Founded back in 2015, we have gone from strength to strength over the past 5 years. It has been a rollercoaster ride, but we’ve loved it!
Our Directors and Co-Founders Mike Charles and Kevin Wyness have taken a moment to reflect and answer some quick-fire questions on our journey so far:
1. Do you remember how it felt when Escone was first established? And how has that changed over the years?
Mike: “It felt very strange picking up the company paperwork and all of a sudden becoming a director. Talk about imposter syndrome! We didn’t have a clue of the journey that this little business would take us on, but I think we have matured well as a business – not sure if we have matured personally though!”
Kevin: “A sense of relief and purpose. After months of discussing a business, we had finally taken the plunge. I still have that relief and purpose feeling today. Same stress levels but for different reasons. I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved to date”
2. What’s been Escone’s greatest achievements?
Mike: “We have had a lot of great moments over the last 5 years but putting in the hard work and growing slowly year on year is an achievement in itself.”
Kevin: “The greatest achievement is without a doubt the team we have built here at Escone”
3. What’s been the biggest challenge, and how did you overcome it?
Mike: “The biggest challenge certainly came at the start. It was a steep learning curve with little or no reward initially, but we ploughed on with resilience and sheer tenacity. In 2015, there wasn’t a lot going on in Aberdeen and we had to work really hard to get our name and skill-set out there.”
Kevin: “After the first few months we’d only delivered 5-days work. We were lucky that we could keep driving each other forward when things looked bleak.”
4. What’s been your fondest memory over the past 5 years?
Mike: “This has to be when we won our first contract in Dublin and we travelled as a small team for the first time. It was an amazing feeling as we started to put the band back together ?”
Kevin: “It’s difficult to choose a single memory. From our first contract to our first office. Possibly when we got confirmation on our first major contract in Dublin. I had a wee dance that night.”
5. Looking back 5 years ago, any words of wisdom you would give your “younger” self?
Mike: “The best piece of advice that I would give to myself is “The shy boy doesn’t get cake”. It’s not always easy coming out of your comfort zone but that’s how you grow and reap the rewards.”
Kevin: “Stick to your values, be true and do not sell yourself cheap.”
6. And finally, where do you see Escone in the next 5 years?
Mike: “We are working hard to grow our suite of services and products. I would also love to think that we will be seen as a company that promotes opportunities for our people and that we are still delivering a quality service to our fantastic clients – you know who you are ?”
Kevin: “I’d love to say from a yacht in the Caribbean! Realistically, I see us continue to evolve and further cement our reputation as a reliable, innovative company that clients trust and see as a partner that delivers real value to their business.”
A huge thanks to our wonderful team, clients, partners, family and friends for all your support to make all of this happen. We are certainly looking forward with optimism as we enter our sixth year in business!
