Archived news from Meantime IT
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There’s a moment whilst experiencing something new when you finally and truly 'get it'. It’s when everything clicks into place and you wonder why you haven’t always done it this way, or why you didn’t think of it first.
Meantime secure with ISO27001 re-audit
The world, judging from Mark Zuckerberg’s appearance in front of the US Congress, is waking up to the importance of information security. The how, why and where personal details are used affects us all in this increasingly connected online world. It ought to be a topic everyone is addressing but sadly only 1% of companies care enough to achieve the all-important ISO27001 certification.
Meantime developing Heathrow’s ‘Here to Help’ system
Earlier this year, Heathrow Airport asked us to develop a new system to take its reservist management programme to the next level. Learn more at the link about how we brought our ‘bespoke’ approach and deep knowledge of Heathrow’s systems to bear on this exciting challenge.
Meantime help Eggbase go free range
A Cumbrian agri-IT business has grown by 400% and expanded its reach from Cumbria to across the UK and Ireland, and even as far as New Zealand, thanks to a cloud-based software application developed in collaboration with Meantime IT.
Meantime is code for job satisfaction
The solution to a problem isn’t found by us all talking the same language, it’s in making ourselves understood.
New hardware upgrades for the Meantime team
With the first half of 2016 keeping the Meantime crew quite busy, we thought we’d treat the hardest working development team around to some shiny new hardware.
PHP Great migration
Meantime IT has been working behind-the-scenes to upgrade to the latest language, security and performance features of PHP 7. Here’s how we managed a complicated migration to ensure our clients had a seamless transition to this vastly more powerful version of PHP.
‘Bad weather, crisis management and incident response’: Fenner’s Airport IT keynote address
Meantime’s MD Fenner Pearson addressed a gathering of air industry senior managers and directors at the Airport IT conference in Barcelona in November.
A year of working hard and playing hard
The latter half of this year has been very busy here at Meantime HQ. We’ve been awarded the ISO27001 certificate, which took a huge amount of planning and resources, but now means we’re one of just a small number of organisations in the UK who have this prestigious IT security standard.
Meantime joins the select group of UK businesses awarded prestigious IT security certificate
Meantime IT has been awarded the ISO27001 standard, making the Kendal-based business one of just a fraction of UK organisations to achieve this prestigious information security certificate.
RetroCo goes future with Meantime’s software
A company which creates birthday cards featuring songs and videos from birth years on a disc which comes with the card has implemented Meantime’s software to enable customers to download their purchases. RetroCo approached Meantime to create the program to expand their service and enable customers to electronically download the music and videos contained on the disc within the card.
Meantime’s software creates efficiencies for airports
Meantime IT first became involved in airport IT in 2011, when the Kendal-based bespoke software provider was asked to create an ID booking system for what was then BAA Airports Ltd.
Meantime to exhibit at Airport IT, Barcelona
Kendal-based bespoke software developers Meantime IT will be exhibiting at the Airport IT conference in Barcelona on 17 and 18 November.
Our developing team just keeps on developing - welcome Tom!
The latest addition to our ever-expanding team is Tom Wilkinson, who’s joined us as a developer.
Search for developer
It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, it’s a new search for a developer to join our team. Less than a year since our last call for coders, we’re looking for that special someone who’ll fit into our team like a hand into the proverbial glove.
Flying the nest - and landing with a bump
You’ll often hear us say that one of the best things about working here at Meantime is our location; nestled in our little corner of the Lake District but within easy reach of the big cities.
Smile please - it’s time for the Meantime mugshots
With it being our tenth anniversary year, we decided it was time we got a few snaps for the family album. We invited Steven Barber, an ex-press photographer who is now resident around these parts, to spend the day with us and capture us in our natural environment.
Meantime’s software helps Heathrow’s T2 get off to a flying start
Software from Meantime IT helped to ensure the smooth opening of the £26 billion Terminal 2 at Heathrow Airport.
