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Insights & Resources

Expert guidance on school leasing, DfE compliance, and equipment finance for UK education institutions — from the team that's been doing this since 1985.

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EdTech

How to lease laptops for your school

A lot of schools are reviewing their fleets of laptops right now, due to Microsoft’s decision to withdraw support for Windows 10 in October. In this blog, we’ll walk you through the process of selecting the right laptops for your school, and financing them via a lease. What’s happening with Windo...

2 May 2025

Private schooling

What’s changed since Labour added VAT to private school fees?

As we approach the new financial year, it’s a fitting time to reflect on the impact to the education sector of adding VAT to private school fees. We provide equipment leasing finance to both private and state schools here at Utility Rentals, so we will be exploring what this change means in pract...

28 March 2025

Keeping schools secure with your IT equipment

As a supplier of IT equipment to schools, an essential part of your sales pitch is explaining to your customers the security benefits of new technology. The first step is making schools aware of the security risks of continuing to operate obsolete technology. What does the official guidance say? ...

13 March 2025

ICT school equipment

The end of Windows 10: helping schools move to Windows 11

On 14th October 2025, Microsoft will stop supporting Windows 10 – and that means all schools must move to Windows 11. This is a bigger problem for many schools than it might first appear. If schools have compatible devices, the issue in switching to Windows 11 may be limited to the inconven...

20 January 2025

ICT school equipment

Leasing with ClaaS: the year in review

In April 2024, Utility Rentals launched a sister company, Classroom as a Service (ClaaS) to provide specialist finance to schools wishing to acquire IT equipment. As of December 2024, the new brand is off to a strong start, regularly helping schools acquire laptops in quantities of 200 to 5...

7 January 2025

chromebooks

iPads v Chromebooks for schools: which is best?

Apple iPads and Google Chromebooks are both popular choices of devices for schools to give their students. You can use them in a myriad of ways, from popular apps like Times Table Rockstars to advanced tasks like web coding or collaborative projects. In this piece, we’ll explore the benefits of e...

5 December 2024

Leasing school equipment

How we make it easy for your customers to lease your products

We’ve posted before about why suppliers should partner with Utility Rentals, but in this blog we’re going to show you just how easy it is for your customers to sign up to our compliant leasing agreements – and what you and they stand to gain. Schools and the cashflow issue If you sell products an...

11 November 2024

iPads

What sort of equipment do we fund through ClaaS?

If you’ve been following our blog or Linkedin channels for the last few months, you’ll have seen us make mention of Classroom as a Service (ClaaS). This is our brand new sister company offering technical and IT equipment to schools on an innovative subscription model. We’re actively recruiting su...

17 October 2024

Leasing school equipment

Why schools should lease equipment through Utility Rentals

With a (nearly!) 40-year track record in helping schools afford high quality equipment, there are many reasons why schools across the UK choose Utility Rentals time and again as their leasing partner. In this blog, we’ll explore each of those reasons and explain how schools can benefit from partn...

3 September 2024

21st century school

What are Labour’s plans for schools?

Labour’s landslide General Election victory on 4th July will bring with it big changes for schools. In this blog, we will explore the main components of the new government’s Children’s Wellbeing Bill, and what these mean for teachers, parents and children. What are the big changes on their way fo...

6 August 2024

equipment suppliers

Why suppliers should partner with Utility Rentals

As an equipment supplier to the education sector, you know that schools are always short of money. They may want what you have to offer, but budget limitations may mean they scale back what they order, or choose not to proceed at all. That’s where we come in. Utility Rentals has nearly 40 years’ ...

28 June 2024

Leasing school equipment

ClaaS is now in session! Introducing our sister company.

Welcome to Classroom as a Service™ (ClaaS)! We are the brand new sister company of Utility Rentals, providing specialist leases for school equipment since 1985. ClaaS focuses on the financing and supply of IT equipment to schools, academies and colleges, and we work in close partnership with trus...

18 June 2024

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