PAST WINNER INTERVIEW
PC Consultants
AWARD CATEGORY: Promoting Opportunity through Social Mobility SIZE OF COMPANY: SME (team of 27) WHERE BASED: Ryde, Isle of Wight TYPE OF BUSINESS: IT Support and White Glove IT Services PROFILE: Jonathan Thornton JOB TITLE: CEO and Managing Director Company Background PC Consultants was founded in a Ryde basement in 1993 by Mike Parsons and Sean Colson, the respective ‘P’ and ‘C’ in the name. 33 years later, the company has grown into a multi-million-pound business, providing discreet, high-level IT support, cyber and AI consultancy as part of its White Glove services to family offices and high-net- worth clients within the UK and across the globe. Boasting a dedicated team of IT professionals with over 500 years of combined experience, the business also offers flexible support agreements, 24/7 access to expert teams, remote monitoring, and consultancy, all with the freedom of no long-term tie-ins
What inspired PC Consultants to apply for a King’s Award? We always felt we were different, in our partnership, [in our] more caring approach to customers, [and in] our ethos of creating real opportunities in IT, irrespective of personal circumstances and academic achievement. The King’s Awards, being the highest official award that any UK business can receive, validated this. We wanted to recognise our achievements but in doing so act as an exemplar to others, through this national recognition that carries international reach.
Importantly, this was our second attempt, with the feedback from our first application giving clarity and really helping to show what we needed to add and enhance. The advice was real and highly constructive, encouraging us to re- apply, which we did and achieved success. How would you describe your experience of the application process? Very good. The King’s Awards helpline was easy to access and provided clarity when needed. Sections carried guidance but the questions had to be read carefully in the context of the section and Award to avoid duplication and get only relevant key aspects across. Did the process reveal any new insights about your business or performance? Definitely. The experience made us take the blinkers off and delve deeper into the business, to consider aspects of our work from different perspectives, something we rarely have time to do.
How did you prepare for your submission?
Initially, we profiled other businesses that had received the Award and also spoke with our Lord-Lieutenant’s office, which was extremely helpful, giving us a different perspective. We then considered the questions posed with a reality check on each, often from those outside the business who knew us well and would be honest in their views. This gave us a great starting point to then move forward based on reality.
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