In the spirit of our 50th year as a technology company in the publishing industry, we’re excited to share that three of our employees have recently received long service awards. Andy Sutherland, Alan Ramsay, and Kenny Shepherd have hit an impressive milestone – 25 years of dedicated service at PCS. To show our appreciation for this remarkable achievement, they will be presented with special gifts and a personalised keepsake, featuring the front page of the newspaper from their first day at PCS.
In an age where enduring loyalty is a rare gem, it’s a special moment to honour those who’ve been an integral part of our company for a quarter of a century. Let’s explore their extraordinary career paths, beginning with Andy Sutherland. Known to most as Suthy, he reached the impressive milestone on the 5th of May, 2023, and his story is a testament to his passion for the software side of the business. Back in 1998, Andy made the pivotal decision after 18 months to shift his focus from his computer science and electronics degree to experiencing writing software.
Starting his career at PCS as a junior software developer, he immersed himself in the intricate world of our advertising system, known as ABS. His significant impact on this system allowed him to progress from a junior role to becoming a fully-fledged software developer, and later, to a senior software developer position. His impact was notable as he extended his efforts across three iterations of the “Self Service” advertising module, from its initial conception to the subsequent version referred to as “Advance.” In this capacity, he played a pivotal role in moulding the ABS solution that we presented during that period.
However, his involvement with our advertising system didn’t conclude there. With remarkable proficiency and dedication, he orchestrated the transition of ABS development towards web-based technology, paving the way for the innovative Ad-CRM platform. Andy’s unwavering commitment to our software solutions is truly exceptional, and it is no surprise that his outstanding contributions led him to the esteemed position of ABS project manager, where he continued to be a driving force in our mission to provide cutting-edge publishing software solutions.
When ABS was to be rewritten and turned into Knowledge Prospect, Andy became the lead developer. One of his most significant achievements was migrating the advertising data for Midland News Association from ABS into Knowledge Prospect. This was no easy feat and took a lot of time and dedication to ensure it was done without error. Andy’s experience in the field really shone through as it was completed within a restricted time frame. Reflecting on his career, Andy shared:
“What I love most about my job is the constant variety. No two days are the same. It’s a mix of making immediate changes for clients and embarking on long-term developments to meet their future needs. My entire journey of learning and growth has happened right here at PCS, and the evolution of technology over the years has been nothing short of incredible.”
In January 2020, he achieved a well-deserved promotion to development manager, broadening his horizons from advertising to editorial, production, and circulation. Collaborating closely with our development director, Simon Weare, Andy plays a pivotal role in keeping our software at the forefront of the ever-evolving publishing industry. Over the last 18 months, his latest venture has been working alongside our talented team to reinvent our editorial and planning tools. Keep your eyes peeled for that one!
Suthy is a man of very few words, but like most of us in the company, he has a great sense of humour. He frequently explores the Wrekin through hiking, and during the November 2020 seasonal lockdown, he dedicated his lunch breaks to walking up the Wrekin, covering an impressive total of 131.36 miles, that’s 25000 ft climbed.
He’s an extremely talented developer who is meticulous with his approach. When it comes to his work, he leaves no stone unturned, scrutinising every detail to make sure everything is just right. It’s his commitment to excellence that sets him apart as a developer, and we’re lucky to have him on our team. We look forward to a future that continues to benefit from his dedicated and resolute service. Andy, your hard work, and commitment is continually appreciated.
Next up is Alan Ramsay, who joined PCS on the 9th of November 1998. After working at The Scotsman newspaper in Edinburgh, he took the opportunity to join PCS as a contract manager. Initially, Alan was looking after the installation and configuration of products around the newspaper production area. His focus was our Classlinker and Planlinker tools along with Pulse. Alan’s role transitioned into managing installations of our Advertising Business System (ABS), however, he found himself deviating into more technical areas too. This natural progression saw him moving into the Technical Services team as an engineer, aiding in configuring customer hardware/software solutions, along with on-site maintenance for legacy systems and hardware.
As the “dot com” era approached, PCS looked to provide online services to our customers, and so, after discussion with senior management, a role was created, Network Systems Supervisor, which took Alan into a different area, and gave him the opportunity to focus on networks, internet, and what we now call cyber security. Later Alan became the Technical Services Manager, looking after the hardware/software engineers and network technicians, which included the setup and configuration of our customer hosting environment as we switched from on-premises installs to hosted “software as a service” solutions.
