Home Computer Initiative (HCI) - A Century Perspective

Back in 1999 Patricia Hewitt a then DTI Minister announced the Home Computer Initiative (HCI). The reasoning behind this was given as "to drive up PC penetration in private homes, building up peoples IT skills, encouraging digital inclusion and ensuring that the UK is the leading country in Europe for e-Business."

The scheme was designed to allow individuals to purchase computers through their companies. The cost of the equipment was deducted from salaries before tax, thus saving the employees up to 40% of the total equipment cost.

On 22nd March 2006 the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown killed off the entire initiative from 6th April 2006 in his new budget. Calls for a reversal have come into the Government from the Shadow Chancellor George Osborne, as well as many UK business leaders. As many companies across the UK were set up purely to support or provide the HCI to businesses, the budget can be said to have had a very damaging effect for some people.

Technical Director at Century Computing Chris Harvey, commented that "we like the rest of the IT industry were extremely shocked and disappointed by Mr Brown's decision to get rid of a seemingly excellent initiative to increase the level of IT skills across the UK."

Whilst still hoping that the Treasury will reverse its decision, Century would like to reassure all of it's current and future customers that prices on computer hardware are being kept as tight as possible, so that employees can still benefit from reasonably priced PC equipment. In addition to this, finance options for hardware are also available.

As reported this week (10th April 2006) in CRN the first HCI Value Added Reseller (VAR) to go into voluntary liquidation following the Chancellor's announcement was RedPC. It is hoped that talks between the treasurey and the CBI will provide a solution to the HCI crisis and save the jobs of others working within this area.

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Century Computing Support Services Ltd are a computer support company located within the West Midlands; providing clients across the UK with hardware and software support, both remotely and with onsite engineers.