“We sell the remaining working machinery to fund our community interest company,” she explains, “with significantly reduced costs to groups in the community unable to afford the IT they need, such as low-income families, the long-term unemployed and start-up businesses. Our company also benefits from employing some highly skilled people with disabilities, who might themselves have struggled to find work.
“Our latest project, launched this month, is promoting donations of redundant IT equipment directly from the general public. We are refurbishing these machines and then donating to local schools for onward distribution to children who are struggling to access technology while being homeschooled.”
As has been the case for many businesses, trading in 2020 proved a challenge for Lowther and her team, particularly when coronavirus restrictions sparked an even greater need for IT equipment. “But we are very grateful to all the companies that continue to use our services and are looking forward to the year ahead,” she says. For Lowther, still to be trading after such a year is the greatest business achievement.
Her one piece of advice for women looking to launch their own business is simply: “Go for it!” She says the team are thrilled to be part of the bank and Getty Images’ Female Focus #BeTheRoleModel initiative, and hope it will encourage more women to launch their own business.
Rebekah Lowther of North Wales Recycle IT continued to operate throughout a challenging 2020. Her not-for-profit social enterprise now supplies refurbished machines for children struggling to access technology during lockdown.
