FluidOne - The Sheffield College Partnership Enters Fourth Year

30th January 2025

Since 2022, FluidOne have had the privilege of collaborating with The Sheffield College in sponsoring courses for young people to develop local talent.

Starting with one course, the partnership has since grown to include a T Level programme, a Higher Technical Qualification and an Industry Placement opportunity. As our latest placement student begins their time with us, we have been looking at the partnership and what it means.

What is the Partnership?

On a monthly basis, Sheffield branch team members visit The Sheffield College students in FluidOne-branded classrooms to lead workshops, masterclasses, and projects, with the goal of inspiring students hoping to pursue a career in IT. Placement opportunities and site visits supplement classroom learning, providing practical experience alongside theory – crucial in a competitive job market that is becoming harder for young people to crack.

We have partnered with The Sheffield College because they share this understanding that lectures alone are not enough, and education needs to evolve alongside the economy. The college has partnered with over 20 local businesses to create Employer Skills Academies, and we are proud to be among them with our FluidOne Computing (Higher Education) Academy and FluidOne Digital Infrastructure Academy.

It is also exciting that such a forward-thinking place of education exists in our local area. We have been a Sheffield-based organisation for thirty years and while a lot has changed, including a rebranding from Highlander into FluidOne Sheffield, our love for the city and South Yorkshire has remained constant. This place has been good to us, and we are glad to be giving something back to the local community.

Welcome Ricardo!

Following a successful debut year, we are happy to announce that FluidOne is continuing our industry placement programme in 2025. Currently studying the T Level in Digital Infrastructure, Ricardo Alexandre has been successful in bringing his talents to the FluidOne team. Ricardo joined us in mid-January 2025 with a view of fulfilling 315 hours in the workplace over the next over the next two years. He is looking to take advantage of this unique opportunity to balance classroom education with workplace experience, achieved by combining three days in a week in college, and two days within the FluidOne Sheffield branch.

Any Other Business

The placement is not the only form of recruitment that we have been partaking in – we have been lucky enough to have two more fantastic individuals join us at FluidOne Sheffield recently. After a three decades-long financial career in industries as diverse as transportation, publishing, and heritage, Dey Wilson has been with us since September 2024 as Group Financial Controller. Meanwhile, January-starter Lani Stephen will continue her blossoming IT career on the front lines of what we do as a Helpdesk Engineer.

It is only with the combined efforts of people with such varied roles and backgrounds that we can continue to perform at high standards. If you are seeking IT or cyber security advice, guidance, or support then please contact us, and our dedicated team will help you. With important events upcoming in the calendar, like Microsoft price changes, we want to take the stress out of your IT operations.

Article by Steve Brown - Managing Director, FluidOne Business IT