WITH millions of parents across the country struggling with the responsibility of educating school-aged children, H&H Group has announced a support package to help their employees with at least the technological aspect of home-schooling.

In the midst of a UK digital divide, parents have grappled to source and provide enough technology devices to aid their children while learning from home. H&H Group’s ‘Buy a Laptop Scheme’ will deliver £150 of financial assistance to those employees who need additional support to purchase these technological necessities for their children.

Making a real difference in these tough times is a real challenge for companies facing the reality of a workforce juggling working from home with their home-schooling duties. For those without access to adequate technology, this is even more difficult.

To help lighten the load on pressured parents, Dawn Harrison, Non-Executive Director on the Board of H&H Group, explained the push behind the scheme.

She said: “H&H is a community, not just a group of staff and employees. This lockdown has been so hard for so many, and we wanted to do something tangible that could really make a difference. So, when the trust heard that some in our community found they did not have the right technology when it came to home schooling, we were more than happy to help.

She said that scheme was aimed at those who have children being home-schooled and may be unable to afford yet another device in their homes or have one that is not sufficiently up-to-date.

Dawn said: "If necessary, we also provide support for the remainder of the costs, which can be borrowed directly from the group at no interest.”

The scheme is one of the innovative approaches taken by the company since the outset of the crisis. Following the introduction of the scheme, employee feedback suggests this small gesture of solidarity is having a major impact on parents working from home.

Dawn says: “We’ve heard from staff who have said that this scheme has been an absolute life-saver for them right now. Having a fully functioning additional laptop is a huge thing that has made a real difference. That’s the kind of support the H&H Group Employees’ Trust was made for, and we are pleased we were able to come up with a scheme that reflects the Trust’s 50-year heritage.”