iComputeIT recognised as Top 100 Business in 2009 Barclays Trading Places Awards!.
Friday 19th June, 2009
iComputeIT achieves a top 100 business award in the 2009 Barclays Trading Places Awards.
The awards honour men & women who have turned their lives around by starting a business.
Press Release - How iComputeIT was formed.
"In June 2007, Gerry Thornton from Leigh-on-Sea, spent time working with a mobile school teaching street children in Calcutta, as part of a team from his local church. He found the experience to be a humbling one, and on his return to the UK Gerry began to re-evaluate his life – particularly in relation to work.
Being made redundant from the IT job he had held for 31 years in September 2008, gave Gerry just the incentive he needed, and he decided that rather than seek similar employment, he wanted to do something that would benefit his local community.
After speaking to a business advisor, Gerry formed a ‘not for profit’ Community Interest Company called iComputeIT, to teach basic personal computer skills to the over-fifties.
Launching the scheme in January this year, Gerry offered free 30-minute ‘taster’ lessons followed by two eight-week two-hour training courses. Course sizes are kept to a maximum of six people, to allow each participant to receive personal attention.
During the last six months, the company has expanded to provide courses in three locations, with plans for more, and also provides one-to-one tuition in clients’ own homes.
Gerry’s clients range in age from 50 to 94 – all of them eager to learn and enjoy their new skills – and he is very excited about working with this particular age group.
For Gerry, redundancy has been a good thing, giving him the opportunity to use his skills for the benefit of others."