The calm reliability behind tlmNexus’ information systems

The consistency and confidence his team provides to colleagues across the organisation come from constant vigilance, careful judgement and deep experience in keeping complex systems secure, compliant and reliable.

IT has never been just a job for James. It’s something that has been an integral part of his life for as long as he can remember. He says, “I suppose it’s in my blood. I’ve always been surrounded by computers. My dad was a software engineer, so I grew up with Sinclair ZX Spectrum and 286 computers around the house. I was building PCs with him from about the age of five.”

Through college and university, James knew that IT was his future, and while he initially thought software development would be the path, he soon realised his strengths lay elsewhere. “I didn’t quite gel with programming,” he explains, “so I studied Computer Networks Management and Design at the University of Portsmouth, learning from very talented professors.

James began his working IT career in Brighton with a property investment company and from there, joined his father’s business, ICS Electronics, which specialises in the Global Maritime Distress and Safety Systems (GMDSS). It was a formative period that lasted seven years, and took him far beyond the UK.

“I worked on several projects deploying GMDSS coast guard systems in several countries around the world incuding Tanzania, Lybia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and various upgrades for the US. I also played a big role in the UK National NAVTEX system upgrade. This system broadcasts navigational information over radio including weather warnings; comparable to a electronic version of the shipping forecast. It was a very fulfilling job, and all about safety and reliability.”

Finding his place at tlmNexus

After several years, James felt the pull of change, which led him to tlmNexus.

“I came across an IT manager role here that I really wanted,” he recalls. “I didn’t quite have the experience at the time, so I joined as a support engineer. From there, I worked my way up.”

Eleven years later, James leads the IT function.

Recently he was reminded of his longevity and deep familiarity with the organisation. While helping his team resolve an issue, James realised he’d come across it before, and dug into the system history. “I found a ticket from ten years ago, and realised I’d fixed the same problem back then,” he laughs.

More than systems and support desks

James’ enjoyment of his role goes well beyond technology. “I appreciate being able to influence the direction of the business,” he says, “and making sure what we do supports how our platforms and products are delivered to customers.”

Much of his focus today is on compliance, security and resilience, ensuring tlmNexus’ systems are robust, secure and fit for the environment they operate in. Of course, James is also helping steer innovation, from business intelligence to carefully considered AI capabilities.

“It’s about trying to move the company in the right direction,” he says. “That’s very fulfilling.”

A familiar purpose in a different domain

With his maritime safety background, James sees a strong thread connecting his earlier career with his work today. “Before tlmNexus, I was building systems designed to save lives at sea,” he explains. “Here, it’s about airworthiness, safety and robust processes which make it quicker, easier and more likely that aircraft can be operated and maintained correctly.”

They are different domains, and there is the same underlying principle: reliability matters.

A culture that feels like home

“Working at tlmNexus feels like an extended family,” he says. “There’s a very low staff turnover and most people have known each other a long time, which can be very valuable for our customers.” He describes an organisation where collaboration is natural, not forced.

“It’s never siloed. In IT especially, we speak to everyone every day. It’s open, welcoming, positive, and it genuinely feels like a second home when you walk into the office.”

This feeling was apparent from the very start. “I remember my induction week, meeting people across the business and realising just how knowledgeable and professional everyone was. It gave me real confidence that I’d joined the right company.”

The invisible work that keeps everything running

James is acutely aware that when IT is working well, most of what his team does goes unnoticed. “We’re constantly monitoring infrastructure and security,” he explains. “Systems alert us to disk capacity, vulnerabilities, patching issues including dodgy updates that could compromise systems if applied blindly.” That invisibility is a mark of success. “If nobody notices there’s been an issue, it means we’re doing our job properly.”

Responsibility, trust and judgement

In a fast-moving security landscape, James believes trust in systems is non-negotiable. “Vulnerabilities often come from things slipping through the cracks,” he says. “That’s why we use guardrails, test groups and controlled patch libraries, and have a very robust disaster recovery plan in place.”

James and his team have built much of this resilience over time. “When I took over as manager eight years ago, a lot of this simply didn’t exist and especially since Covid, we’ve put a huge amount of effort into becoming more predictive rather than reactive.”

That work now pays dividends, including passing demanding certifications with confidence.

“Things like Cyber Essentials Plus, and now the Defence Cyber Certification are challenging, but they’re manageable because we’ve put the foundations in place.”

James is also keenly aware of the financial responsibility that comes with his role.

“IT departments can spend money very quickly,” he says. “I’m always conscious of budgets and making sure we’re investing wisely. We don’t have enterprise-scale IT budgets, so things like AI need to be approached carefully and for the right reasons.”

Pride in people

James doesn’t talk about systems or platforms when he’s asked about what he is most proud of building at tlmNexus: “My team,” he says, without hesitation. He describes building a close-knit group over several years, particularly through the pressures of the Covid period.

“They’re a great bunch of people. We work efficiently, we get on brilliantly, and there’s a real sense of trust and teamwork.”

Looking ahead

After a year focused on consolidation, of which James says, “some of it has been slow, policy-heavy and not the most exciting,” James is energised by what’s next. “Now we’re in a position to deploy new capabilities, onboard new customers and explore automation and AI in a sensible way,” he says. “Seeing that groundwork pay-off is really satisfying.”

Outside the office

Away from IT, James has no shortage of passions.

He’s a keen cook and says, “I make a pretty mean roast”, and a lifelong car enthusiast. With friends, he co-founded a race team competing in Citroën C1 Racing Club endurance racing, including most recently a 24-hour race at Portimão in Portugal where he acheived a podium result for his class. “We’ve built some quite serious IT into the racing setup,” he says, smiling. “Mobile data stations, mounted screens, 3D-printed housings are just some of the activities bringing our ‘IT knowledge’ to motorsport.”

He’s raced against many notable racing drivers, even The Stig.

He is also a motorbike enthusiast, riding a limited-edition Triumph Bonneville Scrambler (our photo shows James with his dog Boomer looking for all the world like he's ready to ride); he has a past interest in brewing his own beer which is fuelled by an existing interest in real ale. 

James is never short of projects. “I don’t get bored,” he says simply. “There’s always something to work towards.”

And here’s something surprising

As well as being a leader in IT, James’ Dad is a big Led Zeppelin fan, and in fact James Page was named after the band’s beloved founder Jimmy Page.