Hot Seat: Roger Bearpark

What was your first job and how did you get into IT?
After leaving school, I saw an advert for a trainee hardware engineer that included a company car, which was the biggest pull. However, once I joined they told me I wasn’t old enough to be included on the company car scheme so they gave me a car allowance instead. I went out and bought a sporty Fiesta.

Which IT vendor do you think has been the most influential in the past 20 years?
There have been many, but if you look at the past five years I rate server and storage virtualisation vendors such as VMware and Compellent as examples of companies that are changing the way we think about, and use, technology.

Which mobile device do you currently use?
I rely heavily on two devices – my T-Mobile Vario 4 and my HP Tablet PC. I would be completely lost without the two of them. They let me work anywhere at any time, which is vital for my job.

What technology would you save in a fire?
If there were a fire, I would save my CD/radio player. Relaxing with some good music or listening to the radio really helps me unwind. Anything from Mozart to heavy rock does it for me.

If you were not in IT, what would you be doing?
I would be a deck chair attendant on a long sandy beach in Cornwall. That way, I could enjoy the summer outdoors and relax in the winter.

Is now a good time for people to enter the UK IT profession?
Yes. We are just beginning to see new people enter the market who have been learning about computers and IT at school from an early age. This will bring a fundamental change to the market. IT will no longer just be a business profession, as it has so many social implications. IT won’t just be a career choice, it will be a way of life for tens of thousands of people.