From developing new skills to taking on greater responsibilities, we speak to two long-serving colleagues about their experiences of working at SSUK and what has kept them here.
Technology has changed considerably over the past 30 years, and so has SSUK. We've grown, taken on new challenges, expanded into different markets and developed the expertise of our team along the way. But while much has changed, something important has stayed the same: our belief that the success of the business comes down to its people.
We recently caught up with two long-serving colleagues, Ronald McLaughlan, Service and Operations Manager, and Nicki McCahill, Senior Installation Engineer, to hear about their experiences, how their careers have developed and what makes SSUK a good place to work.
Twenty years of change, and still learning
Ronnie has been with SSUK for more than 20 years, making him one of our longest-serving colleagues.
He originally joined as the company's first service engineer, helping to develop the service team before becoming involved in installations and eventually moving into his current role overseeing service and operations. In that time, he has seen the business develop considerably, but believes its ability to retain the feel of a smaller, closely connected organisation has been an important part of its success.
"Everyone knows each other's name and there's no one off limits to talk to," Ronnie explains.
That accessibility extends to how people work together. Ronnie describes a culture built on mutual respect, where colleagues trust each other's expertise, take responsibility for their work and can make decisions without unnecessary layers of management. It's an approach that also benefits customers, who know they can speak directly to experienced people who understand their requirements.
For Ronnie, another reason for staying has been the variety. His working day might involve coordinating engineers, managing project schedules, resolving unexpected problems or visiting a customer site. The technology itself has also continued to change, bringing new opportunities and challenges.
"The company's given me room to grow," he explains. "I think everyone who's been here for a long time has had room to grow because they've grown with the business."
Investing in the next generation of expertise
For Nicki McCahill, SSUK has been his working life since leaving school in 2010.
Starting as a trainee installation engineer, Nicki learned from more experienced colleagues before progressing into a senior position, where he now helps train and develop newer members of the team.
His own development hasn't stopped there. Nicki decided to expand his skills further with an apprenticeship in electrical engineering, and was nominated as the SECCT 2nd Stage Apprentice of the Year 2026 earlier in the year. Although he narrowly missed out on winning Apprentice of the Year, he’s full steam ahead with his third year. It's an achievement we're particularly pleased to celebrate, and an example of how investing in people's development can benefit both the individual and the wider business.
For Nicki, gaining additional electrical expertise means being able to contribute more broadly to projects, particularly those involving architectural lighting, major LED displays and other installations requiring specialist electrical work. It also strengthens the range of skills available within SSUK's own engineering team.
Nicki believes the opportunity to keep learning is one of the things that makes the job rewarding.
"No two days are the same," he says, describing the variety of work that can take him from installing interactive displays in schools and universities to working on substantial audiovisual projects at major sporting venues.
Having joined when the company was considerably smaller, he's also seen how its systems, processes and approach to training have developed to support new colleagues and increasingly complex projects.
A workplace that works around people
Career development is important, but both Ronnie and Nicki highlight something equally valuable: the people they work with and the culture around them.
For Nicki, that includes a practical approach to flexibility and family life. As a parent of a young daughter, he appreciates being able to adjust his working hours when needed, including making time for the school run and arranging his day accordingly. It's a relatively straightforward consideration, but one that can make a meaningful difference to everyday life.
Ronnie believes the company's working relationships are built on people having confidence in one another and taking pride in delivering work to a high standard.
That sense of responsibility is reflected in customer feedback too. While the technology naturally matters, customers regularly comment on the professionalism, helpfulness and approach of the people delivering their projects. As Ronnie puts it, the aim is for technology to work so well that people barely notice it. What they remember is the experience of working with the team.
Growing the business, developing our people
As SSUK continues to develop, we're creating opportunities for colleagues to take on new responsibilities, broaden their experience and gain additional qualifications.
Ronnie's progression from service engineer to Service & Operations Manager, and Nicki's journey from trainee to senior engineer while working towards a further professional qualification, are two examples of what that can look like in practice.
We know that good people need more than interesting projects. They need colleagues they can rely on, opportunities to learn and an environment where their contribution is recognised.
After more than two decades with SSUK, Ronnie offers perhaps the simplest explanation of why that matters:
"I've never felt like I've been standing still at SSUK. The business has grown, I've had opportunities to develop alongside it, and the work continues to change and challenge me. Twenty years on, I still enjoy what I do."
Learn more about life at SSUK
Explore more about what to expect from working with us, and register your interest in joining our team.
