Bevil Williams

Background

About Bevil Williams

When I set up Repc in 2003 my vision was to create a sustainable social enterprise to provide work experience for young people who for a wealth of reasons were failing within education system, at risk of exclusion from school and who had limited prospects. My interest in working with young people started when I was just 17. I approached a local school to ask if I could work with their pupils as a mentor. I then went on to work in other schools around Birmingham and was eventually offered paid work by schools and local authorities as a mentor and consultant, working with schools who had a problem with students under achieving, developing projects that the schools could continue to run themselves. Whilst working as a mentor, I recognised that some of these children were actually very gifted and talented but were being ignored by the education system. This drove me to set up an independent school, Futures Alternative Education Services in Birmingham and then in Walsall. Employing over 20 staff, we got contracts from local authorities all over the country to help young people. Over time though, as local authority budgets were cut, our services were the first to go and the school was no longer sustainable. It was at this point that the social enterprise Repc was born. Set up as an IT recycling business, with the long term aim of creating a sustainable environment to support young people in the work place, Repc also provides IT support services to housing associations, construction companies, NHS, Solicitors, Dell UK and many more. We've been recognised for our work in the community, winning the Contribution toward community service award at the Sandwell Volunteer Awards, and shortlisted in the Best Partnership with the Public Sector category at the National Recycling Awards. My focus now is working at a strategic level with companies, organisations and community projects to bridge the digital divide, making computers and the internet accessible for all.