John Campbell, Spider Online Managing Director

John Campbell (@johnatspider)

Job Title/Organisation: Managing Director, Spider Online

What does your role involve?

I’m the Managing Director so captain of the good ship Spider Online – keep her steady on her course. My main aim is to keep the business on track in relation to its aims and objectives. Within this, I focus specifically on supporting the team within Spider and to liaise with clients on strategic issues.

What do you consider to be the most imminent challenge in your line of work?

Supporting and encouraging the team. If they are happy within their work, it means the business is effective and successful.

What has been the most rewarding piece of work you've undertaken?

Creating and developing Digital Dragons with Glasgow City Council. We work with secondary schools in the Glasgow area to encourage pupils’ development to prepare them for the fast moving world of work.

This incorporates a brief given to small teams who have to develop their ideas and pitch them to a panel of experts. We’ve had a great response from the schools and pupils and it helps them develop confidence and improves their technical and social skills. 

How can Scotland bridge the digital skills gap?

More interaction between business and education. Preferably pre-further and higher education. There is a large part of our society that will not go to either of these who may have talents that our sector needs.

Which new technology excites you the most?

Mobile and the interaction of government, business and the citizen to improve quality of relationships and service.

What's your favourite app and why?

BBC iPlayer – gives me everything , from news to TV to radio. I’m loving radio in my old(er) age.

What, for you, will 2016 be the year of from a technology/digital standpoint?

Lot’s of headline grabbing stories again about what’s the next big thing – Artificial Intelligence, a new social media app, Internet of Things etc. However, it will be the steady growth of people, government and business interacting more intuitively which is what I will be looking for – banking, travel, recruitment, health, payment(?)