Alumni

Harry Trick

Career Path: Senior Manager, Forensic Technology - FRP Advisory
Location: Leeds, UK

I fell into my career by accident. I attended Northumbria's open day in 2006 and wanted to look at the Computer Games Design course. I went into the wrong room and sat through 45 minutes of the Computer Forensics introduction because I was too polite to leave and decided there and then that I wanted to change my path and study a subject that I really engaged with from the get go. After graduation I went into 'traditional' computer forensic investigations working on behalf of the police but soon found myself in the corporate world where I began my path into eDiscovery. Its been a while now since I started, but I look back and don't regret a moment of the journey.

What are you doing now?

I am a Senior Manager at FRP Advisory in the Forensic Technology team. FRP Advisory is a professional services firm, specialising in forensics, corporate finance, debt, restructuring and financial advisory, we deliver strategic solutions across a broad range of situations. Our five pillar services complement each other. We draw on experts within each of our service areas to put the best people in place for each circumstance. Working across the board, from multinational organisations to small enterprises, we develop effective strategies for all kinds of businesses. Every situation is tackled with FRP’s honest, clear and considered approach. I am responsible for the eDiscovery and Corporate Investigations practices and am a SME in short message data.

What was it about Northumbria that made you decide to study here?

I attended that 2006 open day, went into the wrong room and from then was hooked. The lecturers were engaging and the environment was ideal for me. I met friends on that day that became course mates, and to this day remain some of my closest friends. It just felt like the right place for me to be.

What was it like studying at Northumbria?

Looking back, I took some of the studying opportunities for granted. We were given as much support as we needed by both tutors and fellow students from the 'years above' and then when I started work and that network wasn't there in the same way, I realised how good we had it. The materials we were taught were largely relevant to the career path I chose and there are still things now that I use day-to-day that were learned at Northumbria.

How connected was your course with industry?

Very much so. I did a placement as did many of my cohort. I returned to the company I did my placement with upon completion of my degree. There were plenty of opportunities to peek into industry and we had a number of guest speakers who visited throughout the year too.

If you took on a placement during your course how did you feel this helped you in your career/ with your studies?

After my placement, I returned to Northumbria for my final year. At the end of that year, I sat my final exam on a Thursday and started back at the company I did my placement with on the following Monday. The placement reaffirmed my belief that this was the right career for me and it gave me the opportunity to start work immediately after my degree concluded.

What was the best thing about your course?

The people. My lecturers were brilliant and engaging. My cohort were supportive and entertaining and some of my (now) life long best friends were met at Northumbria.

How did studying at Northumbria help you achieve your career goals/ give your career an edge?

Northumbria set me up perfectly to embark on may career. I learned a lot of technical knowledge that was crucial in the beginning but I also learned how to be authentic and myself which as I have progressed up the ladder so to speak has been crucial in becoming who I am today.