When Dean Vaughan walks into university for the first time on September 25 he will be a shining example of how a troubled time at school can be turned into high career potential.

With study for a Network Technology degree and the prospect of a sparkling IT career ahead of him, Dean 18 of Basildon, Essex is looking forward to the new challenge.

Dean’s entry on to University of Essex’ Southend Campus is a triumph for ITEC Learning Technologies training organisation of Basildon which has taken Dean from a troubled school pupil to an IT student with a strong will to succeed.

Dean left school without a GCSE to his name after a troubled school career which saw him out of the premises more often than in.

Already with a keen interest in computing, his acceptance by ITEC was a turning point for Dean who became a dedicated IT student and in a short time qualified for his Levels 2 and 3 NVQs.

The time allocated for a Level 2 apprenticeship is a year and 18 months for Level 3 but Dean completed both in the record time of a year to make certain of a university place in Network Technology.
Dean’s burgeoning talent for IT was also fostered by Laindon-based Soloweb Solutions who employed him as a web designer while he raced through his NVQs in record time.

Dean said: “I had a lot of problems at school where my attitude to learning was not good and I spent a lot of time at home on my computer. ITEC put their trust in me and really helped me find my talent for IT. Thanks to them and Soloweb Solutions I have got into university and I am looking forward to that.”
ITEC’s Career and Training Co-Ordinator Amanda Rawlings praised Dean’s dedication: “Dean started with us when he left school and was not progressed because he had the wrong attitude. He re-applied a year later, we gave him another chance and he has achieved amazing things.

“Dean ploughed through his level 2 and 3 apprenticeship in record time and we are proud that he can start university.”

At Soloweb Solutions Dean came under the wing of owner Denise Dormer who said: “He has done extremely well and has put in a lot of hard work to put the difficult years of school behind him.
“He is a smashing person who works very hard at the office and at home. He will take a problem home to solve it; that is how dedicated he is. He is very good at what he does and he will continue to work part-time for Soloweb Solutions while at university.”

ITEC’s Amanda Rawlings added: “Denise and Soloweb Solutions have been amazing with support for Dean and he has responded with a lot of hard work.”