Say ‘Hoi’* to our new developer, Ronald
Last month we told you we were expanding and appealed for developers to get in touch. We're very happy to announce that Ronald Hummelink heeded our cry and has joined us as software developer.
Meantime's software enhances Heathrow's customer satisfaction
Michelle Smith, head of passenger welfare with Heathrow Airports Ltd, explains how a partnership with Cumbria-based company Meantime IT has resulted in ‘one of the most innovative things the airport has done for customer satisfaction’
A year of celebrations
Meantime will be doing its bit to keep the champagne industry afloat this year, with births, birthdays, anniversaries and good news aplenty.
Want to work with us? Read our references!
If our search for staff has has piqued your interest but you’re not sure if we’d make a good fit, have a look at what our current team have to say about working at Meantime. It’s only fair that you get to read a few references; we place just as much importance on you liking us as us liking you.
Fancy developing your career with Meantime?
We’re looking for a developer to join our team. If we’ve ever carried out any work for you, you’ll know just how important having the right people around us is to the way we work. And when it comes to our technical team, the requirement for excellent coding skills is essential, but just as important is personality.
Meantime at the BEC Information and Data Security Conference
Data security has always been paramount to us at Meantime, so our MD Fenner was more than happy to share his expertise on a panel discussing the ISO 270001 standard at the Britain’s Energy Coast Information and Data Security Conference in January.
Fancy a slice of our Raspberry JukePi?
We recently told you our resident Raspberry Pi expert Paul had created an office jukebox from his beloved do-it-yourself PC hardware, swiftly followed by an electronic judge to monitor our music choices.
Blackberry blues?
During the 18-monthly search for a new mobile handset, one of the team was informed by a high street mobile provider that her beloved Blackberry wasn’t being stocked by them anymore. A few frantic visits to other providers confirmed that most of the major mobile merchants would no longer be stocking RIM’s once ubiquitous device on the high street.
The only way is Kendal
Just as our apprentice Jack was settling nicely into his role as Meantime’s media darling, he was usurped by our technical director, Steve. He was contacted by Granada TV and interviewed about his move from civilised Cheshire society to the wild and windy hills of the Lake District.
New year, new life at Meantime
At Meantime, we always look forward to this time of year. It’s not only because we all get together in one of the many fine eating establishments our corner of Cumbria has to offer - this year, Romney’s in Kendal did the Christmas lunch honours. And it’s not just because we get to do it all again with our clients (see you Friday 20th, Brewery Arts Centre, 5-8pm, drinks on us. Cheers!). We love all that, but what gets us excited is looking forward to the new year and anticipating what new life will be breathed into IT.
When it comes to clever systems, the sky’s the limit
In our first newsletter of 2013, we told you about the system we created for the retail training operation of Heathrow Airports Ltd, which they said gave them ‘a level of intelligence [they] never anticipated’. Cast your mind back a little further and you may recall our news story about creating a ‘robust and reliable system’ to manage Heathrow Airport’s Reservist staff during particularly busy times.
Building the Meantime mPire
In our June issue we told you about our work towards the ISO 27001 and IS0 9000 standards, whereby we will gain accreditation for both our high standards around security and our well-established processes for delivering on time and on budget.
Meantime goes responsive
If you read our newsletter, you may be familiar with our enthusiasm for responsive design. In our November issue, we introduced you to our new website and the accompanying feature explained why we're so excited about this new way of designing websites.
Do apprenticeships pay?
It's been a year since we took on our first apprentice after our appeal for school and college leavers to consider working with us as a valid alternative to university. We're convinced it's the right choice for people who want a career in IT, so we thought we'd take a look at how life may pan out for those who choose the work path compared to a student entering their second year at uni.
A happy ending for the World of Beatrix Potter
We're very proud to number the official World of Beatrix Potter's e-commerce shop amongst our clients and, much like the lady's most famous character Peter Rabbit, we're of an inquisitive nature. But it's not Farmer McGregor's carrots we're interested in, it's how our clients work.
