IFSDG: How long have you worked at
Encompass
Corporation?
Andrew: For as long as it's been in the
country - just over a year.
IFSDG: How many people work at
Encompass Corporation?
Andrew: In the Glasgow office we are
currently at around 10 but it's growing quickly.
Internationally we are more than 35.
IFSDG: What is the vision for
Encompass Corporation in
Glasgow?
Andrew: Encompass chose Glasgow as the
location for our first office outside of Australia and as the
company's UK base. We are aiming to expand sales,
marketing and development capabilities significantly in order to
make the impact we made in Australia (and more!) here in the UK.
Our vision is to give lawyers, accountants and bankers the full
picture, fast - by changing the way they search and review
commercial information.
IFSDG: What's a typical day for you?
Andrew: A typical day for me is to
firstly have some coffee and go through my email to catch up with
the work the Sydney office has done overnight. I determine if there
is anything urgent before we start our day, working on current
development tasks and towards our next monthly
delivery.
The Glasgow development team's primary focus is on UK Data
Provider implementation. We take the output from the business
analysis and product team and integrate data sources like Dun &
Bradstreet, Companies House, Creditsafe, Land Registry and more,
all in one place. We focus on providing new data services to
our customers as quickly and reliably as possible.
IFSDG: Why did Encompass
Corporation choose to locate in the IFSD in
Glasgow?
Andrew: We see Glasgow as the perfect
place for a number of reasons but primarily because of the people
and the support infrastructure it provides access to. We wanted to
be central within Glasgow, to make the most of what the city
offers, as well as be close to our customers, partners and also our
rivals for talent recruitment!
IFSDG: Three good things about
working in Glasgow?
Andrew:
- The talented people we have, with the Universities and
Companies based here
- What the city itself has to offer in terms of infrastructure,
facilities and services
- The work life balance available to people - easy commute, good
housing, schools etc
IFSDG: What is your biggest business achievement
to date?
Andrew: There are a number of
achievements I'm very proud of, but I think I am a proudest of the
ones that feel less "business-like" and involve giving people the
opportunity to excel and achieve themselves. Things like convincing
a major Investment Bank to hire a graduate who failed their entry
tests directly as a professional. Or giving a struggling developer
the chance to move into business analysis. Seeing these people
achieve things and be successful themselves helped the organisation
and felt more rewarding than occasions when I've received awards or
recognition myself.
IFSDG: What is the best investment you ever
made?
Andrew: Apart from my premium Spotify
account, as I love to listen to music while I work, I would have to
say the best investment I have made was convincing my wife Laura
she should put up with me and marry me. I'm definitely
benefiting from that now... Her, not so much...
IFSDG: Which businessperson or company do you most
admire and why?
Andrew: Tough question, but people like
Bill Gates and Elon Musk are the type of business people that I
admire the most. They are both creative and technical and
have incredible passion and belief in wanting to change lives for
the better.
IFSDG: What did you want to be when you were a
child?
Andrew: Sounds sad but I have always
wanted to be a Software Developer or a professional Squash Player,
but wasn't quite good enough at Squash.
IFSDG: What do you do to relax away from the
office?
Andrew: I like to spend time with my wife
and children, play squash or watch Celtic.
IFSDG: I-Phone or Android?
Andrew: Android
IFSDG: Favourite band?
Andrew: The Smiths
IFSDG: Favourite sport?
Andrew: Squash
IFSDG: Favourite movie?
Andrew: The Dark Knight
IFSDG: Sunshine or snow?
Andrew: Snow
IFSDG: and finally, what three words sum you
up?
Andrew: Obsessive, compulsive and
tall.