Pictured above: (l-r) Len Daniels, Toshiba Sales Manager for
Education and the Public Sector, Sam Read (winner) and Guy Bates,
XMA Business Development Director
Nottingham IT solutions specialist, XMA has given a young IT
genius a helping hand onto the career ladder as a nationwide search
for 'The Next Bill Gates' comes to an end.
Samuel Read, who attends West Suffolk College and starts
university in September, was shortlisted from entries from around
the UK and whisked to a private members' club in Central London to
impress a panel of judges at an 'Apprentice-style' interview and
presentation.
'The Next Bill Gates' competition is the brainchild of
Ruddington-based IT provider XMA, suppliers of IT solutions and
systems to higher education institutions and public sector
organisations throughout the UK. Along with the company's partner,
Toshiba, XMA launched the competition in order to give aspiring
first year university students a head start in the ever-developing
world of IT.
As well as the title 'The Next Bill Gates', Sam's prize includes
£3,500 worth of tuition fees, a Toshiba laptop, a prestigious
summer 2010 placement with XMA and the services of a mentor for his
first university year. Sam also won a Toshiba LCD television for
his college.
He said: "I am thrilled! It hasn't really sunk in. My new laptop
is already helping me so much and I'm really looking forward to my
placement at XMA knowing it will give me a real head start when I
go to Uni' in September. The competition has given me
confidence to present and back up my ideas for the future and I
also received some great feedback about my current work. I can't
wait to see what the future has in store with an award like this
behind me."
The entries were judged by XMA Business Development Director Guy
Bates, Toshiba Sales Manager for Education and the Public Sector,
Len Daniels and editor of specialist education magazine, SecEd,
Peter Henshaw.
Guy said: "Sam was an exceptional candidate. He not only
presented confidently and credibly about educational computer
gaming, but also convincingly supported his view of the market, the
business opportunities and his plan for growth. We were convinced
that Sam had the clearest plan for success as well as a passion for
the use of gaming in learning and teaching."
Sam has now started a placement here in Nottingham working on an
education gaming project. Guy added: "We saw that Sam had the
potential to learn in our business and also immediately contribute
fresh ideas. By the end of the project, Sam will have developed his
business plan as well as his team work, leadership, analytical and
planning skills."
Runners up in the competition were Aaron Parker who attends
Barton Peveril College and Chris Greenhalgh who attends Shrewsbury
College of Arts and Technology. They were each awarded £50 in
book tokens.
The real Bill Gates is not connected with this competition and
he has not endorsed it or any products, services or businesses
associated with it.