Bundaberg business Queensland Computers has partnered with tech brand Lenovo and the Department of Education to distribute 10,000 laptops and notebooks to schools across the state.
The major initiative not only gives students access to essential school equipment, but it also means great things for small-to-medium businesses.
Queensland Computers director Geoff Augutis said the local company regularly provided state schools with laptops, but this round was the largest he and his team had ever been involved in.
“Queensland Computers has been working with the Department of Education and state schools for many years,” he said.
“This has led us to be appointed to a number of their formal procurement panels which makes us an approved provider for both schools and also all Queensland Government departments/agencies.
“We are consistently supplying devices under this and similar rounds of procurement, this particular round is larger than usual, but it is common for one to two thousand devices to be shipped out from Queensland Computers to schools all across the state every month.”
Geoff said Queensland Computers was the only regionally based small and medium sized enterprise (SMEs) on these Queensland Government arrangements.
“This means that when we win business like this, it creates jobs in the region,” he said.
“Queensland Computers has grown significantly over the past few years and many of our new additions are based in Bundaberg.
“It makes us really proud to be able to share our success with the areas of regional Queensland where we operate.”
A Department of Education spokesperson confirmed the local business had been successful in the Lenovo contract.
“As part of the most recent contract, 10,000 Lenovo laptops have been purchased under a contract with Queensland Computers worth approximately $10 million,” the spokesperson said.
Member for Bundaberg Tom Smith congratulated the team at Queensland Computers said the contract was a win-win for students and local business.
“This is a fantastic partnership between the Palaszczuk Government and a local Bundaberg business,” Mr Smith said.
“Geoff and the team at Queensland Computers will be supporting students right across the state by providing classrooms with the best technology to assist in their education.”
Geoff said the partnership was a fantastic initiative to be part of.
“For our company and region, deals like this allow us to grow and expand – keeping jobs and money within our regions,” he said.
“Our growth in this space goes to show that our government really is focused on working with businesses like ours.”
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