Laptops and IT equipment
08 Jul 2020
A reminder of the process for requesting IT equipment during the Covid-19 pandemic
IT Services supply, maintain and support end-user IT equipment for staff and postgraduate research students across the University. Because of the situation with Covid-19, there are limited ways of obtaining IT equipment for University work.
University laptop loan
We continue to encourage you to use your own devices or the remote desktop service wherever possible, however if you have no suitable device to effectively work from home then you can request the loan of a University laptop.
IT Services has to date issued more than 455 laptop loans, to University colleagues and postgraduate research students unable to effectively work from home.
If you need to submit a request, login to the Support Portal and complete the following form:
It’s important to note that there is a limited supply of loan equipment therefore, following submission, your request will need to be authorised by your Faculty Leadership Team or the Professional Services Leadership Team, and will then be prioritised by the University’s Facilities, Capabilities and Business Continuity Group.
If you have a University laptop that is no longer needed (for example because you are returning to work on campus, leaving the University, or because it is broken), you must return it to IT Services. Laptops should never be passed to another colleague for them to use – they must be wiped and reconfigured by IT Services before being issued to someone else. An online form for you to request a laptop return is in development, but at the moment, if you need to return a laptop, or get one fixed, please call the IT Support Centre on 0161 306 5544.
New IT equipment requests
All colleagues should try to use their own devices or the remote desktop service wherever possible. However, if you have a departmental or research account code to charge the cost to, IT Services can order the full range of Lenovo and Apple products via Stone Computers, with whom they have a secure and reliable delivery arrangement. To do this you will need to get written pre-approval from a member of the University’s Senior Leadership Team for the purchase, as noted on the Central Procurement Office webpage.
Note that IT Services cannot provide or order desktop computers for use at home – due to the legal, licensing and technical issues involved. Any desktop computer appropriate for home use can be matched in specification by an equivalent laptop, if required. If you visit campus please remember that you must not take your University-owned desktop computer home – it is not supported and will not work.
If you need to submit a request, login to the Support Portal and complete the following form:
Points to note
IT supply chains are still badly affected by the Covid-19 outbreak, with consequent delays to delivery times. While there are some off-the-shelf specifications which may be in stock with UK distributors, built-to-order devices may have lead times from four weeks to several months.
All IT equipment will be delivered to a dedicated delivery point on the University campus, and we will contact you to arrange collection from that point. In some cases we may be able to courier the equipment to your home address.
Help and support
If you need IT help and support, please contact the IT Support Centre: