The community we have created here at Central over the last 30 years is the beating heart of our business, and we wouldn’t have been able to provide a valued service that clients can rely on without it. With that in mind, we’ve been keen to spotlight our behind-the-scenes team as much as possible this year — from events attendance and goings-on at HQ, to demonstrated expertise, personal achievements outside of work, and more.
If you caught our first instalment of the series, you’ll know we had a very busy and fulfilling start to the year. And with plenty of events and client-related activity spanning the spring season, it’s been an equally pacey second quarter too! Here are some of the highlights…
Success in business is not just about technology and innovation. Crucially, it’s about building strong, honest relationships to — and the best way to build a fruitful partnership is by taking the time to connect on a personal level. That’s why our team was so pleased to join Jonathan Daniels at First Garden Cities Homes for tea last month.
This client's server cabinet was a tangled mess of cables and old, outdated hardware — difficult to navigate, and troubleshooting was a nightmare. After some much needed decommissioning and re-organisation by Andrew Walker, our technical engineer, the cabinet now looks much sleeker, and operations are far more streamlined too. Excellent work, Andrew!
It was a pleasure to be involved in the annual DTX 360 expo at Manchester Central earlier this month. With an expert speaker line-up delving into all-things IT strategy and innovation, and a host of like-minded professionals to knowledge-share with, it was great to hear about the exciting technologies and methodologies shaking up the industry.
…Plus, this clone trooper knows the ultimate 'force' in a tech event is a well-timed 'firewall' shot!
We had a wheel-y good weekend earlier this month, coming together for our latest team building exercise at our local go-karting haunt. The competition was fierce and the overalls even fiercer, but it was a well deserved win for our technical architect Jordan Gallier in the end, who dominated the leaderboard.
Following closely behind Jordan on the podium was finance and business manager Darren Crompton, with technical engineer Tom Lindley in third. Excellent effort, Central team!
That’s all for Q2! We’ll be back with more of this in September, to share what the Central team gets up to over the coming months. If you’re keen to see more in the meantime, don’t forget to follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
From smart devices and artificial intelligence, to machine learning, big data, and more, technology is evolving at an astonishing pace – meaning that the investments you put into your IT department today, may not be enough to meet the demands of tomorrow.
So, how can the sector’s professionals be sure what they’re currently working with is truly up to scratch? Jordan Gallier, Central’s technical architect and engineering team lead, explores…
Firms' tech stacks comprise various interconnected components — including hardware, software, networks, and security systems — that work together to support day-to-day operations and enable seamless communication, data management, and overall productivity. Each component plays a crucial role in ensuring the reliability, scalability, and security of the IT infrastructure.
Over time, this complex ecosystem can become susceptible to issues such as outdated technology, security vulnerabilities, and performance bottlenecks. That’s why carefully selecting and regularly maintaining each component is key. Here are just some of the ways IT infrastructure audits play a central role in evaluating the health of your systems:
Six tips for auditing your IT infrastructure
For organisations without a technical specialist to front the process, knowing where to start when analysing the health of your company’s IT infrastructure can be daunting. Using the following recommendations, firms can gain valuable insights, enhance system integrity, and ensure their technology backbone is in optimal shape for daily operations.
1. Perform comprehensive audits
Start by conducting thorough audits of your hardware, software, and network configurations. This process involves reviewing equipment, licences, warranties, and documentation to identify any gaps or areas needing improvement.
2. Evaluate system performance
Utilise monitoring tools to assess the performance of your servers, network, and applications. Analyse metrics such as response times, bandwidth utilisation, and resource usage to identify bottlenecks and optimise performance.
3. Review security measures
Regularly assess your security protocols — including firewalls, antivirus software, and intrusion detection systems. Stay up-to-date with the latest security patches and ensure that your data backup and disaster recovery plans are robust and tested regularly.
4. Keep software up-to-date
Outdated software can pose security risks and hinder productivity. Regularly review your software stack — including operating systems, applications, and firmware — and ensure that you have a strategy in place for timely updates and patches.
5. Consider the cloud
Cloud computing offers scalability, flexibility, and enhanced security for many organisations. Assess whether migrating some or all of your infrastructure to the cloud can help optimise your operations, reduce costs, and increase resilience. If you’re not sure, get in touch and we’d be happy to walk you through the benefits.
6. Seek professional assistance
Engaging a reliable managed IT services provider like Central can provide expert guidance and support throughout the assessment process. Our 30+ years of technical expertise can help identify areas of improvement and implement best practices tailored to your specific requirements.
Remember, technology is constantly evolving, so regular evaluations are essential to stay ahead of the curve. At Central , we're here to support you every step of the way. Contact us today to discover how our managed IT services can help you keep your IT infrastructure in top shape.
A robust and comprehensive cloud platform, Microsoft Azure has emerged as a leading choice for some of the globe’s most ambitious organisations. But with many firms lacking the expertise or internal resources to manage it, the infrastructure risks rapidly becoming a burden to already-stretched IT budgets. So, how can SMEs navigate this growing challenge?
Mike Dunleavy, client director at Central Networks, shares some actionable insights to prevent cloud costs from spiralling out of control — helping you optimise your tech estate and maximise the value of your investment — as well as guidance on the role a trusted managed service provider (MSP) can play in eliminating the headache…
Naturally, as usage and demand of Microsoft Azure increases, particularly as the solution matures, companies have seen their cloud estates evolve significantly. This is, for the most part, a good thing — offering great scope for scaling as requirements change, increased data security and compliance in a time where cyber attacks are at their pique, and reliable disaster recovery protocols to help keep applications running, amongst other advantages.
The challenge comes when organisations overlook resource ‘rightsizing’, and over-provision their teams with technology that’s no longer fit for purpose, unused, or completely idle — incurring unnecessary costs that could be deployed elsewhere, through complete lack of visibility and monitoring. Additionally, the absence of a well-defined cost optimisation strategy and lack of employee awareness can also contribute to unchecked spending.
Here’s a jargon-free run-down of the ways you can tackle the challenge:
Embrace Azure cost management and billing tools
To gain better visibility and control over your cloud spending, take advantage of the robust cost management and billing tools provided by Microsoft Azure. These tools offer features like cost tracking, budget alerts, and recommendations for optimising resource usage. By monitoring your spending and setting budget thresholds, you can proactively identify any potential spikes and take necessary actions to keep your expenses in check.
Leverage resource sizing and scaling
One of the key advantages of cloud computing is the ability to scale resources up or down based on demand. Properly sizing your Azure resources ensures you are only paying for what you need. Regularly analyse your resource utilisation patterns and adjust the sizing accordingly. Utilise features like Azure Auto Scaling to intuitively adjust resource capacity based on predefined conditions, ensuring optimal performance while minimising costs during periods of low demand.
Implement cost-effective storage strategies
Storage costs can quickly accumulate if not managed efficiently. That’s why assessing your requirements and classifying data based on its access frequency is key. Utilise Azure's storage tiers — such as hot, cool, and archive — to store information cost-effectively, while ensuring it remains accessible when needed. Implementing a data lifecycle management policy also enables you to automatically transition between storage tiers based on defined rules — optimising costs by keeping frequently accessed data in high-performance storage, and moving less frequently accessed information to lower-cost options.
Utilise Azure Reserved Instances
If you have long-term resource requirements, Azure Reserved Instances (RIs) can help you save significantly on compute costs. This is because they provide discounted pricing for virtual machines and databases when you commit to a specific term. By strategically planning your resource needs and leveraging RIs, you can unlock substantial savings compared to pay-as-you-go pricing. And in today’s uncertain economic climate, where keeping a laser-sharp focus on costs is crucial, every penny truly counts.
Continuous monitoring and optimisation
Cost optimisation isn’t a one-time solution. Instead, it requires regular monitoring of Azure resource usage, performance metrics, and cost patterns to identify areas for improvement. Leverage Azure Advisor's recommendations and other cost optimisation tools to implement best practices and eliminate wasteful spending. Engage with your development and operations teams to foster a culture of ultimate cost awareness and accountability — encouraging them to make budget-conscious decisions when provisioning and managing resources in the cloud.
Lean on outsourced IT specialists for support
The complexity of the cloud can make cost optimisation feel like a time-intensive and headache-inducing process — particularly for enterprises without a designated IT division internally. Specialised MSPs can prove to be an invaluable extension of your team here.
Bringing rich expertise and industry experience, outsourced technical partners can assess your cloud infrastructure and identify areas where cost-saving measures can be implemented, without compromising service delivery. This includes rightsizing virtual machines, scaling resources based on demand, and leveraging RIs for long-term savings. By implementing cost management tools to monitor and track usage patterns, identify cost anomalies, and provide actionable insights for optimisation, they can also implement tagging strategies to allocate costs accurately and enable department-level visibility.
Taking a proactive and holistic approach to managing your future cloud costs in Azure, MSPs can also regularly review and optimise subscriptions, eliminate unused resources, and adjust configurations to align with evolving business needs. It’s all about striking the right balance between performance and cost efficiency in your Azure cloud deployments.
Of course, these services come at a cost, but the benefits of investing in a trusted specialist truly outweigh the ramifications of hiking tech stack costs that often fly under the radar.
Keen to continue the conversation? Get in touch, to see how Central can help your organisation manage spiralling cloud costs and get maximum ROI from Microsoft Azure.
With over 30 years’ experience in sectors spanning social housing and charity, to manufacturing and education, you’re in safe hands with us.
Here at Central, people are at the heart of the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of everything we do.
We started out on our IT journey back in 1991, and our mission and ethos haven’t changed. We’re a family-run firm that pride ourselves on our integrity, honesty, and objectivity – and we make IT stress free by keeping it as simple as possible.
But it’s our people who make this all possible. Get to know them more in our staff spotlight.
Name: Andrew Walker
Job title: Technical Engineer
Department: Engineering
Sum up your role at Central in one sentence:
A very technical, hands-on role. whether I’m travelling across the country to attend customer sites and perform new instals and implementations, or assisting the service desk with specialist queries — I’m always keen to get involved.
What three words would your colleagues use to describe you?
Knowledgeable. Helpful. Enthusiastic.
And what do you enjoy most about your job?
The variety – no two days are ever the same. I don’t think I could sit behind the same desk day in and day out. From visiting different places and meeting new people to experiencing new situations and surroundings, the sense of diversity in my role is truly fulfilling.
Check your phone, what was the last emoji you sent?
Three laughing emojis — 😂😂😂.
Who was or is your biggest inspiration?
My son. He is the sweetest, most charming, and funniest little boy (doesn’t every parent say that about their kids!). He makes me so proud every day, and I hope he looks up to me like I look up to him (literally… he’s seven and nearly as tall as me!).
You’re hosting a three-course dinner party, what’s on the menu?
Nachos with sour cream and salsa dips for starter, homemade spaghetti bolognese — topped with mature cheddar cheese and paired with fresh garlic bread — for main, and apple crumble and ice cream for dessert.
Back to Central, what makes the company stand out?
We’re big enough to cope, but small enough to care. Everyone at Central works very closely together, with the ultimate goal of supporting our clients with their overarching IT and tech needs. We’re a group of likeminded professionals, and the enthusiasm and commitment that we all share is second to none. We get to know our customers very well and do everything we can to make them feel like more than just a ticket.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself we might not know:
I’ve been featured in the newspaper twice, and been on TV once — although not for the same reason.
What would the title of your autobiography be?
Life is a rollercoaster and we’re all here for the ride.
Central’s mission is to ‘restore faith in IT’ – tell us more about what this means to you:
IT is such a minefield, and with so many different fields under the same umbrella, it can be difficult to manage and control every aspect. The skillset of Central’s engineers and broad experience of working with so many different organisations allows us to recommend products and solutions to suit their bespoke requirements perfectly.
The customer no longer has to spend time researching and testing different products to find one that may fit. They can be confident in our ability to provide a solution and present it in a way that instils them with confidence, and allows them instead to focus on truly revenue-generating tasks internally.
If you’d like to receive more news and updates from the Central team, why not head over to our Twitter page or connect with us on LinkedIn?
