Employee Spotlight: Adam Lonsdale | Blogs

How long have you been at Access?

I’ve been employed for over 15 years, I joined via an acquisition in the Legal Software Company 5 years ago and have recently moved to a central role within Products & Engineering.

How does Product and Engineer blend with your passion for volunteering in DIY projects?

Being in Products & Engineering sounds like an odd choice for someone that likes volunteering and DIY but one of the things I’ve loved about working within such a diverse community here is that thinking out of the box become second nature. Technology is everywhere around us, from businesses and communities to houses and even automations in rural farms! It means I can take real skills I develop within Access and apply them in different contexts – which helps me develop them further alongside supporting communities!

You took DIY to a whole new level, being on national television – can you share with us what is was and how it felt for you?

I had a really awesome opportunity to get involved in DIY SOS as part of the big build in Beverley during 2025 to work on some of the smart technology / automations. Working alongside the BBC Gladiators cast was a great experience, but the cause itself was even greater! There’s lots of young people who are underprivileged and living in poverty, so to give them a space that was really theirs and where they can feel safe was a feeling I can’t describe.

After that I the production team asked if I’d be able to contribute to the Children in Need big build, working at a wonderful charity called The Joshua Tree in Cheshire to also have smart automations and help save energy, being green and reducing bills so the charity can spend more money supporting sick children who have very serious and life threatening illnesses. This was a very emotional experience but to give them more space and knowing they would help more children was really rewarding.

We are very proud of you and look forward to seeing even more in the near future. For our curios readers, it seems Access provides a playing field where you can so easily blend DIY and tech – how does this enablement look like?

You will be seeing more in the near future, a DIY SOS series will be broadcast with more of our work! Access give all its employees Charity Days which you can use to work with a cause that means a lot to you. I love that my employer really supports people in giving back and Access enabled me to run a hackathon with Solent University for the Southampton build. They give me time, resources and most importantly show me how important it is to contribute!

From what you shared, it seems you are handling quite well the wellbeing balance. What advice would you give to colleagues looking to do the same?

Wellbeing is one of the most important things working in any company or with any team because if you’re feeling your best you’ll be performing at your best too! I’ve learned since joining Access to make more time for myself, to switch off and to try new things which is something I never did previously. I’ve grown in confidence and value myself more than ever before because of it! The most important thing is to find something you enjoy and do it! Learn a skill, develop a hobby, visit somewhere new!

What’s your favourite memory working with Access?

Visiting our Timisoara office in Romania for the first time was a huge highlight for me, meeting colleagues I’ve worked with for years and being able to solve problems, imagining and work together on some important initiatives and at the same time having a chance to explore new skills!

What do you think it takes to be successful at Access?

Access is a rapidly growing and fast paced organisation, things change quickly as the industry changes and grows. It feels like we’re always at the forefront of technology and that can be really rewarding. Some of the most important things are being resilient, flexible and commercially aware. You need to share your ideas and passions and do things for the good of customers and our products rather than what you’d prefer at that time. We have “The Access Way” which describes these qualities really well and you absolutely need to think that way – if you do the reward of coming to work here is huge.

A little birdy told me you are learning Romanian language on the side. What prompted your decision? Does it have anything to do with inclusion at the workplace?

Da, învăț limba română! (Yes, I’m learning Romanian!). We’re a global company now and it’s just taken as granted that people will speak English in meetings which can be challenging if you’re a graduate joining in Romania who hasn’t worked in a company before, let alone internationally!

I initially started learning Romanian for empathy with our colleagues in Romania so I could understand what it’s like to translate what you’re hearing, translate what you want to say and then follow discussion topics at the same time. Everyone that does this everyday in any company are unspoken heroes. Soon I started learning, I fell in love with Romania. I love the language and I love the culture, people and beautiful places. It’s so important to me to acknowledge the challenges others have at work just being part of the same meeting that I don’t experience and it’s been really rewarding for me too.

What advice would you give to someone who is looking into shifting careers with Access?

Strap yourself in! I’d never experienced a growing organisation like Access in the past and I couldn’t look anywhere else now. Get ready to learn, to teach, to develop yourself and to really make a difference. Put yourself out there, finish reading this first and then get your application in!