Circular Tech for Social Good

Our Mission

ReCognition Circular’s mission is to substitute the energy and resources that go into making computers with human resource in order to reduce waste of people and planet. With skills and training, individuals currently excluded from the workforce can contribute to making IT more sustainable and to making their lives more fulfilling. We recognise that by working in the right circles we can make a difference to people, to planet and to the communities we live in.

Digital exclusion traps people in poverty and exacerbates social injustice and inequalities. The linear economy that much of the tech industry is based on contributes to resource scarcity, biodiversity loss and climate change. Read more here about why we need to take action now to tackle these issues.

What We Do

ReCognition Circular run training programmes to provide digitally excluded young people with basic digital skills, together with specific training on how to repair and refurbish IT equipment.

As part of the programme, participants will learn about devices, operating systems and common software applications. We’ll teach them the fundamentals of electronics and show them how to diagnose and fix common device faults. We’ll give them guidance on how to interact with the online world so they can apply for jobs, access public services and manage their money.

During the programme we’ll provide a safe space for them to practice the skills we teach them. We will encourage and support volunteering in repair cafés. This will help them to refine their skills and help tackle digital exclusion and e-waste in the local community.

All participants that successfully complete the course will leave with their own laptop and repair tool kit. We will continue to support them to be able to make a living in the digital world.

Where We Work

We are currently looking for a permanent home. This will be somewhere in Birmingham. The West Midlands has the highest rate of digital exclusion in the UK. It’s our community, so where better to start?

Our Business Model

Our training programmes will in part be funded from revenue we earn from leasing refurbished equipment. Buying computer equipment on the secondary market carries certain risks, even if the items purchased have a warranty. With a lease from ReCognition Circular, we support and maintain the equipment for the term of the lease. We are responsible for what happens to any equipment at the end of the lease term. Our objective is always to extend the life of any equipment and its components and to avoid any e-waste.

We also offer organisations in the Birmingham area a device repair service.

We Need Support

We can’t do this on our own. We need businesses and other organisations to partner with us to challenge the linear economy paradigm in tech and to end the injustice of digital exclusion in the West Midlands.

Donate Unwanted Equipment

Perhaps the easiest way to support us is to donate your unwanted computers, smartphones and tablets.

We will securely wipe all data and provide documentation to certify this for every device donated.

Because your devices will be used to fund our future training programmes, they have a monetary value that will be used for social benefit. This means that ReCognition can quantify the social value from your donation, which will enhance your ESG reporting.

Sponsor a Digitally Excluded Young Person

Sponsorship could be as simple as funding the purchase of a repair tool kit for a cohort, or even an individual participant. These can be acquired for around £30 per kit.

Maybe your employees have the skills and experience to provide mentoring support to one or more of our participants. The young people we work with need positive role models to help them transition into the world of work, education or further training.

Digitally excluded young people lack practical work experience. Providing someone with an opportunity to work in your business can provide them with confidence as well as a reference to include on their CV. 38% of employers in the West Midlands say that struggle to recruit people with digital skills. Trialling someone that’s been through our programme is a win-win.

Supporting a digitally excluded young person is truly rewarding. It can also allows you to tell a great story to your stakeholders. ReCognition Circular can support you in communicating the impact your contribution has.

Work With us to Extend the Life of Your Tech

Whilst we want your end of life devices, we think that most organisations don’t keep their computers and devices for as long as they could. This is an unnecessary cost to the business. Because it creates demand for new devices it also increases the organisation’s carbon footprint.

For organisations based in Birmingham, ReCognition Circular can offer a device maintenance and repair service to help you to extend the life of your devices.

Lease Refurbished Equipment for Your Business

Second-hand doesn’t mean second best. Most organisations over-spec their computers and end up spending far more than they need. With ReCognition Circular you can still get highly capable computers/mobile devices that do everything you need, but at a fraction of the price. You can be safe in the knowledge that any devices that your lease from us will be maintained and supported throughout the lease contract.