The community we have created here at Central over the last 30 years is the beating heart of our business, and we wouldn’t have been able to provide a valued service that clients can rely on without it. With that in mind, we’ve been keen to spotlight our behind-the-scenes team as much as possible this year — from events attendance and goings-on at HQ, to demonstrated expertise, personal achievements outside of work, and more.
It has certainly been a busy start to the year too! So, let’s see what they’ve been up to, in our first quarterly round-up…
Here, business development executive, Harley Mycock, joins cyber security specialist VIPRE’s partners-only event in Manchester. We’re always striving for continuous improvement in our relationships — and this was an excellent opportunity to develop trust, transparency, and disseminate knowledge with other like-minded professionals.
Did you know, January 31st is National Gorilla Suit Day? Clearly, John Blackburn, our operations director, was the only one who got the memo!
We couldn’t deliver our exemplary levels of service without the expertise of our team, as well as their ceaseless drive to learn and grow. A big shout out to our technical architect, Jordan Gallier, for putting his IPAF training to use recently — as he installed a new switch to help manufacturer Aflex Hose with its digitisation project.
Here’s a look at Central’s refurbished breakout room, fitted with brand new furniture and a games console. The significance of an area for colleagues to relax and socialise is emphasised in studies examining energy levels at work. It’s important for us to have a space for our team to rebuild their energy, in order to increase engagement, boost performance, and maximise productivity. From the looks of it, finance and business manager, Darren Crompton, and sales apprentice, Joe Mulkeen, are happy about the new digs!
Earlier this month, it was great to see our client director, Mike Dunleavy, catch up with our long-time client in social housing, Lee Walsh from Bron Afron. These relationships are sustained in and out of house, through engaging and honest communication and collaboration — which has allowed us to make positive differences to people’s lives over our last three decades of operation.
Congratulations to Darren for his hard work and dedication in receiving an Advanced Driving accreditation from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA)! We are endlessly proud of our team’s ability to achieve success both inside and outside of work. Anyone fancy a spin?
Well, there goes Q1! Don’t forget to check back in June, to see what else the Central team has been up to. In the meantime, why not follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter to catch more of the latest?
It’s no secret that the tech sector is facing increasing pressure on the employment front – not least because of the national IT skills shortage.
But with custom learning routes available via apprenticeship programmes, organisations can not only help bridge the gap by enhancing recruitment options, but facilitate the ideation of fresh knowledge and perspectives too.
Here at Central HQ, we’ve had a scheme dedicated to nurturing tomorrow’s talent since 2009 – set up by our very own client director, Mike Dunleavy.
And because we’re so proud of our apprentices’ willingness to dig deep and develop their expertise, and understand the impact they can have on a team first-hand, we’re keen to showcase and celebrate each and every one of them. Amidst the annual National Apprenticeship Week campaign, running from 6-10 February, this feels a particularly timely installment of this series, too.
So, next up, it’s our help desk support officer, Finlay Grady. Take it away, Finlay…
Why did you choose a career in the IT and tech sector?
I was interested in tech from a young age — particularly gaming — and I was always keen to get involved in the ‘build side’ of this space. Whilst not exactly the same, following the IT and tech route has a similar ‘hands on’ appeal for me.
Why was an apprenticeship the right choice for you?
I’ve never been the biggest fan of academic work, so I wanted to go down a more practical route to develop my skill set.
And how did you first find out about Central’s apprenticeship programme?
In 2021, I approached an agency to help me find the best-fit employer, and they secured me an interview with Central. The rest is history!
What made Central stand out from other employers?
The opportunity the team was offering seemed more aligned with what I wanted, in terms of the scope of work, ‘on the ground’ experience, and overall culture of the organisation.
I’d previously been offered a social media marketing position at another company, but it just wasn’t technical enough for me.
Sum up your role in three words:
Varied. Teamwork. Resolution.
Can you tell us what a typical working day looks like for you?
As a help desk support officer, I’m largely responsible for responding to tickets that require first-line resolution. This could be anything from time-sensitive security concerns and general technical difficulties, to setting up new devices and resetting passwords.
