Chris Bye is Getac UK's Automotive Business Development Director. Prior to Getac, he has also worked in automotive solutions and in the electronics industry in Europe.
Getac UK won the coveted award for Best Lockdown Initiative for its i2i Guest List Programme during a fun-filled evening at the Computer Reseller News (CRN) Channel Awards 2021.
We at Getac UK created the i2i Guest List Programme to support channel partners throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Aware of the many personal and professional challenges that COVID-19 was causing, we altered the established channel partner programme. This typically revolved around rewards and socialising. We focused instead on our partners’” mental well-being and personal development during this challenging time for this initiative.
Working with Michael Finnigan, co-founder of Impossible 2 Inevitable (i2i), 30 channel organisations attended a series of five online motivational workshops between January and June 2021. Getac UK designed every session to be as inspiring and uplifting as possible. We aimed to give attendees various tools they could use to help them during challenging times.
Getac UK based the programme’s success on emotional well-being rather than a financial return. The feedback was so positive that we also ran a physical follow-up event in October when the government has lifted restrictions. Partners could come together safely and share their experiences.
One of the associate partner managers at ComputaCenter summed up the value of the i2i Guest List Programme as:
“When we entered the national lockdown, it became very easy to slip into the routine of not leaving the house, stuck behind the computer screen all day long. Getac UK's i2i Guest List Programme gave me more focus, not only in my work life but also in my personal life, at a time when I needed it most. I couldn’t speak more highly of the programme and have already shared the ideas and techniques learned with my friends and family to help them achieve their objectives.”
Mental health and personal well-being are so important for everyone. COVID-19 has highlighted just how quickly they can be affected without the proper support in place. We’re incredibly proud of our i2i Guest List Programme and its role in the lives of our partners this year. To win this award is the icing on the cake. I want to congratulate everyone involved in making it such a success.
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