Meet Our Living The Values Champion... Joshua

We're delighted to announce Joshua Oates, our Solutions Architect as the Apex Living The Values overall Champion, following our Living The Values Awards at our Summer Family BBQ. The awards were given based on feedback and nominations from everyone here at Apex, with our overall Champion being selected by our whole Executive Team!

What does it mean to you to receive the Living The Values Champion Award?

Winning the Living The Values Champion Award came as a complete surprise! It means a lot to know how valued I am by my peers and our customers.

What do the Apex Values mean to you personally, and how do they shape the way you approach your work at Apex?

They mean quite a lot to me personally as they embody everything I stand for and try to live by personally.

Customer Focused - I always try to think about others and see how things would look from their perspective.
Reliable - I am always there for the people who need me.
Always A Team - We're a team at Apex. Likewise, my family is my team at home. We're always there, supporting each other no matter what.
Act With Integrity - If you can't act with integrity in all aspects of life, then you won't get far. Integrity is key to building and maintaining all types of relationships throughout life.
Enable Growth - I'm always open to learning new skills and taking on new challenges.

Joshua with our MD, Daniel and their children

What's a fun or surprising fact about you that most colleagues don't know?

I'm a licensed publican! I helped out my local pub a few years ago and received my alcohol license.

You've just won the lottery - what do you do?

If I won the lottery, I'd pay off the mortgage and car, put some money aside for my sons and take them on a nice holiday. I'd also keep working for Apex and carry on as normal. Nobody would ever know... 

"When one of our customers returned to Apex after a three-year break, one of their first questions was whether Joshua was still part of our team. His diligence, professionalism and strong work ethic were key factors in their decision to re-engage with us. Joshua has been a cornerstone of Apex for over 11 years, playing an integral role in building and maintaining the trusted relationships we have with our clients."

How did you get into the IT/MSP world?

My love of IT started while I was still at school. I was part of an IT Club which involved fixing school IT equipment and updating the school website. From there, I attended college to study IT before moving onto an Apprenticeship. After completing my Apprenticeship, I was introduced to Daniel by a family friend, joined Apex and never looked back!

Joshua in 2015 winning Employee of the Month for 'Most Productive'

What does a typical day at Apex look like for you, and what excites you most about your role?

My daily responsibilities as a Solutions Architect are diverse. I am primarily tasked with reviewing customer infrastructure and developing quotes to deliver optimal solutions tailored to client needs. This process may involve remote assessments or on-site visits to verify the accuracy of our information. Due to the dynamic nature of my position, I consistently evaluate emerging solutions and products that could offer value to our clients, ensuring Apex provides timely and appropriate solutions aligned with industry advancements.

I love that I have the ability to review new products as part of my role, but I also work closely with the Projects and Service Desk teams aiding with Project Delivery and support when needed. This helps to keep my IT skills fresh and always evolving.

What's your go-to tip for someone facing a tech issue at work?

My go-to tip will be known to anybody who has seen the IT Crowd. "Have you tried turning it off and on again?" While this doesn't apply to all issues, a reboot can help if you find your machine isn't performing as well as it normally would, or "glitching" and can often be overlooked. It also allowed your machine to install any pending updates which could be the potential fix.

Joshua with his family

What's a common cyber security myth you'd like to bust?

You can't only get viruses on Windows! All operating systems and devices are vulnerable to viruses and should be protected by AntiVirus of EDR software.

"Joshua's reliability is unmatched - whether during business hours or outside them, he consistently goes above and beyond, always willing to step in and help where needed. Joshua is someone I can count on - a dependable, and highly valued member of the team whose contributions embody our core values every single day."

What has been your best experience with Apex to date?

It's so hard to choose! We've had a lot of social, conference and team building events over my time at Apex so it's hard to pick just one. With Apex, I've been Quad Biking, visited the Guinness Factory in Dublin, taken on The Crystal Maze, taken part in the I'm A Celeb activity centre that used to be at the Lowry Outlet, and many more.

Joshua along with fellow Apex team members Chris and Stuart

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?

Working at Apex. I've worked for Apex for the past 14 and a half years and I have no plans to leave! I've loved every part of my career so far with Apex and I'm proud to have been a part of a company that has grown from a small operation to the 30+ team we have today.

Born and bred in Manchester or moved here?

Born and bred in Greater Manchester. I was born in Wythenshawe Hospital and lived in Wythenshawe until I was 7 when we moved to Stockport. I now live in Sale with my fiancée and two sons.

How do you think Apex impacts businesses in Greater Manchester specifically?

Apex has a massive positive impact on a wide range of local businesses from high street shops and solicitors to big name brands with the services we provide. Helping them with day-to-day support, projects and anything else we can, allowing them to focus on what matters most to them.

Joshua on an Apex Team Building Day in 2013