Finish the sentence – the biggest misconception surrounding apprenticeships is…
That it’s a ‘cop out route’. Of course, it’s different to traditional university education, but there are so many qualifications available via apprenticeships.
What’s more, you’re able to get stuck straight into applied, real-life examples — working on something with a purpose, rather than being cooped up in a classroom. It sounds clichéd, but it’s great to feel like part of a team too.
What’s the most valuable skill you’ve learnt so far?
I couldn’t pinpoint anything specific, because I’ve learnt so much during the programme. But I’m so much more technically skilled than I was at the beginning — and understand such a vast and varied scope of work now.
How do you see your career path developing?
In all honesty, having only completed my apprenticeship in December, I’m not sure where my path will take me. And that’s okay!
As with any industry, there are so many aspects to the IT landscape, that it feels difficult to make a decision now. However, I’m enjoying what I do right now, and look forward to seeing my role develop organically, as and when the time is right.
Finally, do you have any advice for would-be apprentices?
Don’t doubt your abilities, or whether the path is the right one to follow — if you want to do an apprenticeship, just go for it. There are so many options out there, so there will be something for everyone, at any age or stage in their career.
If you’re keen to speak to Central about upcoming opportunities for apprentices or more generally, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
The shortage of high-level talent in the social housing sector is well documented – with 71% of employers expecting to face recruitment difficulties over the coming year, a third having already experienced a scarcity of projects and change management skills, and half increasingly struggling to find candidates with senior leadership qualities.
But with sector activity continuing apace during economic downturn – as people depend on affordable housing solutions – coupled with nearing government targets to tackle the under-supply of properties, the need for skilled talent has never been so great.
Outsourcing IT services is certainly not a new concept, but it’s one that is often overlooked when finding ways to combat such recruitment challenges.
Here, our operations director and social housing specialist, John Blackburn, explores how re-allocating the help desk function in particular, can deliver significant financial, operational, social, and environmental benefits.
Whilst managed services providers (MSPs) aren’t immune to the skills shortages facing the social housing sector, they remain an excellent way to access a rich and diverse pool of knowledge and expertise.
As specialist organisations with a wide network of industry connections, they’ll often onboard professionals who are both experienced and highly skilled in their role – and don’t require dedicated training. It’s because of this that MSPs can be engaged at short notice, to bring an immediate solution to an urgent project need.
Boasting experience and expertise in a variety of sectors, MSPs are able to tap into intelligence from different customer projects to offer first contact resolution and facilitate a higher quality end-user experience.
With the ability to enter service level agreements (SLAs) with outsourced IT companies, IT teams working within housing associations can also reap the benefits of improved performance. Not only is it easier to turn the dials up when compared with internal teams, but it’s also easier to measure and feedback on process, due to greater oversight.
There’s a common misconception that MSPs act as a direct replacement for your internal teams. The reality is, the two can easily work together effectively.
By outsourcing your help desk function, your managerial and human resources teams won’t need to add handling an IT department to their list. A third-party partner will take care of everything – and often around the clock – leaving your organisation free to focus on the strategic and tactical future of its tech estate.
It’s important to remember that growth doesn’t always come from more business – often, it’s about having more time to concentrate and look at the bigger picture.
With in-house IT help desks requiring multiple, full-time salaries, added operational costs, and ongoing training budget, MSPs bring significant financial benefits to your organisation, too.
Offering the ability to scale up and down as required, organisations can pay for the specific IT services they need, when they need them – with the guarantee that the resources will be readily available. Plus, the MSP will take care of the full project – from technology integration and transition to long-term end-user support – to remove unnecessary headaches and help retain in-house talent.
In recent years, we’ve witnessed a dramatic shift to more flexible, hybrid, and digitally-focused ways of working. And as a result, there’s an ongoing need to keep pace with the wants and needs of today’s employees. To do so, organisations must be able to offer innovative solutions that are user-friendly and efficient, whilst keeping a sharp eye on finances.
With vast expertise in services – spanning cloud consultancy, security-first SD-WANs, IT environment audits, transformation services, and more – MSPs can offer valuable infrastructure and support to help you compete in the talent market and attract skilled workers.
