Simon Campbell
A personal perspective of life, the universe and everything…
About
At the age of 34, I started on the winding and sometimes rocky road of self employment having had quite enough of working for others…
Angela, a Dispensing Optician and myself formed Angela Campbell Opticians in 1990 which soon became one of the world top designer practices, supplying spectacles to many celebrities and business leaders. Surviving the IRA Manchester bomb we went on to float the company and its four branches on the OFEX trading platform.
We sold the Opticians business in 2000 and following a conversation with someone who said that ‘no-one will ever make any money out of the internet’ started a very successful business selling a variety of products on the internet…
Looking for a new challenge, we looked to move to California but having sold everything we owned the US Government restricted entry into the country following the 911 attacks. Back to the drawing board Angela and I formed Erskine Corporation.
Erskine started life as a brand and marketing agency but several twists of fate and chance meetings took us into the field of urban regeneration. What is regeneration? Well, I like the definition: ‘The activity of spiritual or physical renewal’.
Angela and I built a great team and also a passion for the development of spaces, communities and their economies in a truly sustainable way. Our experience in branding and marketing, built up through the practical experiences of running our own businesses, ensures clear jargon free communications between parties: we understand people and the way they think.
During this time I was a member Settle and District Chamber of Trade finally becoming Chair and along with the team, developed the organisation into becoming the most progressive business networking organisation in North Yorkshire.
Over the years, Erskine have undertaken work for many Local Authorities, Government departments and voluntary organisations in many diverse fields from children’s play to masterplanning.
I was appointed onto Yorkshire Forwards ‘Renaissance Market Towns’ consultant panel and have recently worked as project director on Castles Woods & Water, a liveability based masterplan in Northumberland, alongside Sterling prize winning architect Christope Egret on the Jubilee Park masterplan in Lincolnshire, as an enabler for the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment’s (CABE) GreenArc open space programme and project director for the West Lancashire Rural Economic study along with economist Terry Bevan.
Since I found out about the concept, I have had a great enthusiasm for the web. In a search for the perfect website I bumped into Andy Clarke who introduced me to Simon Collison. Within minutes of meeting we formed Erskine Design who now employ some of the most talented web designers in the world producing exceptional work.
I periodically write articles in Erskine Labs, the company blog. Why not check them out?
Together with some of my international diving pals Triton Oceanic Corporation was formed in January 2008 with a purpose to seek out and dive a variety of new dive sites worldwide with Nautical Archaeological significance. Watch out, we have many nautical things up our sleeve.
On May 17, 2008, I was voted as a Director (Council member) of the British Sub Aqua Club which is an voluntary, unpaid position and left the positon in 2010.
More recently and in line with my renewed enthusiasm for music, we formed Supertone Records and now represent a selection of musicians, photographers and film makers.
So what’s next?
