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Meet Andy Watts

What he does:

As MD of Virtua my responsibility is to utilise my own drive, ambition and passion coupled with leadership experience, to continue taking Virtua in an exciting direction. For me it’s all about the people as well as constantly improving, growing, changing, setting goals and looking forward. 

As someone who has spent most of his adult life in management, I thrive on developing and leading people so they can achieve things they never thought possible – it’s at the heart of what I do. I have been working in the Telecoms industry for 20 years with more than half of that time spent in senior management roles at companies like Cable and Wireless, Energis and Motorola.

How he works:

Our business – and most businesses – should be about how you get the best from people. We might start a conversation with a potential client about a certain project, but ultimately it ends up being about our people. I have total confidence in the Virtua team and for good reason. There isn’t a single employee I or my co-directors haven’t worked with on a project during our time in the industry.

We always promise to provide the best people and delivering on that promise is the most important thing for me about how we do business. When I hear from one of our customers that we’ve delivered exactly what we said we would, I feel very proud.

Who he is:

Outside of the office I am a keen Ironman tri-athlete. That means swimming 3.8km, cycling 112 miles and running 26.2 miles in one hit. It might sound like hard work to some, but I actually enjoy it. It means spending 15 to 20 hours a week training - much of which happens when other people are sleeping but I always make sure I find the time to be a dedicated husband to Barbara and doting dad to daughters Sally and Rachel. When I’m not swimming, cycling or running myself I’m usually sitting by the side of the pool watching my daughters swimming, usually at 6 in the morning!

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Meet Rob Brown

What he does:

I’m an engineer and project manager – and one of the three directors at Virtua. I have over 20 years experience in the Telecoms industry, managing projects both in the UK and overseas and my business ethos is to get every job done to the very best of my ability.

At Virtua I firmly believe that underpinning every project, conversation and handshake it is the people, not software or products, that are the most important element of our relationships with our clients. It is what differentiates us from other organisations. 

How he works:

Having worked for several large corporate companies, the challenge of setting up and running a small business was irresistible but right from the start I wanted to ensure the working environment at Virtua was a fun, relaxed one.  Everyone at Virtua is considered a friend first and business colleague second. There’s no business hierarchy here. Yes, I’m a Director, but everyone pulls together. I’ve known a lot of my colleagues for 20 years now and I trust them implicitly.
 
Who he is:

I married my wife Anne in 1996 after a 10-year engagement and we have a daughter Francesca who never ceases to make us smile. When I’m not out cycling or spending time with my family I enjoy following West Bromwich Albion and Leicester Tigers and getting along to Twickenham as often as possible. My motto is “better to regret doing it than not doing it” and perhaps this is just one of the reasons why there’s rarely a dull moment in my life. As a keen cyclist who rides up to 150 miles a week I’ve been described as “slightly mad and driven” which is probably very true.

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Meet Brian Watt

What he does:

As one of the founders and directors of Virtua I love my work and I try very hard to ensure it is a place where everyone enjoys working just as much as I do. During my career I’ve gained a wealth of knowledge and experience in telecoms engineering which dates back more than 20 years. I’ve been privileged to work with scores of people, many of whom are now colleagues and friends and form the backbone of the Virtua team. It’s the people more than anything else that makes Virtua the place it is and that’s why I enjoy it so much and take such pride in the work we do for our clients.

How he works:

The working environment is very important to me. I look forward to work each day because everyone here cares about what they’re doing. When it’s your own company, you only employ the best people with an aptitude to learn and the skill set needed. As a result, we have a tight-knit team who work well together. I’m proud of what we are capable of doing. We have created a team of people who have demonstrated they can turn their hand to an impressive range of projects. Having a target, doing something well and achieving your goal - that’s what makes me smile. More than anything else I love seeing Virtua and our people succeeding.

Who he is:

I am married to my wonderful wife Tracy with two children, Jodie and Daniel.  
I’ve always tried to stay fit and active and my love of sport has led me to all kinds of different activities from the Three Peaks Challenge and fell racing to triathlon, cross country, football and marathon running. The 2010 London Marathon was my 16th consecutive race and I think it’s my bloody-mindedness and determination which tends to see me through the toughest of challenges. Somehow I always seem to get through because, quite simply, I don’t like giving up.
For me it was the challenge of building a highly skilled, reputable team like the one Virtua has now established which first drew me to the prospect of setting up a small business. This is all about creating something special and trying to enjoy it every step of the way.