Our team at Central has a collective 250 years’ experience within the technology industry – so not only can we provide the know-how, but cost-effectiveness and a professional service to boot.
We make it our mission to be seen as an extension of our clients’ IT teams, so if you need our help short-term to solve a problem in the long-term, let’s talk.
Here at Central, people are at the heart of the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of everything we do.
We started out on our IT journey back in 1991, and our mission and ethos haven’t changed. We’re a family-run firm that pride ourselves on our integrity, honesty, and objectivity – and we make IT stress free by keeping it as simple as possible.
But it’s our people who make this all possible. Get to know them more in our staff spotlight.
Name: Thomas Lindley
Job title: Technical engineer
Department: Engineering
Sum up your role at Central in one sentence:
The Azure Guru.
What three words would your colleagues use to describe you?
Helpful, knowledgeable, and comical (I hope!).
And what do you enjoy most about your job?
No two days are ever the same. We have customers with all different kinds of technologies, so supporting them means I am exposed to new challenges and scenarios all the time.
Check your phone, what was the last emoji you sent?
Crying laughing face (😂) and the monkey see no evil (🙈).
Who was or is your biggest inspiration?
It has to be my mum – she always made sure that I had everything I needed growing up and did everything she could for me and my brother.
You’re hosting a three-course dinner party, what’s on the menu?
Garlic and chilli prawns to start, steak, veg, and chunky chips for main, and a warm brownie with ice cream for dessert.
Back to Central, what makes the company stand out?
We have a team of highly skilled staff, who really care about our customers – meaning we always go out of our way to provide the best, most headache-free service possible.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself we might not know:
I’m a certified personal trainer!
What would the title of your autobiography be?
Don’t look back, you’re not going that way.
Central’s mission is to ‘restore faith in IT’ – tell us more about what this means to you:
There are a lot of IT companies out there that promise the earth but can’t back it up – or throw massive costs at the customer once they’ve signed. Central works with clients to provide the service they want, need, expect, and deserve – and we’re completely transparent from the get-go.
If you’d like to receive more news and updates from the Central team, why not head over to our Twitter page or connect with us on LinkedIn?
Here at Central, people are at the heart of the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of everything we do.
We started out on our IT journey back in 1991, and our mission and ethos haven’t changed. We’re a family-run firm that pride ourselves on our integrity, honesty, and objectivity – and we make IT stress free by keeping it as simple as possible.
But it’s our people who make this all possible. Get to know them more in our staff spotlight.
Name: John Dillnutt
Job title: Purchasing Manager
Department: Purchasing
Sum up your role at Central in one sentence:
Varied – no two days are the same, and my knowledge and expertise are always at the disposal of the Central team and customers alike, whenever they need it.
What three words would your colleagues use to describe you?
I’d like to think they’d say helpful, thorough, and professional.
And what do you enjoy most about your job?
Providing an excellent service for Central colleagues and our customers – and showing just how stress-free IT can be, with the right support in place.
Check your phone, what was the last emoji you sent?
😊 – a smiley face. It’s very versatile!
Who was or is your biggest inspiration?
Stephen Hawking – he never let his health issues get in the way of his success. He achieved great things, lived life to the full, and had a wicked sense of humour – just look at The Big Bang Theory and The Simpsons!
You’re hosting a three-course dinner party, what’s on the menu?
For starters, it would be scallops on a bed of crushed, minted peas, then a huge mixed grill for main (veggies beware!), and a homemade apple pie with ice cream for dessert.
Back to Central, what makes the company stand out?
Here at Central, we offer a friendly approach to put our clients at ease, in what can often be a daunting topic. We keep it simple and fuss-free, and get under the skin of organisations to provide a tailor-made package of products and services that meets their exact needs.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself we might not know:
I was lucky enough to have been chosen by the Football Association (FA) to officiate on a round of 16 game in the FA Vase back in 2018 – Stockton Town FC vs Stourport Swifts FC.
What would the title of your autobiography be?
‘Things Happen for A Reason – They Make You the Person You Are!’
Central’s mission is to ‘restore faith in IT’ – tell us more about what this means to you:
For me, it centres around the word ‘trust’. IT is such a substantial outlay for all organisations, and there needs to be confidence that an MSP can provide the most suitable solution for their circumstances.
