AN IT professional has become one of the youngest people in the country to gain a prestigious qualification.

Tim Matthews, 27, works at Swindon-based Lucent Technologies. He is a TA captain in the 160 Transport Regiment of the Royal Logistic Corps Volunteers.

He gained the Licentiate qualification from the vocational body City and Guilds after spending six months demonstrating his project management skills by developing a site for people interested in the TA.

Tim, of Chippenham, said: "There were four of us working on the site in evenings and weekends for six months, and it was like having two full time jobs. It demonstrates how in the TA members can use their civilian skills to benefit the forces."

The site is due to go live in early 2001. You can check it out through www.army.mod.uk/ta.