IT firm vows to invest in young people after success of apprentice
A DERBYSHIRE IT firm is expanding its apprenticeship programme as part of a pledge to invest in young people.
Ilkeston-based IDT has made the pledge after being so impressed with its first apprentice, Patrick O’Connor, who recently completed an IT Infrastructure Technician Level 3 course at Derby College.
Patrick has now been offered a role at the family-run firm as a first line IT support engineer.
IDT managing director Luke Draper said: “Having worked myself up from the very bottom, I knew if we could get the right individual starting off on their career journey, we would be able to mentor and mould them into our way of working.
“Once we interviewed Patrick he had all the qualities we were looking for and knew he would fit right in. We chose his course as it gave Patrick the basic fundamentals needed in our day to day life.
“Today, Patrick helps our team support our growing customer base delivering high-quality support and customer service, and has already started visiting clients.”
Lawrie Moon, the head of technical support team at IDT, added: “Patrick has been a valuable addition to our ever-growing team. You know you are doing something right when customers specifically ask for him to resolve their issues.”
Patrick said: “From the very first interview I knew I wanted to work for IDT.
“The support the whole team has given me has been great. Even though I was, no one has ever made me feel like an apprentice - I’ve always just been one of the team.
“It sounds like a cliché but every day is school day for me, even now.
I’m constantly learning from the senior guys and they always involve me in new projects we are working on to give me further exposure.
“I’m looking forward to developing my skills and furthering my career at IDT.”