PNE recently welcomed Gary Surtees to the IT services department for a week-long work experience placement beginning on the 19^th July 2010. Currently a student at The Blyth School Community College, Gary was recommended to PNE by his aunt, PNE Development’s Tracey Moore, after he expressed an interest in working in IT.

While based in Felling at Design Works, Gary was able to liaise with clients, review websites, and prepare old computers for recycling while maintaining company software.  When reflecting on his time here, Gary said that the most interesting part of his placement was:

‘Understanding customer needs and finding out why they came to PNE. It made me realise that meeting with clients and listening to what they say is a big part of the job.

Listening to people’s needs in order to achieve their desired outcome is one of the key skills that I will take away from this experience. My time at PNE has definitely helped improve my communication skills.’

The experience with PNE has encouraged Gary to continue to pursue a career in IT; ‘The placement has highlighted aspects of the job that I was previously unaware of, but that I now recognise as key features. It has shown me that it is important to analyse a situation and to make a good judgement from the information you have gathered.’

Gary Nagel, Head of IT for the PNE Group, says that Gary ‘really contributed to the team. It has been a pleasure to have him at PNE, and I wish him every success in his future career.’