Central have seen the full digital transformation from on-prem to cloud over its 30 years of operation. This speaks volumes – not only highlighting that we understand the industry inside out, but also showing how we have nurtured many clients through their IT journeys over the years.
If you’d like to receive more news and updates from the Central team, why not head over to our Twitter page or connect with us on LinkedIn?
It’s no secret that the tech sector is facing increasing pressure on the employment front – not least because of the national IT skills shortage.
But offering custom learning routes, apprenticeship programmes present a great opportunity to help bridge the gap - both bolstering recruitment and introducing fresh knowledge and perspectives too.
That’s why, here at Central HQ, we’ve had a scheme dedicated to nurturing tomorrow’s talent since 2009 – set up by our very own client director, Mike Dunleavy.
And because we’re so proud of our apprentices’ contributions to the team – plus their willingness to dig deep and develop their expertise – we’re keen to showcase and celebrate each and every one of them.
So, first up, it’s our technical architect, Jordan Gallier. Take it away, Jord….
Why did you choose a career in the IT and tech sector?
I have always had a strong interest in technology, from being about three years old on windows 95 and windows 98. As my mother used to say, I was a bit of a wiz – and she always used to leave me to it!
After finishing school, I was set on pursuing a job in IT – and had been keen on the idea of an apprenticeship from the offset. Previously working at another company that went into administration, Mike gladly took me under his wing.
From coming in with next to no knowledge of the day to day working of networks and systems, Central provided me with the resources I needed to grow in my career.
Why was an apprenticeship the right choice for you?
It skyrocketed my career – giving me the chance to learn and gain experience at the same time. Working at a managed service provider (MSP) specifically, I have also been able to quickly progress in my role, becoming a lead engineer at Central with over eight years’ experience under my belt.
And how did you first find out about Central’s apprenticeship programme?
Central’s details were provided to me by my previous employer – it just so happened that I lived quite locally, and I drove, so it was easy to get to the office. It was a no-brainer for both Central and myself.
The opportunities that Central quickly placed on the table filled me with great confidence on this being the best step of my career.
What made Central stand out from other employers?
Central as an MSP was local, had a very experienced and knowledgeable team, provided a good sense of security when it came to the path they were taking in the industry, and there were great benefits for career progression that got me to where I am today.
Sum up your role in three words:
Collaborative, team-oriented, technical lead – I suppose that’s four, but they’re the perfect summary of my position at Central!
Can you tell us what a typical working day looks like for you?
This can vary, as my responsibilities at Central are very vast – and I love that no two days are the same. As a technical architect, I get involved in pre-sales – which is essentially providing system specifications for our clients.
But my role also involves lots of hands on work too – from implementing security solutions and provisioning new servers for customers clusters, to travelling down to customers to help them out with their own projects.
Finish the sentence – the biggest misconception surrounding apprenticeships is…
That it’s just cheap labour for companies, which is definitely not true. Organisations like to work with next-generation talent to help progress their career – and bringing an apprentice on board is the start of an investment into staff.
Take myself as an example, I have worked hard for over eight years and have progressed to now play a key senior role in the business.
What’s the most valuable skill you’ve learnt so far?
Work hard – not just for the business, but for yourself – and you will be rewarded.
How do you see your career path developing?
Having worked myself up to being a technical engineer and, more recently, a trusted technical architect, my career at Central has already developed significantly.
Moving forward alongside the management team, the ultimate goal is to continue to compete in a highly saturated market and ensure we always stay at the top of our game with the services we provide.
Finally, do you have any advice for would-be apprentices?
Start your career at an MSP that allows you to be guided by highly experienced and knowledgeable colleagues, whilst giving the freedom to carve your own path. It’s an opportunity that I’m extremely grateful for, and wouldn’t change if I had the opportunity to go back.
Central Networks are a strategic technology partner. Excellent technology is a given, customer service, trust and long-term relationships are what drive our business. We support CEOs, Heads of IT, IT technicians and transformation directors to ensure technology provides an edge to their organisations.
Company No: 02604843
VAT: GB 562 6919 13
