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2022-05-13
We sat down with Phil Goldsworthy, UK Head of Systems Integration, who counts over 19 years of experience working for Solotech’s UK companies. During this time, he has been involved in exciting projects in the world of festivals, theme parks, attractions, and in the house of worship market.
Q: Phil, how long have you been with Wigwam, SSE Audio, and Solotech?
PG: I started at my full-time job with Wigwam back in January of 2003, so it’s been 19 years! I was working with Wigwam for nearly nine years as part of SSE Audio and have worked for just over three years with Solotech.
Q: Give us a quick look into your background.
PG: I have always been involved in music, first when I was playing in a band at the local Church. I quickly started taking an interest in gear and what was happening behind the consoles, so I moved into setting up the PA and mixing. This began when I was studying Live Performance Technology at Derby University and started working for Wigwam during holiday breaks, and in the summer for festival work. My early years as a full-timer at Wigwam were spent prepping gigs or working on-site. After a few years, I moved into the sales department.
Q: What is the best thing about your job?
PG: My role has changed and evolved quite a bit over the 18 years, but now as a leader of a department, I love the opportunity to work with so many different talented people. I really like the Jack Welch quote: “When you were made a leader you weren’t given a crown, you were given the responsibility to bring out the best in others.” Working with my team and ensuring we all develop both individually and as a team is my favourite part.
Q: What projects have you enjoyed working on the most over the years?
PG: From a Live Productions perspective, I used to love the variety of gigs we did from working at the New Wine Festival to mixing monitors for jazz legend Herbie Hancock. The Grand in Clitheroe was a special installation project, as it was the first live music venue in Europe to have both a high-end live music venue and a recording studio linked together. York Minster was also a great cathedral project to work on due to the technology that was integrated successfully into a very important, historic building with absolute sympathy to the heritage and architecture of the space.
Q: What makes Solotech different as an employer?
PG: For me, it’s all about the culture and the working environment that is created by all the great people who work here. Many organisations will talk about culture, but very few deliberately set out to create or change one so that it is collaborative. This is where I believe Solotech is very different. It makes recruitment an exciting challenge because I am trying to find people that fit from both a cultural perspective as well as have the necessary skill sets.
Progression is at the heart of great work culture. The most important thing to remember is that we need to work at a high level and always improve from show to show and project to project. This is also when having excellent co-workers pushes you because they are always helping you further the limits of the technology by finding the best ways to create a seamless and immersive experience for the people who are using the spaces.
Work is a big part of your life, so you want to work alongside good people in a fun and friendly environment.
Q: What is the most memorable experience you have had while working here?
PG: Well, I was once following the MD to an installation in my car, when a car pulled out in from of him. I stopped, but he stopped quicker, and I ended up smashing into the back of his car… Oops! I’ve still not lived that one down!! Sorry Mick.
