By Isle of Wight Observer
My design career started in Sydney, Australia working for global engineering company, Arup. From there I moved, with my wife, Fi, to Melbourne and then London, working with global bluechips on outdoor advertising campaigns and animation projects for a number of years. Being a Caulkhead, I felt the pull back to the Island from the hustle and bustle of the big smoke, and so we returned to the Island to start a family.
From here I started working with A.J. Wells & Sons, in Newport, working predominantly on marketing their Charnwood stoves across the UK and Europe. In the back of my mind, I always had the idea of doing something for myself and, just as my second child, Jasper, was born, I decided to take a huge gamble and start up my own business, a small design and digital company called Brightbulb.
Ten years on from that decision and the business has grown to a team of 10 working in state-of-the-art offices at Branstone Farm.
The most highly decorated agency on the Island, we are working with businesses across the globe on their marketing exploits.
Our most recent accolade came in the form of a national award, The UK Company Culture Award. This one means a lot, as it is in recognition of our corporate and social responsibility as a business, as well as the charity work that we have done on the Island, over the years, through our slightly nuts Mince Pie Marathon initiative.
I am so incredibly proud to bring an award like this back to the Island. Each time an Island business has a chance to showcase what they are about on a regional or national level, it makes me smile. It’s an opportunity to show the country what an incredible place the Island is, and the talent that we have here. We have a lot of hidden gems here and it’s always great to let the rest of the country know about it.
Writing this column has really made me think and reflect on the culture that we have built in the business. During my time as an employee, I was lucky enough to work with some incredible businesses, spearheaded by really driven individuals who made work interesting, challenging and fun. As I reflect now, I feel like we have built the same ethos into Brightbulb.
Walking into the office feels like coming in to see the family. The team are so supportive of each other, work incredibly hard and a lot of the work they are doing is incredibly innovative. It’s an office full of banter, and the culture is something I am proud to have helped build. Initiatives, like the Mince Pie Marathon, have really helped with building our team culture. It was a chance to involve the entire company in selling and distributing mince pies across the local community to raise thousands of pounds for local charity, The Wight Brainy Bunch. The initiative not only brought festive cheer to the business but also the Island community.
I think that is what our Island is all about… community and supporting one another. I’m proud that Brightbulb has won awards, I’m proud to own a growing business, but I’m prouder that it’s on the Island.