Churchill and Johnson

Introduction

Churchill and Johnson was started by Richard Churchill and Sam Johnson in November 2004 to fill the local need for expert computer help in local homes and offices.

Richard and Sam are old school friends who took the opportunity to strike out on their own after they both found themselves in need of jobs and not wanting to join the corporate rat-race. They founded the company to provide clear and human support for others in their local community, with the conviction that computers should be accessible for everyone.

After almost 2 years, Churchill and Johnson expanded again, the amount of informal training increased to the point that Richard and Sam Decided to formally branch out in to training. Friends Andrew Whitby, Lisa and Dan Phillips were called in to assist with the new venture. So in September 2006 an new sister company was born Churchill and Johnson Training Ltd, under which all Churchill and Johnson's training operations now take place. The full course list can be found in the training section of this site.

The Founders

Richard Churchill

Richard graduated in 2004, from the University of the West of England with a degree in computer science. Despite the lure of well-paid graduate jobs, he found it an easy choice to start his own company. "I had worked for one of the world's largest computer firms during my placement year." Richard recalls "I learned a lot while I was there, especially about the 'real' world. The key thing I learned was that I didn't like working for large companies".

"My work placement employer was going though a bad patch while I was there, a lot of people were made redundant in round after round of work force reduction, each time we were assured that it would be the last time. As a student on half the salary of the engineers I was working with, I was pretty safe, but it wasn't a pleasent atmosphere watching colleagues lose there jobs, mostly to placate share holders" Richard said recalling the time. Richard had gained an independent and entrepreneurial spirit from his mother, her support and backing gave Richard the confidence that he could strike out on his own and be a success "And so far it's working", he says.

Richard has been actively expanding his knowledge about computers since the age of 14. Even while at university he spent a lot of, by his own admission possibly too much, time researching areas of computing not covered by his degree.

Such a large background pool of knowledge has allowed Richard to tackle problems in many areas of computing. Richard is very clear on how much this helps with his work. "When you go out to see a customer you never know what you will have to deal with. I have fixed everything from printers to typewriters, Windows PCs and Apple Macs, even fixed the odd broken telephone extension".

Sam Johnson

When Sam's employer was taken over buy a much larger company, he learned about big business the hard way, when his job was found to be surplus to requirements and he was made redundant. After this experience he was drawn to owning his own business, having greater control over his destiny and being able to provide the help that people want, not the help his manager dictate.

"It wasn't at all pleasant, at first I was happy when we were told about the new employee perks" said Sam "Then a few months after the take over, I was called in to one of the senior manager's offices and told they were reducing the size of the support department and that my job no longer existed. There weren't any vacancies in the other technical departments so I accepted redundancy".

After that Sam felt he needed some time to think "I got a job in one of the local shops. It wasn't particularly interesting work, but it gave me time to think and consider my next move". After Richard came to him with the idea of starting a computer support company. Sam could finally see his way back in the computer industry, and this time it would be on his own terms.

It took till April 2006 for the company to be come stable enough for Sam to join full time. He is now to be found happily fixing computers in the office and cooking up new ways to spend the company's money, much to Richard's disgust.