New ComputerXplorers Owner Named Wiltshire Un-sung Sporting Hero

In just a few short months he has given up a career as a global technology quality manager with a multinational firm and set up his own new business, ComputerXplorers Wessex, which allows him to combine his passion for technology with a deep commitment to help improve the lives of young people.

Alan (47) has been involved in youth football coaching for over 10 years and was the FA National Coach of the Year in 2004. Together with his wife Wendy (47) he set up a football club in their home village of Derry Hill and today the club has over 200 members aged from six to 18. The couple recently helped raise over £300,000 to build the club house and Alan’s unsung sporting achievements were recognised at a ceremony held earlier this week at the Corn Exchange in Devizes.

He decided to leave his job to pursue a life-long ambition to run his own business. The company was looking for voluntary redundancies and Alan seized the opportunity. He liked the concept of ComputerXplorers and decided to buy the franchise for the Wessex area. (Wiltshire and East Somerset).

ComputerXplorers is a new concept in computer-assisted learning for children, aged three to 13. Classes are designed to integrate the use of ICT across all curriculum subjects and encourage children to embrace technology as part of their every-day learning from an early age.

The company runs classes in subjects such as Crime Scene Investigation, digital animation and robotics which combine computer skills with a fun factor.

Said Alan: “Having spent 25 years in IT, and as a self-confessed gadget fan, I was keen to share and spread my enthusiasm for technology to a younger generation. Technology is increasingly becoming embedded in everything we do, whether it be for work or play, communication or creation.

“ComputerXplorers offers a way to educate through the use of technology, not in a geeky, on their own type of way, but in groups, collaboratively, working on stimulating, creative projects. For example a group of seven year olds making their own computer animation, how cool is that!

“Today’s Primary School children are going to be part of the communication generation not the computer generation and it is essential we give them the tools, skills and confidence to use the technologies of the future.”

He continued: “In talking to people involved with primary education I realised that meeting desired levels of ICT provision was a real challenge for some schools. ComputerXplorers gives schools and parents the choice of additional and complementary primary education in ICT, and by including ComputerXplorers sessions either as part of the weekly timetable or an after-school activity, schools can significantly boost children’s skills levels.

Mastering technology skills at an early age increases children’s e-confidence and competence, and gives them a great head start to their education. ComputerXplorers runs classes that are inspirational and designed to enhance the learning skills of children of different ages and abilities. Younger children can develop their academic readiness skills in core areas such as literacy, numeracy, science, music and art. Older children can improve their computer and software skills, as well as learn some exciting new computer-based subjects.

ComputerXplorers provide all the equipment, materials and top quality instructors so there is nothing for schools and pre schools to do other than provide the room and the children.