FDI was founded in East Sussex by Rod Flavell, Julian Divett and Jacqueline Divett in 1991. The company focused on IT recruitment until acquiring Mountfield Software in 1995. In 1998 the name changed to FDM Group to reflect this acquisition and the company began hiring, training and placing their own Consultants on-site with their clients. In April 2005, FDM Group floated on the Alternative Investment Market, raising £3 million net for the company. By 2009, the company completed a management buyout led by Rod and Sheila Flavell and Andy Brown, with the support of Inflexion, to once again bring the company private. In June 2014, FDM listed on the UK Stock Market, this time valued at £308 million on the LondonStock Exchange.
Training and initiatives
FDM Group's model involves recruiting recent university graduates, returners to work and ex-forces to turn into consultants for their clients. Individuals go through several weeks of training in one of FDM Group's academy facilities before signing a two-year contract with the company to work as a consultant. As consultants, the employees work on the site of their clients which are mostly in the banking and finance industry. FDM Group has a Women in IT initiative focused on hiring and inspiring women to pursue jobs in STEM fields. As part of their efforts, they have sponsored the 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 everywoman in Technology Awards in London. FDM Group also has an ex-forces initiative, which began in their New York academy as the Veterans Initiative. Through this, they have partnered with the British Forces Resettlement Services and signed the Ministry of DefenceArmed Forces Corporate Covenant as well as a US ArmyMemorandum of Agreement with the Army PaYS Programme. In New York, FDM Group has sponsored the Wall Street Rocks charity concert and marched in the Veterans Day Parade to further support the cause of helping veterans find jobs.
US Training Academies
FDM Group has two academies located in the United States. One is in New York. It opened in 2011, and it is located at 14 Wall Street, New York, New York, 10005. In 2016, FDM Group opened a training center in Virginia, located at 1805 Library Street, Reston, VA, 20190.
Controversies
In February 2016, a class action lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court of Southern New York by Grace Park against FDM Group Holdings PLC and FDM Group, Inc., alleging state wage violations under the US Fair Labor Standards Act. In March 2017, the United States District Court of Southern New York found in favor of FDM Group's motion for dismissal, finding that FDM Group correctly classified academy trainees as non-employees, and therefore, are not entitled to compensation. The Court also found that the termination fee stipulated in the Training Agreement signed by Park did not constitute a "kickback", and that Park failed to provide sufficient details regarding unpaid work. In April 2017, Park filed an appeal with the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, Park v. FDM Group, Inc., case number 17-1030.
