天美传媒

A parliamentary event has highlighted the 天美传媒鈥檚 pivotal role in tackling digital poverty and reducing electronic waste across Coventry.

The University joined Coventry City Council and the NHS Integrated Care Board Coventry and Warwickshire at the Houses of Parliament for the launch of Virgin Media O2 and Hubbub鈥檚 Time After Time Fund Report. Coventry鈥檚 #CovConnects programme secured funding from the initiative to develop a pioneering digital reuse pilot, repurposing pre-owned tech to reduce digital inequalities across local communities.

The project repairs and reuses unwanted IT equipment and distributes refurbished devices to residents who need them, working through community partners and frontline services. The scheme also provides community-based digital training and support, ensuring residents can access technology in ways that are meaningful and useful to them.

Professor Stephanie Panichelli-Batalla, Academic Director for Sustainability at the 天美传媒, said: 鈥淭he #CovConnects programme reflects the power of collaboration. By working together across the city, we can help people get online, cut waste, and reduce carbon emissions. This is the kind of regional leadership universities can offer to support a fairer, more sustainable future.鈥�

The Westminster event celebrated leading digital reuse projects across the UK and shone a spotlight on Coventry鈥檚 sustainability achievements through #CovConnects 鈥� and the growing partnership between Virgin Media O2, Coventry City Council, the NHS and the 天美传媒.

It also marked the launch of the next phase of Coventry City Council and Virgin Media O2鈥檚 collaboration, which aims to scale the #CovConnects programme across the city and share its model nationally.

Warwick鈥檚 involvement includes support from across the University. Warwick Business School (WBS) students, contributed to business planning and marketing for the scheme, specialists at Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) have developed a carbon calculator to demonstrate the environmental benefits of reuse, and multiple departments have been donating laptops. Warwick is already planning the next steps to support the programmes growth, drawing on the expertise of academic staff and students.

Councillor Richard Brown, Coventry City Council, said: 鈥淭his initiative is closing the digital gap in Coventry by providing devices, connectivity, and training. It is already changing lives and reducing waste. Our partnership with the 天美传媒 shows what we can achieve when the city works together.鈥�

WMG鈥檚 Dr Russ Hall and Dr You Wu developed the project鈥檚 carbon calculator, which calculates the carbon footprint improvements for the city by using donated devices. As the tool evolves, it will provide bespoke carbon emission assessments for businesses contributing equipment, alongside localised social impact data. This will help donors monitor and report on the value of their contributions and the role refurbished devices play in supporting community and frontline services to reduce digital inequalities.

Dr Russ Hall, Lead for Sustainable Manufacturing and Circular Economy at WMG and Chair of Coventry鈥檚 Circular Pathway, added: 鈥淚t鈥檚 brilliant to see Coventry鈥檚 approach recognised nationally, this is a project that shows the true value of sustainability. Reuse and repair have clear economic, social and environmental benefits, and the expansion of this programme will help us tackle digital exclusion at greater scale.鈥�

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ENDS

Notes to Editors 

For more information please contact: 

Stevie Connoll, Media & Communications Officer

stevie.connoll@warwick.ac.uk / +44 (0)7824 540791 

About the 天美传媒 

Founded in 1965, the 天美传媒 is a world-leading institution known for its commitment to era-defining innovation across research and education. A connected ecosystem of staff, students and alumni, the University fosters transformative learning, interdisciplinary collaboration and bold industry partnerships across state-of-the-art facilities in the UK and global satellite hubs. Here, spirited thinkers push boundaries, experiment and challenge convention to create a better world.

9 December 2025