Aksess all areas
July’s been a funny old month in the Meantime office. Paul’s continuing to do his best mad scientist impression with his increasingly inventive Raspberry Pi offerings, the latest being a cyber judge to manage the office playlist . Which is, of course, piped into our office via the medium of a Raspberry Pi jukebox. He also manages to fit in some top-notch coding for clients as well, which is always a bonus.
All rise for Judge Pi
Paul’s Raspberry Pi obsession continues apace. Not content with building an office jukebox using the £20 device, he’s gone one further and created a whole machine with its own personality to monitor our music selections.
It's all in the detail
Lou's been getting very excited about her latest top secret project which we're not allowed to talk about. We'd love to tell you all about it but we can't (it's a secret), but we can tell you that it's allowing her to hone her responsive design skills.
Expect the best, get nothing less
Every aspect of Meantime’s business that isn’t coding or design or similarly technical is taken care of by office manager Hannelie. She’s the one that makes sure things run smoothly, people get paid and the roof doesn’t come crumbling down around our ears. She’s also responsible for ensuring that what gets done, gets done properly, and to that end is in charge of our quest for ISO standards along with business and systems analyst Martin.
The kids are alright
Now that Meantime’s developer Jack is a local celebrity, we thought it was about time we introduced him to some of our clients.
Wedding bells and jukebox jives
Congratulations to our web developer Danny Davies, who married his sweetheart Teresa on the 14 May.
Welcome to Otto, the new kid on the block
Being on the edge of the Lake District, we’re lucky enough to work in one of the most beautiful parts of the country; some may say the world.
Introducing the JukePi
Our resident Raspberry Pi expert Paul has been busy playing with his favourite new toy researching potential uses for this versatile little piece of hardware, and has come up with an idea that’s music to our ears. Actual music. In our ears.
Meantime has a new look
As you may have noticed our website has a brand new look. The structure of the site hasn’t changed, we have achieved all of this purely from a new style sheet and images.
A merry Meantime Christmas!
Last Friday was the Meantime Christmas party. In previous years, we’ve just had a meal together and, indeed, we started Friday’s fun with beers and pizza in the office.
Choosing a tablet? Our thoughts on this year’s offerings
Christmas came early to the Meantime office when Fenner announced he was providing everyone with a new tablet.
Managing all your council’s appointments? We’ve built an app for that.
A mobile app Meantime has developed for Colchester Borough Council has just completed a successful trial and is set to be rolled out across a further nine local authorities.
Look closer to home for IT talent
When Meantime MD Fenner Pearson suggested youngsters who wanted a career in IT would do better to learn on the job rather than head off to university, one young man was listening intently.
I’ll have a slice of that, please!
We have a new toy here in the Meantime office and, as is typical of our dedicated developers, it’s something we can put code into.
Technology? We’re one step ahead.
Here at Meantime, we’re lucky to have a team of developers that live and breathe technology. Never content to go with the flow, they’re on a continuous quest to find new and improved ways of working.
Heathrow chooses Meantime for new retail programme
Meantime has been appointed to deliver its fourth software application for BAA Airports Ltd, which manages airports including Heathrow and Glasgow.
Our staff are the key to our success
Meantime’s enjoying an exciting period of growth, and it’s all down to the hard work of our dedicated team.
Heathrow reaches volunteer target
Early in 2011, Meantime was commissioned by Heathrow airport to build their Team Heathrow website to encourage members of the public to volunteer to help out at the airport during the Olympic Games.
Streamlined software puts all eggs in one basket
Software created by Meantime for a small Cumbrian business has allowed it to streamline multiple off-line database systems into one single web-based operation.
Meantime appoints new web developer
We’re very pleased to announce that Paul Connolley has come to join us at Meantime. Despite the general adverse trading conditions, it has become apparent over the past few months that we had more work than we could manage, even with the most creative scheduling.
Meantime redesign The Will Writing Company website
Meantime has revamped the Will Writing Company’s website to bring it up to date and in line with the business systems we created for them last year.
