Acorn Boosts Commitment to Educational IT

Largest team of dedicated education specialists in the UK computer industry

Cambridge, UK. 26 August, 1994

Acorn Computers Limited, the leading supplier of 32-bit RISC based computers, has announced that it has reorganised its operations to enhance its focus on its education markets and customers. The reorganisation, which marks the continued growth of Acorn, follows the recent successful annnouncements of Acorn's Risc PC range in April 1994 and Online Media, a new operation within the Acorn Computer Group.

Mike O'Riordan, Sales & Marketing Director of Acorn, comments:

"This reorganisation marks a clear commitment by Acorn to get closer to its customers in education. By focusing on their needs and continuing to build partnerships with educationalists we will maintain our position as the leading education supplier delivering the highest quality, most innovative solutions."
The Education Business Unit will significantly increase the size of its marketing function and will have separate teams focusing on the primary and secondary sectors. A new education division will target parents who are concerned with their children's education and looking to buy computers for their children at home. The education unit will be completed by a sales team, a support desk for the channel and an education strategic direction unit.

Acorn will also be implementing programmes over the next year to increase support for its Acorn Education Centres (AECs) which number 60 in the UK and 50 Authorised Acorn Education Dealers (AAEDs).

Peter Talbot, General Manager of Education at Acorn Computers, comments:

"The new structure of the Education Business Unit allows us to get even closer to educationalists at the local level and gives us the largest dedicated education department and sales channel in the personal computer industry in the UK. Our understanding of, expertise in, and partnerships with the current educational IT marketplace is unrivalled by any other computer company.

This reorganisation and continued commitment to work more closely with the AECs and our education dealers marks Acorn's dedication to continue to be the premier supplier of IT solutions to UK education; a lead we have no intention of being complacent about," Talbot added.

There are now over 400,000 Acorn computers in UK schools which represents well over half of the installed base in this market. Over 70% of all UK schools have Acorn 32-bit RISC computers and more than 50,000 Acorn systems are acquired by UK schools every year. Over three quarters of all schools consider Acorn is best for curriculum use and 70% believe that Acorn has the lowest cost of ownership.

Founded in 1978, with 1993 revenues of £54.3m, Acorn Computers is the premier supplier of IT solutions to UK education and has been the leading provider of 32-bit RISC based personal computers since 1987. Acorn works closely with a strong community of industry partners, users and software developers to provide innovative technology solutions for the education, consumer, publishing and international markets.

The Acorn Computer Group is a holding company for Acorn Computers Limited, Acorn Australia, Acorn New Zealand, Acorn GmbH and Online Media. Acorn Computer Group owns 43% of ARM Ltd. Online Media, a division of the Acorn Computer Group, was launched in 1994 with the mission to design world class, interactive multimedia products.

© 1995 Acorn Computer Group plc.