Utilize celebrates a big birthday!

On the 18th of July 2022, Utilize celebrates its 25th anniversary. What a milestone. What a journey. What next?

I began trading from my old, vacated bedroom at my parents’ house in Upminster. A 27-year-old with a vision of building the number one trusted IT support company in Essex. This goal has been achieved by some margin.

Utilize’s employee number currently stands at 120 people, our group turnover exceeds £18m and we operate from our state-of-the-art, purpose-built office in Basildon. The time has flown, and I sometimes reflect on how we have achieved so much.

The answer lies in our unique approach. We are a people-focused organisation, that has always placed clients and staff at the heart of our decision-making process. Our comprehensive skill sets and dedication to teamwork have assured our shared success.

Over 25 years, our people have built a culture in which we want the best and expect the best from each other. At the heart of our business, is a desire to create opportunities for our people, to have fun, and to know that customers can trust us to deliver on our promises.

Our business has evolved over the years and will continue to adapt and grow. I remember the days when it took 27 floppy disks to install a single application – occasionally discovering that disk 26 was corrupted and having to start that long process all over again. I can hear some of the younger readers wondering what the hell a floppy disk is!

Giving back to society is part of our DNA and I feel so proud to see our people positively impact the local community. Through our staff Community Day initiative and fundraising activity, our partnerships with Havens Hospices, Essex Wildlife Trust, and Kids Inspire, continue to be a rewarding and worthwhile experience.

We stand out from our competitors as leaders in technology delivery and creators of a great place to work, winning over 30 local, national, and European awards. Thank you to our industry and suppliers for recognising our people and the difference we are making to our customers and the way they consume technology.

It’s a dream to be where we are today, surrounded by such bright talent and leaders within our industry. All with a passion to maximise the returns our clients make on their investment in technology.

But our journey has not been all plain sailing, we have had to navigate the rocky waters of two economic recessions, the bursting of the internet bubble, Brexit, and most recently the pandemic. Thankfully, on each occasion, our people and business, have emerged at the other end, more robust and agile than before.

None of this would have been possible were it not for our customers’ steadfast belief in our capabilities. So, on behalf of our team, I would like to thank our clients for allowing us to partner with you and trusting us to guide your business to greater heights. Your technology is in safe hands.

I feel privileged to be the founder and CEO of this exciting company and, with my trusted friend and Managing Director, Guy Hocking, I look forward to the next 25 years, steering our business to even greater success.