Barclaycard technology supporting learning across the UK

This week the Prime Minister announced the national rollout of the Home Access programme. The programme allows eligible families to apply for a grant for a computer and internet connection at home.  The grant will be available via a pre paid Barclaycard which has been developed in collaboration with Becta, the government agency driving the effective and innovative use of technology in learning. Now, using Barclaycard technology the process of redeeming grants has been streamlined.

The card provides a cost-effective way to deliver grants to families, and, beyond this, ensures that the grants are redeemed appropriately. Using Barclaycard's security technology, the grant is designed to reach the right person, thus reducing the likelihood of fraudulent transactions being processed. The card also restricts card redemption to only approved suppliers, further increasing the security of the programme.

The national rollout of the scheme follows a successful pilot in late 2009 in which 12,500 families from two Local Authority areas benefited from computer access at home. Barclaycard was contracted to provide the payment mechanism to securely transfer the financial grant to families that had been awarded a Home Access package (comprising a device, connectivity and support). During the pilot, Becta saw a 99.5% take-up rate for the card, proving that the new method of delivery is effective and appropriate for the target groups.

The key product drivers for Barclaycard in developing the card were security, accountability of use, facilitated customer choice, and efficiency. In order to ensure security, Barclaycard developed a range of pioneering control mechanisms tailored to the Home Access programme:

Financial grant threshold
Single use transaction safeguard
Preferred Merchant restrictions

Alongside the challenges of engineering the technical elements of the card, Barclaycard has enjoyed the opportunity to collaborate with Becta in order to maximise its Corporate Social Responsibility objectives. Kris Reagan, Head of Public Sector, of Barclaycard Commercial commented: "For a number of years, Barclaycard has demonstrated substantial commitment to supporting the communities in which it operates: directly, through programmes such as Horizons, and more widely through responsible lending and secure, relevant card technologies. Barclaycard is proud to have worked with Becta to improve educational resources and support across the UK."