Later came real IBM compatible PC’s with hard drives and decent amounts of memory and then the Internet! In every job I’ve ever had in whatever capacity, i would always end up fixing computers in the office. Finally in 2002, i decided to leave my Environmental Biology lab job with Severn Trent Water in Runcorn and take the plunge into a 7 week crash course in computer repair, network administration and server administration with a company called JBC Computers in Coventry. The course cost a ridiculous £7000 but came with a job guarantee – I quickly got a job at Walshaw High School for girls and that is how in 2002, I ended up moving from my parents house in Cheshire – to sunny Burnley!
I started my new job as Network Manager/Technician at Walshaw High in a dual role that was really the work of two or three people. I provided IT lesson support for staff and students – changing account passwords, helping with logon and numerous software issues, troubleshooting and repairing desktop PC’s, Laptops and Server equipment of a wide range of makes, models and ages. The Network Manager duties where more challenging and therefore more interesting. I designed and built the schools first Server 2000 domain, with Active Directory, DHCP, DNS, Remote Installation Services and everything else required to manage the security and integrity of a 300 computer, 1200 user Windows XP network.
By September 2009, the new school building was complete, I had discovered that there would be NO Network Manager position in the new school as all the IT systems where to be managed by the Large Corporation that built all of the BSF schools in the area – my days where numbered! My job was theoretically protected by TUPE – but downgraded from network manger to technician. The school had no involvement and by now, zero control over their IT systems. The new company didn’t however want to keep paying me the £25000 a year i was earning as network manger previously but as the TUPE process protected my pay for two years, life was made difficult…
Suffice to say, I left before i was forced out. Time for another plunge in to the unknown, I left with 4 months pay and registered myself with HMRC as a self employed computer repair/ IT support company and I’ve been doing that to this day.
In Short, I have 8 years experience as an IT technician and Network Manager in a highly stressful environment, I have experience repairing a multitude of different laptop and desktop computers. I have experience working on small Business sized Server Tower hardware as well as Rack mount Data Centre sized server equipment. I am highly competent with Server 2000, 2003 2008 and Server 2012 and have built domain environments for other schools and a well known international charity based in Bolton.
I offer a Laptop / Desktop Computer repair and Upgrade service to Home Users and Small to Medium Business in and around Burnley
I can offer wireless and wired network installation and improvements, both the physical cabling, routers, Access Points and switches as well as Software configuration on all the major Windows operating systems (XP, Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8) and all the Microsoft Server Operating systems – Server 2003, 2008, 2012. This is for home and business customers alike.
I offer a ‘middleman’ service for computer and laptop reinstallations to other computer repair businesses – if you need a cheap, fast turnaround repair or operating system reinstallation service that still allows your business room to profit, give me a call. I can deploy Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8, all versions to laptops and desktops computers with a valid COA License sticker.
Consultancy service to Home and Business customers
