East Midlands Instrument Company are electrical contractors (predominantly supplying the power and water industries) who have over 160 employees and an annual turnover in excess of £5 million. Working directly for the senior management team I developed database applications with Paradox 7 using ObjectPAL to meet the following needs:

• Keeping employee records
• Organising the allocation of employees and subcontractors to various sites
• Analysis of costs and income on various jobs
• Keeping records of orders (including financial details)

I also tightened up their management accounts forecasting spreadsheet to increase the speed with which forecasts could be accomplished and to aid comparisons with real figures.

On the management’s request I prepared an extensive, fully indexed manual (over 7000-words) that clearly explained all the features of the database.

My work for East Midlands Instrument Company began as a four-week placement organised by Lincolnshire TEC. This was extended to eight weeks by the directors who have since stated that they were ‘Very satisfied’ with my work and that I made ‘…a significant contribution’ to the company.