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This year marks an incredible milestone for one of freetobook’s longest-serving team members. After studying Computer Science just down the road at the University of Glasgow, Iain joined freetobook back in 2005. 20 years later, he’s still with us, shaping the systems, teams, and technology that power freetobook.
We caught up with Iain to reflect on two decades of innovation, growth, and his love of travel tech…
Starting out as a Web Developer, Iain now holds the title Staff Developer, a role that combines writing code with overseeing the servers and infrastructure behind freetobook’s smooth operations.
“I’m part of the team that sets up and maintains the servers and services that run freetobook, things like web servers and databases,” he explains. “A lot of my time is spent developing new products too, which is great because it’s something I really enjoy.”
A typical day might involve planning meetings, writing code, and making sure everything runs like clockwork in the background. “When I started here, I only wrote code. Now, there’s planning, problem-solving, upgrading servers… It’s a lot more varied.”
Iain’s passion for tech began early. “My family got our first computer when I was 8. I was using it straight away to make things; first drawings, then a dice-rolling app in C++,” he recalls. “That feeling of creating something from nothing stuck with me.”
That sense of creative problem-solving would eventually lead him to freetobook and keep him here for two decades.
“What drew me in was the chance to see the impact of what I was building; the ‘users’ were just in the next room. I’ve stayed for the opportunity to grow, the freedom to shape my work, and the brilliant team around me. Craig and Iain [Directors] treat us so well.”
Travel is something the whole freetobook team is passionate about, and Iain is no exception. His latest trip? A mix of history and high-octane excitement.
“My wife and I celebrated our first anniversary in York: museums, ghost tours, and we even picked up a handmade ‘York Ghost’ each,” he says. “Then we headed to Silverstone for the F1 British Grand Prix; an annual tradition with my family.”
Since 2005, tech has shifted big time, and Iain’s had a front row seat.
“New tech usually makes building things better, faster, or more secure, so I enjoy learning it. AI feels different though… like a full-on cultural shift. We’re looking at to use it at freetobook, but always in a way that supports what makes us great already.”
But is it hard to keep up?
“Oh, absolutely. Some areas of web development move so fast. But learning gets easier the more you do it, and if your team’s open to new tools and ideas, it helps a lot.”
With freetobook’s ongoing links to local universities, Iain had some sage words for up-and-coming developers:
“The learning curve can feel steep at first, but take it bit by bit. Focus on understanding the basics. That foundation will help you learn new tools and frameworks much faster.”
With 20 years of memories, it’s hard to pick just one, but Iain highlights the creation of our mobile-friendly diary menu as a personal favourite.
“It was a fun idea during my professional development time that eventually went live. It took a few tries to get it right without losing the familiarity of the desktop version, but that kind of challenge is what I love.”
In two decades, Iain’s seen big changes in team structure.
“We’ve adapted as we’ve grown, creating dedicated teams, new processes, and a more diverse, supportive culture. There’s now a real focus on wellness and work-life balance. It’s a great place to work, not that it wasn’t before!”
So, how does it feel to hit two decades at one company?
“It means I’m still learning and still enjoying it.”
And that, in many ways, is the heart of Iain’s story: a passion for progress, a love of tech, and a commitment to creating things that make a difference.
Here’s to 20 years, and all the years yet to come!
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