Build Your Systems Knowledge Through Practice
We've trained people who didn't know the difference between RAM and ROM. Six months later, they were diagnosing boot failures and optimising startup sequences. Our autumn programme starts in September 2025, and honestly, it's quite straightforward. You learn by doing actual work on real machines—not just watching videos or reading manuals.
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What You'll Actually Learn
Most courses throw theory at you for weeks before you touch anything. We start differently. On day one, you're opening a case and identifying components. By week three, you're running diagnostics on actual performance issues.
The programme runs for 18 weeks, meeting twice weekly in Stoke-on-Trent. And look, we're not promising you'll become a senior technician overnight. But you will understand how systems work, why they slow down, and what you can do about it.
- Hardware fundamentals—what actually happens when you press the power button
- Diagnostics training using tools professionals rely on daily
- Performance analysis so you can spot bottlenecks before they become problems
- Real troubleshooting scenarios with machines that have genuine issues
- Practical optimisation techniques that make measurable differences
How the Programme Unfolds
Foundation Phase
You'll learn component identification, basic diagnostics, and how to read system reports. We start with desktop systems because they're easier to work with, then move to laptops once you're comfortable.
Weeks 1-6
Applied Diagnostics
This is where it gets interesting. You'll work on actual performance problems—slow boots, memory issues, thermal throttling. Each session involves real troubleshooting, not simulations.
Weeks 7-12
Advanced Optimisation
The final phase focuses on performance tuning and preventive maintenance. You'll learn to balance system resources, identify upgrade opportunities, and plan long-term improvements.
Weeks 13-18
Who'll Be Teaching You
Both our instructors work on client systems during the day and teach in the evenings. They bring current problems into class—sometimes literally, with permission—so you see what actually happens in the field.
Rowena Blackwood
Lead Systems Instructor
Rowena spent eight years at a managed services provider before joining us in 2023. She's particularly good at explaining why things fail—not just how to fix them. Her diagnostic sessions are detailed, sometimes brutally honest, and students always leave understanding what went wrong.
Petra Lindqvist
Performance Specialist
Petra handles our optimisation cases and teaches the advanced modules. She's Swedish, moved here in 2019, and has a talent for spotting performance issues others miss. Her approach is methodical—measure everything, change one thing, measure again.