What is your role at Appdrawn?
I am the Managing Director and also the Principal Technical Consultant. This means I oversee all day‑to‑day operations and I provide directional strategic consultancy alongside the Consultancy Team.
How did you get into the software industry and what inspired you to set up Appdrawn?
It all started with Photoshop 2.5 in the 80's and then learning HTML in the 90's! The inspiration to set up Appdrawn was just seeing project delivery being miscalculated industry‑wide and thinking it really needed more technical input in the early stages.
What do you enjoy most about running the business?
The way we're able to support our clients with some really creative and successful solutions.
What makes Appdrawn different from other software development companies?
We're really interested in what our clients do and why. We'll make strategic suggestions as to how technology can support those aims in the best value way. We're not here to be paid to burn up billable days.
What's the biggest change you've seen in the technology/software industry?
The move away from 'desktop applications' to web applications and mobile applications. Slowly but surely, everything has become more mobile and universally accessible.
What advice would you give a business considering bespoke software?
Spend more time and money on the preparation, planning and specification and you won't need to worry about the delivery.
What's the best piece of business advice you've ever received?
Business growth is taking a series of educated risks.
What would you be doing if you weren't running a software development company?
Some other kind of problem solving – research maybe?
What piece of technology/app/platform could you not live without?
It's got to be a smartphone. It's transformational to be able to achieve so much on the go and with such ease.
What's your favourite film or TV series?
Taskmaster!
