Simon Newton CEO from ITPS
Did you always envisage working in the world of technology?
Definitely not! But after graduating with a degree in physics I was attracted to a role at IBM as a systems engineer because I perceived them to be a company with a great name and reputation.
Over the next 20 years I developed a career in sales and marketing and gained experience in the IT and telecoms sectors. My last job was with a start-up business developing small nuclear reactors which has given me a particular interest in renewable technology.
What attracted you to your current role?
It is a joy working with a group of capable, bright, interesting people delivering complex solutions in a growing market. Being able to make a positive difference to people through the technology solutions we offer is very rewarding.
What tips would you give to someone looking to work in the industry?
I think it is important to not focus on technology but instead focus on the impact technology can make on organisations and on people’s lives. Also work hard to be a good communicator – they are rare.
What are you currently working on?
Many of our customers work in the education, charity and healthcare sectors and are therefore dealing with serious social issues. I think technology has to be part of the answer and can have an extraordinary impact if we get it right. That is daunting but also terribly exciting.
If we take education as an example, there’s a McKinsey study which shows that the best educational outcomes result from using technology a lot or not at all. The worst case is to use technology a little, but not enough for staff and pupils to become really comfortable with it. With limited experience and very limited budgets, how do educators make the right decisions?
Technology is becoming too complicated and too risky for non-technical organisations to manage, yet it is crucial to their success. They have to have a trusted partner to guide them. That’s the part I get excited about.
What is your fondest career memory?
I always prefer to look forward, but working with great people who have become friends has been a highlight.
Who are your Heroes and Mentors?
Definitely people I know rather than business celebrities. A former colleague, Stephen Haighton, gave me my first management job and taught me how to make decisions with integrity and motivate and manage people.
What is the best piece of business advice you have received?
Make sure you are doing well paid, interesting work with people that you like.
What does someone entering the industry need to be aware of?
That this is a serious sector to work in now – for one thing we’re at war and cyber-crime is an existential issue for all organisations.
What are your remaining career aspirations?
Creating a brand with ITPS that makes an impact on people’s lives. Too much of the industry is just about flogging stuff to make money, which misses the potential that technology can deliver. My ambition is for ITPS to make a meaningful contribution to the social issues that we face – helping our customers to address deprivation and to improve health and educational outcomes.
What item of technology are you lost without?
If I’m allowed three… my iPhone, kindle and electric car.
How do you like to unwind?
With four and five year old daughters that can be a challenge so finding a quiet corner is lovely on occasion. As they grow up I would love to start sailing again which is a long held passion.