Alan has always been hands on with customers and tech partners. He would often be on site helping the technical services team, going the extra mile (especially on trips to Jersey and Guernsey).
Because of this approach, he’s often been invited as an esteemed guest to many lunches, evening meals, expos, and grand events. Alan became a champion axe thrower at the InterSystems partner day 2023, alongside one of his most significant experiences when he went to the Formula One British Grand Prix with Dell Technologies, not once, but twice, which for a motorsport enthusiast like Alan, this was a dream come true. A few years previous to these visits to Silverstone, Alan got the chance to meet fellow Scot, and ex F1 driver, Paul di Resta at a DTM race in Belgium. The photo captured happy faces, yet Alan came close to accidentally clotheslining him as he rode past on a bike.
In 2022, following a shift in senior management, he became Head of Operations. Alan said
“whilst this is a massive change to my previous role, I wanted to take a leap of faith. I have such a breadth of knowledge across most areas of the business, so I felt up for the challenge. It’s been quite the journey, and already I’m settling into my new role and looking forward to the adventures that lie ahead.”
A man of quick wit and sarcasm, Alan is known for dry humour within the company. He has a great eye for detail and has worked extremely hard building relationships with our tech suppliers and partners. He supports our fantastic teams and aids in driving the business forward. He has played a pivotal role at PCS during his 25 years and long may it continue. We extend our heartfelt gratitude for the hard work and dedication he has consistently brought to the company.
Last but not least, we have Kenny Shepherd. His journey with PCS began on the 16th of November 1998, when he joined the company as a software developer at our Albrighton offices. Kenny’s first project at PCS was the creation of a canvassing module for NCS, which was subsequently delivered to the Midlands News Association. This undertaking marked the beginning of a venture that would reshape Kenny’s career in software development. It led him to the ambitious task of rewriting PropertyNet in Microsoft DotNet. Not stopping there, Kenny further elevated his craft by reimagining the PropertyNet client and server desktop publishing elements as cutting-edge Adobe InDesign plugins, making Kenny Product Manager of PropertyNet.
However, Kenny’s journey isn’t just about technical achievements, he also identified a unique opportunity and played a significant role in successfully selling PropertyNet to Countrywide, the UK’s largest group of estate agents at the time. His strategic acumen positioned the product to secure a contract that would ultimately generate incredible revenue throughout its lifetime.
As the partnership with Countrywide continued to flourish, Kenny’s role evolved. He engaged in insightful consultations with the Countrywide project manager, exploring the realm of possibilities. This collaboration culminated in the initiation, design, and creation of a sophisticated system designed to harness Countrywide’s PropertyNet data. The result? The seamless production of all Countrywide’s window cards, a significant contribution that extended and fortified the Countrywide contract.
In recent years, Kenny’s ingenuity has once again taken centre stage. He is the man behind the creation of the self-service module within Knowledge Prospect, known as Assist. This innovative module is now operational, generating revenue for publishers even while they sleep, a testament to Kenny’s commitment to progress. Kenny’s journey at PCS also includes being a vital part of the team that brought the new Pulse system to life. Currently in use by our esteemed customers.
Kenny has a great sense of humour, often laced with a touch of sarcasm, much like his other colleagues. He is a man of many hobbies, a serial novelty seeker. Constantly acquiring gear for new hobbies, mastering the skills, and then getting bored and moving on to the next adventure. During his motoring phase, he travelled the picturesque landscapes of South Shropshire and mid Wales, experiencing the breath-taking scenery both on the smooth tarmac and the rugged off-road terrain.
Reflecting on his quarter of a century with the company, Kenny remarked,
“PCS has been a worthwhile company to spend 25 years working for. It’s great that even after all this time I’m still learning new skills which keeps the job interesting and challenging. The people are what really makes PCS what it is, and we always seem to attract people that like to get along with others and have a professional attitude. Times are a changing now, but I think we have what it takes to thrive when change offers opportunities.”
Kenny’s invaluable contributions at PCS have been indispensable, and we hope this legacy persists. We deeply appreciate his commitment and tireless efforts that have consistently enriched our company.
We truly express our deepest gratitude to our latest inductees into the esteemed Long Service Club. Their remarkable accomplishments over the past 25 years have been a source of success and immense pride for our company, and we eagerly anticipate the bright future that awaits this dedicated trio.
Cheers to twenty-five years.
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