Justin Atkins profile
Whether managing people, system integration or network administration – it’s all just a day’s work to Justin Atkins. And no wonder with over 13 years’ experience in software development, including 3 years as Principal Developer for Sage UK.
One of Michael Richards’ many protégés, Justin began working life as a software developer for Snowdrop Systems back in 1997. As one of the company’s first employees, Justin was responsible for much of the early software development that got Snowdrop off the ground and pulling in blue chip contracts in the HR software marketplace.
Back then, Justin was involved in everything from client specification, testing and implementation, through to R&D and helpdesk support. All of which set him up for an integral role within the Snowdrop team.
Naturally Justin’s roles and responsibilities developed over time and he soon became as much a mentor to other technicians, as a developer in his own right. He also developed a talent for strategic planning in line with the company’s vision to help bring the company forwards. Justin comments, “I always enjoyed programming because it’s such a creative and challenging process, but I soon recognised the importance of both leadership and strategy and how they impact the quality of technical development. ‘Doing’ is fun, but understanding the whys and wherefores is essential for staying ahead in the market.”
By the time Snowdrop was acquired by Sage in 2007, Justin was leading a team of 12 developers and in a perfect position to take on even more challenging projects – including developing links between Snowdrop’s HR software and modules from across the Sage Payroll suite.
Justin says: “When you go from a medium-sized company to a very large one, you really do have to punch above your weight. Working with Sage gave me just that opportunity, to really show what I could do and ultimately make a difference to a global company.”
Of course working for 2nd Head takes Justin to all sorts of companies, from start-up to large corporation. He says: “The fundamental objective for IT in business is always the same, to improve process management and increase productivity. That means the same principles can be applied to any business, regardless of the size or scope of the project. What a lot of people forget is that IT is not the challenge. The challenge is pinning down what your objectives are and then adapting your IT strategy to make it happen. ”
It’s just this attitude that encouraged Michael Richards to appoint Justin as IT Consultant for 2nd Head. He says: “Successful business relationships centre on trust. With Justin I know that I can trust him to complete every project to the highest standard and well within expected deadlines. I’ve always believed in hiring the right attitude and Justin has that in spades.”
