Honiton Community College upgrade their sewing machines with the help of Utility Rentals

Honiton Community College in Devon regard the relationship with their students ‘as a seven year partnership that provides continuity and progression; it begins for each child at the age of 11 and develops and strengthens each year until they are 18 years old.’ At Key Stage 3 ‘all students follow a comprehensive and well-rounded curriculum’, at Key Stage 4 ‘students have the choice of a range of courses leading to public examinations at GCSE’ and at Key Stage 5 ‘the college offers a wide range of AS and A2 subjects leading to a full A Level accreditation.’

Just one of the many subjects available to students is Technology, which has recently benefitted from improved facilities. When it came to updating equipment like the sewing machines within the department, Gary Wills, Director of Finance at Honiton Community College had to ensure he evaluated all of the available options. The college had already been renting sewing machines from Utility Rentals for a number of years and so Gary approached them again to discuss replacing them.

As Utility Rentals have been working with schools for over 30 years, they know which sewing machines can withstand the high usage they receive in schools, as well as which machines schools should avoid. With the rental of every new sewing machine, Utility Rentals arrange for delivery to the school and they will also collect any old sewing machines, disposing of them in line with the WEEE directive. In addition to this, each machine is provided with a full parts and labour breakdown warranty for the duration of the rental, ultimately protecting schools from any unexpected repair costs. Gary explains, “We had already been working with Utility Rentals for several years previously and they offered a good deal when I approached them for a quotation. I was new to the post at the time and the team at Utility Rentals helped me to tie up a new deal quickly, which was great. Plus, by renting our sewing machines we can have brand new machines every 5 years, without having to purchase them.”

By renting, schools can spread the cost of new equipment as well as any extra services, over 3 or 5 years, thus avoiding one upfront payment which some schools may struggle to afford. The rental payments remain static throughout the rental period, protecting schools from inflation. They are also due on the same date annually, so schools can easily manage their budgets. When asked about the service they had received from Utility Rentals, Gary said “Their service is great; they kept us fully informed throughout the process and are always happy to assist with any repairs or questions we may have.”