I worked for PA (PA Technology as it was then) in Cambridge from 1980 to 1987. I learnt an awful lot in that time. It is true, the academic requirements were quite strict, a 2:1 or first from a 'red brick' university. However, some incredibly innovative stuff was done there in record time. Unfortunately, the parent (PA Management Consultants) wanted to change the technology area from product development to 'pure' consultancy (giving advice). The result was a general rebellion by many of the staff. This resulted in the establishment of Scientific Generics, The Technology Partnership (TTP) and several smaller successful product development consultancies all of whom wanted to develop products not give advice.

As a result, we rarely came across PA in the marketplace - we were in different markets although just before I retired in 2000 we started to see them trying for product development contracts again. I was a founder of TTP and I did much of the electronics/software recruitment there and we still used the 2:1/1st red brick criteria when sifting through CVs. As an intellectual baseline it is as relevant now as it was back in 1980.

Ian