Inclusive Founders Programme Terms
AOIT Networks Ltd – Inclusive Founders Programme Terms
Effective Date: 22 September 2026
Version: 1.1
1. About These Terms
1.1 Relationship to Other Agreements
These Terms sit alongside our Master Services Agreement (or General Terms and Conditions, where no Master Services Agreement is in place), our Data Processing Agreement, Service Level Agreement and Acceptable Use Policy. Where anything in this document conflicts with those on a matter this document specifically covers, this document takes precedence.
1.2 Continuation of Existing Terms
Everything else about your relationship with us, including our usual terms around contract length, renewal, early termination, payment, service scope and liability, continues to apply in full alongside this programme.
2. Legal Basis
2.1 Positive Action
This programme is a positive action measure under section 158 of the Equality Act 2010. It is small in scale, time-limited, and designed to address a specific disadvantage: barriers faced by under-represented founders in accessing affordable, high-quality managed IT support.
2.2 Open to Everyone
All AOIT Networks services remain open to every business on the same standard terms. This programme provides additional support to a limited number of eligible partners; it does not restrict or condition access to our core services in any way.
3. The Offer
3.1 What’s Included
Eligible partners take one Total Security tier (Essential, Professional or Enterprise, whichever suits the business) together with our AYCE (All You Can Eat) Unlimited Support add-on, for the first 12 months of a new 12-month managed services contract. AYCE is normally optional; for this programme, it is included as standard, as one combined package.
3.2 The Discount
The combined package price (Total Security tier plus AYCE) is discounted by 40% for the 12-month term.
3.3 Predictable Pricing
This means no separate charges for user-raised support tickets during the 12-month term: genuinely predictable monthly pricing, not a partial discount on one part of the bill. AYCE’s standard fair use policy continues to apply.
3.4 One Per Business
One discounted plan per business.
3.5 What’s Not Included
Not included: Endpoint Protection or Microsoft 365 bundles taken on their own (the Total Security tiers already include and replace these), hardware, software licensing, project work, Time and Materials rates, and any other service not named in clause 3.1. These are charged at our standard published rates, as with any partner.
3.6 Standard Contract Terms Apply
In every other respect, the underlying contract is a standard 12-month AOIT Networks managed services agreement, including our usual terms around renewal, early termination and service scope.
3.7 Renewal
In line with our standard renewal process, we will be in touch around 60 days before the end of the 12-month term to review how things are going and discuss next steps. The plan then continues at the standard rate for that tier, including AYCE at its standard rate, unless otherwise agreed between us.
3.8 Other Conditions
The discount cannot be combined with any other offer, discount or code, is not transferable to another business, and has no cash alternative. The Programme also has a web hosting offer, run under our aoitcloud brand on its own terms. A business may apply for both offers, and holding one does not prevent it from receiving the other.
4. Places
4.1 Annual Limit
We make up to 5 places available each calendar year.
4.2 How Places Are Allocated
Applications are reviewed individually; places are not allocated on a first-come, first-served basis alone.
4.3 No Rollover
Unused places do not roll over to the following year.
5. Who Can Apply
5.1 Ownership Requirement
Your business must be at least 50% owned by one or more people from an under-represented group, meaning:
- people of colour and people from other under-represented ethnic backgrounds
- women, trans and non-binary people
- disabled people
- LGBTQ+ people
5.2 Guidelines, Not Requirements
We use the following as guidelines, not strict requirements: your business has been trading for 3 years or less, has fewer than 15 staff, and has an annual turnover under £500,000. If your business sits outside these guidelines, please apply anyway; every application is reviewed individually.
5.3 Business Types
Any business type can apply: limited companies, sole traders, partnerships and other business structures.
5.4 Applicant Requirements
The applicant must be 18 or over and authorised to act on behalf of the business.
5.5 Geographic Scope
This programme is currently open to UK-based businesses only.
6. How We Verify Applications
6.1 Self-Declaration Only
We will never ask which under-represented group you or your co-owners belong to, and we will never ask for proof of ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability. Confirmation of eligibility is by self-declaration only, via a checkbox on the application form.
6.2 Limited Companies
For limited companies, we check Companies House to confirm incorporation date and ownership.
6.3 Sole Traders and Partnerships
For sole traders and partnerships, we may ask by email for one piece of evidence of trading, such as an HMRC Self Assessment registration letter, the top of a business bank statement, or a recent invoice. This is deleted once a decision has been made.
6.4 Response Time
We aim to respond to every application within 10 working days.
7. If a Declaration Was Incorrect
7.1 Consequences
If we later find that a declaration made when applying was knowingly false, the discount will end from the next invoice and the contract will continue at the standard rate for that tier. We will not back-bill for the discount already applied.
8. Your Data
8.1 Retention
We keep your application record for the length of the discount period plus up to 12 months, then delete it.
8.2 What We Don’t Record
We never record which under-represented group your application relates to.
8.3 Privacy Policy
See our Privacy Policy for how we otherwise handle your data.
9. Changes to the Programme
9.1 Our Right to Change or Close
We may change or close this programme to new applications at any time. If we do, any discount already approved for an existing partner will be honoured for the remainder of its term.