DCG Success Stories

Taking a BTEC in software at Derby College was the first step on the road to a fulfilling career in sustainable technology for chief executive officer Peter Evans.

Peter, who is 29, is CEO of rapidly expanding Derby-based business Orderly – a sustainability-focussed tech company that grows and implements order management, forecasting and inventory solutions for clients such as Starbucks, M&S, Eurogarages and Morrisons Supermarkets.

After GCSEs Peter took A-levels at Joseph Wright Centre but as someone who preferred practical learning, found the A-level IT too theory based.

He said: “Taking the BTEC in IT Practitioners (Software Development) after A-levels, though, complemented what I’d learned at A-level. I absolutely loved it.

The standard of teaching at Derby College was excellent; the pace of the course was good and as our class size was quite small, we all got individual attention from our lecturers.”

Peter completed the course with Triple Distinction and a course grade of 100% in every unit.

And he discovered the BTEC to be a huge advantage when taking his BSc Information Technology Management for Business  (ITMB) degree at the University of Manchester.

He added: “I was the only person on my degree course to have the IT software BTEC. It meant that I already had the basic knowledge needed to create a fully working app, and that gave me the confidence to do well. I smashed it!”

While a student Peter started freelancing at Orderly, joining the business as a front-end developer 10 years ago.

The practical skills he learnt at Derby College helped him to secure the freelance work, and over the past decade he has progressed from head of digital to commercial director then CEO.

Peter added: “Orderly is enjoying rapid growth as a business and we were even featured in the Times recently.

“We’re in an expanding market and it’s a great sector to get into. There are so many potential high-earning opportunities for IT software graduates with a couple of years’ experience that want to solve real-world problems such as the climate crisis.”