South Lakeland District Council employs Meantime software to drive efficiency
A software system created for South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) by Meantime IT will streamline procurement procedures and drastically cut the time spent on administration.
BAA appoints Meantime IT to deliver time-critical IT project
BAA Airports Ltd (BAA) has awarded a Cumbria-based IT company the contract to provide an ID centre booking system which will be used by more than 50,000 employees of BAA, its contractors, concessions, airlines and other personnel engaged in each of its six UK airports, including the UK’s largest airport, Heathrow.
Meantime’s e-commerce systems aids Mobile Chilli’s massive expansion
An internet-based e-commerce system adopted by Mobile Chilli has enabled the mobile phone content provider to increase its offering from 15,000 files to more than 2.1 million in just six months.
New technical director at Meantime IT
Meantime IT, the Kendal-based bespoke software developer, has appointed Steve Parker as its technical director.
Meantime creates campaign website for Lib Dem MP
Meantime is proud to have been asked to provide the official website for the campaign to elect Tim Farron as the Liberal Democrat party president.
Meantime joins forces with Plain Creative to provide Right Focus website
Meantime IT has joined forces with design agency Plain Creative to deliver a fully Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) compliant website for Right Focus, a charitable organisation which supports disabled and disadvantaged people towards independent living.
Automated ordering system sees Coniston Corporate grow by 16%
A web-based ordering and administration system developed by Meantime IT for Coniston Corporate Embroidery has enabled the company to grow by 16% in the two years the system has been in place.
Meantime appointed to deliver £150,000 ‘business critical’ reporting tool for Will Writing Company
Software developer Meantime IT has been awarded a £150,000 contract to develop a bespoke application that will track and control all stages of the Will Writing Company’s business processes.
Meantime appoints new web developer
Meantime IT has appointed Danny Davies as a web developer, increasing the team at the expanding Kendal-based bespoke software development company to 10 staff.
Bespoke software saves tour operator ‘an army of call centre staff’
A simple web-based management system created by Meantime IT has saved Nicholas Homes Group “a UK call centre and an army of extra staff.”
Automated payment system saves two days a week for Entrust MD
Investing £7500 into a bespoke payment system from Meantime IT has freed up two days each week for a Midlands based managing director of an SME, as well as saving him £20,000 in overheads each year.
Meantime provides online shop for world-famous Beatrix Potter attraction
Meantime IT has been appointed to provide the World of Beatrix Potter™ Attraction with a new e-commerce site to sell its licensed Beatrix Potter merchandise.
Meantime hosts Vince Cable's first public appearance in South Lakes
Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, will be in Kendal on Saturday 28 November to meet members of the business community and hear first hand the issues which affect them, in a rare opportunity for business leaders to discuss their concerns directly with the people who can influence policy.
Meantime IT wins University of Cumbria web contract
Meantime, which is based in Kendal, Cumbria, won the substantial contract following a two month bidding process involving three companies from around the UK.
Meantime IT bucks redundancies trend and announces 33% growth
A Kendal IT company which provides bespoke software for local authorities, social networking sites and tour operators has announced a 33% increase in turnover in the last 12 months.
Meantime appoints Juliet Shaw Communications
Meantime has appointed Juliet Shaw Communications to take care of its marketing and communications strategy and delivery.
Meantime's MD launches outspoken blog
The passion with which Meantime managing director Fenner Pearson approaches his work is fully evident in the blog he has created, which can be found at http://systemsthatwork.blogspot.com, or by clicking on Fenner's personal profile on the Meantime website.
Meantime creates new graduate position
Meantime has appointed computer science graduate Siqi Li as a web developer in a newly created graduate position. The creation of the new role sees the number of full-time technical staff at Meantime rise to eight, plus one part-time operations and finance manager.
Because everything we build is bespoke, you might not see exactly what you need. If that’s the case please get in touch. We'd be happy to discuss how we can help you to take the first step to cutting costs and growing beyond all expectations.
