In this episode, Richard talks to Amanda Stewart. Amanda is the managing director of Edinburgh-based MSP Illuminate, which supports local businesses and charities. And the business has a very strong focus on putting customer service as their number one priority. 

She started the business when her daughter was six months old to give herself the flexibility her employer wouldn’t. Amanda says it’s been a lifestyle business so she can be available for her kids whenever they need her. 

Amanda tells Richard about the kind of businesses she works with, and how she spots people who won’t be a great fit. Customer service and relationships with clients are vital for Illuminate, and she explains how she prioritises that. 

Amanda and Richard also discuss Illuminate’s MSP stack, how to talk about cybersecurity with clients and the challenges of being a business owner. Plus, Amanda explains why she decided to become a GDPR consultant and how that’s helped her clients. 

She also reveals why she still works in the technical side of the business, her thoughts on the labels ‘techy’ and ‘geek’. And she and Richard discuss being a woman in a male-dominated industry and how schools and those in the MSP industry can encourage young people into the sector. 

Mentioned in This Episode

• usecure
• Business for Good
• CompTIA
• The Tech Tribe
• ConnectWise Evolve
• Federation of Small Businesses
• British Chambers of Commerce