A Caerphilly IT firm has promoted a former apprentice as it looks to develop its own talent on its journey to tripling in size across the next three years.

Team Metalogic, based in Caerphilly, was founded in 2003 by Mike Parfitt and 15 years on, the team has grown substantially with the business launching its own telecoms division this year. Like many Welsh businesses, one area that has been a challenge is recruiting the best talent. However, the business has made some key strides in recent years in order to combat this.

Mike said: “Finding the right people with the relevant skill set has been difficult at times. There have been instances where the talent has had the right the skill set but they haven’t had the attitude that fits best into our team. A couple of years ago we identified where we would need to be in terms of succession and team skills, that’s when we made the decision to bring in an apprentice.”

Step forward, Jamie Richards.

After leaving college at the age of 17 with little idea about what he wanted to do in life, the young man from Cross Keys soon got his chance after a stroke of good luck.

Jamie said: “It was actually my mum who spotted the position. I was busy looking for jobs in all different industries when one day she sent my CV into Mike at Team Metalogic.

"After going in for an interview Mike and the management team decided to take a punt on me. Aside from using my own computer, I knew next to nothing about IT but I was keen to learn. I started full-time almost immediately and I haven’t looked back since.

“Being in a classroom didn’t appeal to me so to learn the trade in the hands-on way I have has been fantastic. I’ve learned more in my two years here than I ever would have imagined.

"Lots of my friends are in university but I genuinely don’t wish I was there with them. I have disposable money that’s my own and I can still socialise; it’s best of both worlds in my opinion.”

After two years of working in the business, Jamie has now been promoted to Level 1 Support Engineer.

Mike said: “Jamie has worked incredibly hard since coming on board two years ago. He has always had an excellent attitude to develop and to learn but it is his dedication to the business which has impressed me the most.”

Grant Santos, CEO of Educ8- one of Wales’ largest providers of apprenticeships and training and development programmes, said: “Apprenticeships offer individuals the opportunity to enter the world of work, learn new skills and develop their knowledge and competencies in their job role. The opportunities available range from Level 2 to Level 5 and support individuals as they progress in an organisation.

“Apprenticeship frameworks include a blend of vocational, technical and essential skills training enabling individuals to achieve accredited and nationally recognised qualifications and it is great to hear that Team Metalogic has worked with Jamie and are promoting from within.”

Mike said: “He fully deserves his promotion and the model on which we have developed Jamie will be used to bring on new talent into our business across the next three years as we look to triple the size of the business in that period.”