Smaller colleges and universities get special pricing

Eduserv has signed an agreement with Microsoft to enable all UK universities and colleges, and not just the biggest, to get preferential pricing for Microsoft software.

The not-for-profit IT services group has negotiated discounts to smaller educational establishments, which miss out on Microsoft's Campus scheme, which is available to establishments with over 3000 staff.

Eight resellers in the form of Bytes, Civica, Insight, Online Computers, Phoenix Software, Pugh, SCC and Viglen have been chosen through a tender by Eduserv to take part in the scheme.

Ian Cook, operations manager at Manchester Metropolitan University, said: "The new agreement will provide immediate financial benefit for those institutions who have less than 3,000 staff. In the case of my own institution, we will have considerable savings that can be re-invested elsewhere."

Stephen Butcher, CEO of Eduserv, said, "Aggregating demand for Microsoft products through this agreement will result in a saving of £1m for HE institutions alone."

Separately, Eduserv is launching a portal in early 2008 for higher education and further education institutions to share information and best practice on Microsoft products.