Hello, I’m Brad McGuire and I am the Director of Programme Innovation at AWTG, an end-to-end engineering services and technology solutions provider for companies in telecommunications. I only joined around six months ago but already feel like a part of the team.
My role is a hybrid position: I am involved with delivery, processes and accessing how we can better serve our customer base. Alongside this, I spend a proportion of my time focused on business development, specifically expanding our reach in Scotland, where I’m based. We have a pretty decent footprint up here, especially in the innovation space—we have testbeds as well as instrumental partnerships with a number of universities and the Scotland 5G Centre.
Right now, we are helping 5G consumers find their own business case, so that we can push things forward. Likewise, we are looking for opportunities to develop relationships with the local authorities. It is crucial that the public sector understands its role and partners with businesses. In the past, such relationships have tended to be quite fraught. AWTG, therefore, hopes to facilitate a more equitable partnership.
The UK Government has an overarching aim to stimulate market innovation across the UK, which aligns with our goals. Building an ecosystem for the industry is also a top priority. Only then will the UK be recognised for its telecoms. The more people using advanced wireless technology, the better.
1. What do you enjoy most about working in this space?
We are on the cusp of significant change in the industry. The move from 4G to 5G is proving to be more impactful than it was when we transitioned from 3G to 4G. More players are entering the ecosystem and I’m really enjoying the way that the industry is rapidly evolving as a result of that, both in the name of suppliers and the consumer.
2. What’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve done in the name of work?
I naively flew into Beijing airport with a server in my suitcase…
3. What excites you most about working in telecoms?
At its core, telecoms is engineering. But there’s also a significant amount of innovation.
4. What would you like people to know about your work?
TK
5. Why is a vibrant, flourishing telecoms ecosystem important for the UK?
A strong ecosystem is what brings investment into the UK. Without that, the economy isn’t able to move forward. It is about facilitating a telecoms transformation and encouraging change.
