This week we’ve been celebrating Ian Mellor’s 25th year at EPIX. Ian joined as a junior programmer in April 1998 and has seen EPIX grow as the world of tech has changed. As Ian explains:
‘Back in 1998 Tony Blair was Prime Minister, Bill Clinton was US President, Google was yet to be founded, and the International Space Station was about to be assembled. Tech was vastly different – the first mobile phone with a colour display (which just meant the text could be in red, green, blue or white!) was launched by Siemens and the Nokia 5510 was the most popular handset.
‘I was so excited to join EPIX, which then had just three employees and two big customers. We were based in a small office over a car rental shop in Stockport. Now we have 11 members of staff, customers all over the UK, and our offices are in central Manchester. I’m still as passionate about technology and programming as I was in 1998 and I’ve loved being part of this industry as things have changed. The way that technology helps us run our lives, and the way it’s simplified what were previously big onerous tasks, blows me away. I’m excited to see what will happen over the next 25 years.’
And what’s the best part of Ian’s job? ‘The best part of my job is walking into a customer’s office and seeing the difference that our software has made. It has allowed some of our customers to grow tenfold. I also love that we get to employ apprentices on the Degree Apprenticeship Scheme, and see them develop while working with us and studying at Manchester Metropolitan University.’
Managing Director, Mike Earl comments: ‘We are a tight knit firm that has grown with the times. Our staff are all dedicated and passionate, like Ian, and we are all committed to developing software that has a positive impact on people’s lives. We are very grateful to Ian for everything he’s done for EPIX over the last 25 years, and for the humour and fun that he brings with him – it’s been a fantastic journey so far and we look forward to celebrating many more milestones like this in the future.’
