There are many agencies and firms that claim to provide you with 'jobs' and 'training', but there is one particular company who seem to con some people and a few of my friends. Unfortunately, I was also conned by this disgraceful firm. This firm is called 'FDM Group' in Brighton. The FDM Group and their 'Academy' are simply a con. There are a few things you should be aware of. They mostly do NOT guarantee you a job in IT after training with them. Most people I know were forced to take up positions that were not related to their IT training. For example, one of my friends who wanted to be a Java programmer, was never actually given a job in programming. He was doing theitr training and then pushed into a 'call-centre' job doing some IT support - nothing to do with Java or programming. They struggle to put people into their so called 'guaranteed' jobs so they pressure you into doing something a 'bit' different - so they make their money out of you with a 'huge' cut in commission out of your wages. Two of their salesmen, Andy Brown and Jon Taplin, are SO good at doing this - beware, they are con artists who are very good at their skills in convincing people that they are getting a good deal with the 'so-called' IT jobs. In fact, FDM Group employs sales people who have NO knowledge of the IT industry - it is no wonder that they supply jobs that are not even IT-related. Jon Taplin is a racist bastard who has conned a number of vulnerable graduates who were desperately seeking their first pot of gold at the end of that IT rainbow.....until they realise that Jon Taplin will screw your dreams so that he can earn his fortune by selling rubbish to young graduates....The FDM sales team are purely money-minded with no care or thought for IT careers of those poor individuals who are desperately seeking their first pot of gold at the end of that IT rainbow.....

I was simply conned from the start with FDM Group and their dodgy contract. They make you sign a contract before your training which contains some dodgy clauses in it. They employ an old faggot called Scott Black who is used to lure people into this deception and false contract. Scott Black is another guy who has been used to contribute to the scams of this firm. The FDM Group like to scare-monger people into doing the jobs that they want you to do - not what you actually want to do or have trained to do. After starting with the FDM Group, I heard rumours from a few other colleagues about the scare-mongering tactics that are used. Mr Scott Black has been employed to do this scare-mongering activity - he tried to threaten me once and he forced me to take a job with a Bank that was not IT-related and nothing to do with my vast range of IT skills. They might seem nice at first, BUT after you sign their contract you are simply stuck in a rut with their scam. Please note that you are NOT guaranteed 2 years of work after training. Their contract contains a dodgy clause in it - they can 'terminate' your contract at any time and for any reason at all. If you don't comply with their wishes of doing any bullshit job then they can use their dodgy contract to get of rid you at any time. While I did their training, I received hardly any support from their trainers who were pathetic in their attitude towards me. Most of the training itself is copied off the internet - you could probably find much of it already on the net. This is what other trainees told me after I started with FDM. After using and abusing me, they discarded me like a piece of shit. They used me as their scape-goat. FDM Group were going through some turbulent times and struggling – so to cut their costs they got rid of several people and did not even pay any final wages to them. They were discarded like pieces of shit that are flushed down the loo....

I later discovered that this firm was investigated for fraud and deception. In particular, their operations manager, Steve Buxton was investigated and convicted of several counts of fraud by conning many graduates and promising them with careers and training in IT. He obtained 1000s of pounds from vulnerable graduates who were desperately seeking their careers in IT. As well as a convicted fraudster, Stephen Buxton is a racist bastard who is obsessed with money. Their CEO, Rod Flavell and his assistant, Julian Divett, were also investigated for their part in the scam. It is astonishing that this firm is still in business and still trying to con many innocent graduates. What a shame to the IT industry....

Anyone thinking of going to FDM Group (Academy) should think again. Just avoid them and go directly to the companies (and avoid the huge commision cut in wages). That's what I did and it's much better. The FDM Group mainly give pathetic training, lack of support, bullshit jobs and a dodgy contract. It's no wonder they were investigated for fraud and deception.

All the best,

Teresa.