3 years ago I was an apprentice...now I run my own IT company

Young and in the IT business – Daniel Rostami and Matthew Canning with their apprentice Jack DollardA YOUNG computer entrepreneur is a shining example of how the apprenticeships our Getting Essex Back to Work campaign supports can change someone’s life.

Only three years ago, Daniel Rostami, 24, was an IT apprentice starting out in the industry.
Now he runs his own IT support and repairs company – and has hired his own apprentice.

The co-owner of Basildon-based 1 Click Solutions has given his backing to our campaign, which aims to get unemployed Essex people into work by increasing awareness of job opportunities, training programmes and apprenticeships.
In 2008, he signed up to a two-year Apprenticeship Programme in IT at ITEC Learning Technologies, in Basildon, which involved undergoing an apprenticeship with Ontec solutions technology firm in Tilbury.

Mr Rostami said: “The apprenticeship was the best thing I’ve ever done.

“The experience I got from the company was invaluable because I had a great team around me and learned such a lot.  “I’m a hands-on person so sitting in a classroom listening to someone talking isn’t for me – I like to learn on the job and if you show me something once, you won’t have to show me again.

“Through the apprenticeship, I learned about being part of a working environment and how to manage a workload.
“I knew I wanted to start my own business after the course and I had a friend, Matthew Canning, 24, who also wanted to, so we decided to do it together.”

Two years ago, they set up 1 Click Solutions, to manage businesses’ IT systems, fix computers and sell IT equipment.  The men were initially a mobile business and worked from home. But, as the company expanded, the pair moved into a shop in Southernhay, Basildon, in August last year.

They have taken on apprentice Jack Dollard, 16, who is doing the same NVQ course Mr Rostani did. Mr Rostani said: “We want to have three shops in five years.  “It’s been a struggle. It’s hard work and I still sleep in the shop sometimes because there’s so much to do.

“I’m really happy with the progress we’ve made, though.