware is set against the cost of collection, destruction and recycling. Where it does not cover it, a small logistics and processing fee is payable, agreed upfront.

Capabilities Used in This Project

Get in Touch About Your IT Recycling Needs

We provide IT recycling services for organisations of all sizes across England, Wales and Scotland.

Whether you’re recycling a few old laptops, decommissioning a data centre, or need secure data destruction, our team will help you dispose of IT equipment compliantly and responsibly.

Prefer to speak with us directly?

Call: +44 (0)1684 252583
Email: info@surplex.co.uk
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