The power of refurbished tech

Technology has the power to be a great leveller, but only when access is equitable. Across the UK, many people remain excluded because they lack the tools to participate in a digital-first world. That’s why Big Issue’s partnership with global tech leader Lenovo, to drive social inclusion, carries such importance. It’s an opportunity to use sustainable, refurbished technology to bring dignity and empowerment by giving people the chance to shape their own futures.

Lenovo’s Smarter Technology For All

Lenovo’s mission is to deliver “smarter technology for all”. It’s a succinct sentiment, which encapsulates their desire to enable equal access to technology for everybody, regardless of background. For many years, the Lenovo Foundation has supported charitable endeavours across the UK, and has a proven history of providing hardware to make a demonstrable difference rather than just giving and then walking away. Lenovo provides ongoing support and structure, which are vital to building lasting initiatives that generate social change. This philosophy is a perfect match for Big Issue’s investment arm, Big Issue Invest.

What is Big Issue Invest?

Big Issue Invest creates change by investing in charities, social enterprises and social-purpose businesses whose focus is to drive meaningful social impact within the UK. In 2024, Big Issue Invest helped its investees to positively change the lives of 1.8 million people by tackling poverty and inequality. To support some of our investees further, Lenovo will bridge the digital divide by supplying fifty refurbished laptops to generate much-needed digital equity and inclusion.

FIRST is a learning and development agency offering enterprise skills to under-resourced and underrepresented communities including refugees, domestic abuse survivors and individuals with mental or physical disabilities. They’ve recently received laptops from the Lenovo and Big Issue Invest partnership. “This will significantly boost FIRST’s ability to support students, graduates, jobseekers and early-stage founders. As we scale, they will equip our growing team without adding financial burden, while also ensuring that learners without IT access, especially underrepresented and under-resourced founders, can build enterprise skills and the courage to pursue their ideas.”

Other investees have felt the empowering impact of receiving laptops through the partnership, including Sovereign House, a charity dedicated to tackling digital poverty and empowering disadvantaged individuals through digital inclusion. “Receiving these laptops is a pivotal moment for us and the young people we serve. Our mission is to bridge the digital divide, and this generous donation from Lenovo and Big Issue Invest does exactly that in the most practical way possible. It provides the essential, high-spec tools for aspiring creatives from underserved communities to compete and thrive.”

The Power of Refurbished Tech: Empowerment

As a global technology leader, Lenovo understands that refurbished technology can offer transformational opportunities to those who are digitally excluded, unlocking access to education, employment and other essential services.

The refurbished technology sector is maturing rapidly, and Lenovo is spearheading this essential change. Gone are the days of dodgy second-hand laptops with smashed screens, flat batteries and three keys missing. Lenovo’s refurbished technology is fully functional, supported, high quality, robust and uncompromised.

Lenovo’s refurbished laptops are as risk-free as their new products. All Lenovo Certified Refurbished devices are fully tested by Lenovo-certified technicians and then cleaned, graded and put through a strenuous diagnostic check. Only genuine Lenovo parts are used during the refurbish process and all data is erased and fully sanitised to ensure the device will be secure from the initial boot-up. Finally, the laptop undergoes a rigorous test to meet Lenovo’s quality standards before being labelled and packaged. Every Lenovo Certified Refurbished product comes with a standard one-year warranty and many have the option to extend this to three years.

The high quality of Lenovo Certified Refurbished laptops allows Big Issue Invest to distribute technology to their investees that has the computational firepower to perform, opening opportunities to increase social value.

The Respite Association provides unpaid carers with much-needed breaks to rest, recover and refresh, allowing them to continue their support of loved ones. “We are delighted to be awarded five laptops through the Big Issue Invest and Lenovo partnership. This generous support will replace outdated equipment, boost our efficiency and, most importantly, enable us to strengthen the virtual support we provide to informal carers.”

The Power of Refurbished Tech: Sustainability

Another power of refurbished technology is that it reduces waste, which is imperative for a sustainable future. By extending the lifespan of a laptop, Lenovo and The Big Issue enable social inclusion whilst also helping the environment.

Find out more at lenovo.com/gb/en