PC Help at Home where
you need it most !
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Founded in 1995 as Wallace & Chan Business & Computing Solutions - HK 1997 Changed to Wallace's Solutions - HK
Founded in 1995 as Wallace & Chan Business & Computing Solutions - HK The business commenced in Hong Kong in July 1995, as Wallace & Chan Business & Computing Solutions. Initially supplying PC support to home and office users, the business developed into supplying software training, PC upgrading and troubleshooting, custom made PC system building and configuring, with some network involvement. Some insurance, investment and manufacturing companies were among our clientele - as well as a department of Hong Kong Polytechnic, several Foreign Embassies and many churches. Assisting individual PC owners at home though, continued to be our main business. 1997 - Changed to Wallace's Solutions - HK Mr Chan "moved out" to pursue large scale network projects while I moved into assisting schools in Hong Kong - including Carmel, the Norwegian, Kellet, Discovery Bay, PC Lau and continuing good links with Hong Kong International School I organised a "Build your own Computer" training session for 30 students from the school as part of a project week. This was greatly enjoyed by all involved. 1998 - Wallace's Solutions - UK After the country changed hands to a new government, the Visa situation became uncertain in Hong Kong, problems and delays in the issuing of new visas prompted my return to my home town in Scotland. Having worked for 6 months on a fixed term contract for a large computer company, to provide training assistance all over Britain, I enhanced my training abilities while teaching at hospitals, homecare establishments, and medical/doctors' surgeries (as well as to sales & factory production staff) by teaching groups of people of greatly differing PC capabilities. Use of MS Windows and NT as well as MS Office and E-Mail were the main subjects. While the existing Hong Kong business is still operated in some part by Mr Victor Chan, I started to rebuild this small business again - now operating in Dumfries in South West Scotland, officially from 1st October 1998. In Dumfries initially, the main service being offered was MS Windows and MS Office Training to personal and business customers, moving back into PC repair, software assistance and PC problem diagnosis. I spent some time enhancing my knowledge further and producing my own training literature, with the result that I was equipped to provide a better training service for the future. My services are supplied around Dumfries and to around 15 miles into the local countryside to farms and the like, as well as families at home. I also became involved with night class teaching and offered many different computer courses, to maintain and build my experience. During 2000 along with a business partner a web site called dumfries-nights.com was set up and operated - it's goal was to provide a place for advertising the night life of Dumfries as well as accommodation for tourists and locals alike. Many bars and restaurants were approached, but local interest was poor. Another business variation on this was created dumfriestown.com, which only got as far as a draft web site, and never officially launched. At this time my main business of Wallace's Solutions moved back into providing accountancy services to a few establishments - whether by just supporting users of accountancy packages such as Sage and QuickBooks or to actually doing the accounts for clients to final P&L, Balance Sheet stage and tax filing. Web page design at a very affordable price was also added to the list of services made available to clients. 2001 The Foot & Mouth animal epidemic effected this region in March 2001, business was very slow, as countryside visits were prevented. Dumfries-Nights.Com ceased and DumfriesTown.Com unfortunately never got off the ground as it was felt the market place was not ready for it.. Never the less I kept up my teaching skills again via Adult Education night classes, for those who were able to venture out. 2002 During 2002, business has got back to normal and now is growing, thankfully. With an increased range of services, I hope to attract more clients while looking after existing clients to a greater degree by diversification of services. Business services have been extended further - with administrative assistance to a local business and also to assisting in a property letting venture.. I gained ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence) qualification this year, as otherwise I am actually not qualified in computers, other than by my years of experience in computers dating back to the Pet (1981), Commodore 64, 286, 386, etc Yes I remember the Sinclair ZX and Atari too!!! During 2003 a client requested that I handle the administration and bookings for a Holiday Letting website. 2004 saw much assistance to an organisation with product development In 2005 much assistance was given to a transportation company with regard to administration and company development. Another client wished to raise their web presence and is now at the top in most searches in Google. I would like to achieve MOUS (Microsoft User Specialist) status in 2005, but time is always a constraint.... I surely know the majority of it already. Future One can always have hope for a more stable future and to continue to take care of the customers who depend on me.
Overview of Education & Work Experience My name is Robert Fergusson Wallace, I was born and grew up in Dumfries, Scotland. Aged 41½, I am married with two young children. I spend my "spare time" renovating the house we live in. Education & Qualifications Educated originally at Noblehill Primary School and Marchmount High School, I progressed to Dumfries Academy gaining 7 O'Grades, 3 H'Grades, 2 CSYS and also 1 O'Level, 1 A'Level. I studied further at Dumfries & Galloway College of Technology for 3 years gaining initially an SND followed by SHND in Business Studies with Marketing and Personnel specialisms. I have also studied towards ATT and CIPFA Accountancy exams, but found the theory boring....! Experience Dumfries Working for Dumfries and Galloway Regional Council, I initially worked for Management Services for 1 year before transferring to the Finance Department as a trainee where I worked in Audit, Financial Accounting, and Rates & Payments Sections. London Moving to London at age 24 to experience a busier life, I worked initially for Accountancy agencies with Mecca Leisure and Mercury Communications, before becoming Office Manager for 4½ years at Structures and Computers Ltd of Croydon, a fast growing computer and engineering stress analysis establishment / business, at that time. Hong Kong At age 29 I was curious about working overseas and went to Hong Kong. Here I worked for 6 months as an accountant for Food and Beverage Solutions who were managing agents for some restaurants around the City, before taking up a part-time position as a computer technician / trainee at Hong Kong International School (a 2,000 pupil American fee-paying school). Here I learned to build PCs and Servers; cable the building with network cables; install software and support users with their problems. This school was certainly ahead of it's time in the use of IT and was a great experience. Here I realised that there was a great demand from the Western population for "Computer help" at home from a fellow westerner : therefore I went forth to set up my own business to work for myself successfully during the next 3 years. Dumfries After the hand-over to the Chinese, Hong Kong Immigration Department were not so helpful in processing paperwork quickly enough, prompting a return to the UK and Dumfries in 1998. I went to work for Criffel Micro Systems for 6 months to provide training and general PC maintenance around the UK on a large contract; after which I assisted the Scottish School Board Association with assistance in administration, accounting and computers for 16 months, especially with the setup and running of the Furbie Foundation with R. Frazier Ltd for the "Refurbished Computers for Schools Project". Due to the closure of the Foundation and the alleged (widely publicised) financial problems of the SSBA at the time, the organisation could not afford to keep me on. When I ceased with Criffel Systems, I started teaching night classes for "Adult Education" and have now continued to do so for over 5 years now, including: "Computers for Absolute Beginners"; "Introduction to the Internet"; "Microsoft Office Introduction" and a more advanced course in Microsoft Office. Having provided around 40 course, it was felt that most students had now learned the basics that wanted to , and so I ceased offering these courses in 2004. I have worked for myself part-time since returning to the UK and since June 2000 have been fully self-employed providing computer and accountancy assistance as my own business "Wallace's Solutions" to people at home and some small businesses. The business was badly affected by the "Foot & Mouth" restrictions. Currently I am concentrating on supporting the Microsoft Windows and Office software, Accounts and Internet access using Explorer and Outlook. PC hardware upgrading and fault / problem diagnoses is also catered for. I have additionally created several web sites as well. The business is aimed at assisting individuals and small businesses whereby service and assistance can be on a personal and individual one-to-one basis.
I am continually looking for ways to
use the skills and experiences |
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Last modified: Sunday, 27 November 2005 |
