A lifestyle choice turned out to be a savvy business decision for IT specialist Brendon Wallace and his company.
BC Technologies is a leading IT specialist that supports small to medium businesses with IT and security requirements. The company provides a comprehensive range of support, including cyber security, IT support, phone systems, network design, CCTV and video management.
Founder Brendon Wallace started the company in 1994 from an office in Staines, just outside London. After spending up to six hours a day commuting, Brendon realised something needed to change. He and his young family visited Scotland, realised they could make a good life there – and set about making it happen.
Today, the company has its headquarters in Dunoon, Argyll, with a smaller office in London – and it’s proving to be a worthwhile move. Clients range from professional services to leisure and construction, and BC Technologies supports businesses right across the UK.
BC Technologies has been located in the Argyll region of the Highlands and Islands for over 10 years now, and Brendon has found cheaper office space and costs of recruiting, along with HIE support and a much shorter commute, to be among the many benefits.
Quality of life and business benefits
“It was definitely the right choice for us,” says Brendon. “At the time, we had a very young family, and I barely saw them. I only lived 45 miles from work, but if I wasn’t on the M1 by 6am I had no chance of getting to the office by 9am. I was shattered at the weekend, and then it all started over again on Monday. We looked at house prices close to the office in Staines, and a comparable house was just a ridiculous price.
“We’re quite impulsive, so when we came to visit Scotland we noticed the house prices in the estate agent window and couldn’t believe it. We started to look into it. Could we live up here? Could I commute? We ended up buying a lovely house in Innellan, Argyll, with great views over the Clyde. For the next couple of years, I stayed in Staines during the week, and flew home for weekends. I spent more quality family time despite living away during the week.”