The Beginning of the Brainboxes Team 👶

At Brainboxes, every team member plays a pivotal role in our success. Our story isn’t just about technology or products; it’s about the people who make it all happen. In this post, we’re taking you on a little trip down memory lane to show you how far we’ve come and to introduce you to the people who continue to shape Brainboxes into the company it is today.

Throwback: Guess Who’s Who?

To celebrate our team’s growth, we’ve dug up some old photos from the early days. Think you can guess who’s who? The answers are below! 📸

 

Originally from Leicestershire, I moved up to Liverpool in 2018 to do a Master’s Degree in Politics, specialising in the Conflict in Northern Ireland. Eventually, though, I fell into working at Brainboxes in 2022, when I chose to leave my role as a pub licensee and try something new!

A typical day for me at Brainboxes centres around being the bridge between our operations and our Key European Distribution partners. Ensuring that they are promoting our products to the best of their ability and supporting them with their customers.

My biggest professional goal is to continue growing our largest accounts and building our brand presence within the market. I am to achieve this by demonstrating our proactive and supportive attitude on a daily basis.

My undergraduate degree was in Contemporary Theatre and Performance, and following this, I ran a Theatre Company and worked as a freelance practitioner. The skills I learned here help me every day I work at Brainboxes. Most notably, it taught me how to write and communicate in a clear, engaging way, and if you can keep people interested in connectivity, you are doing well! – Ed, EMEA Key Account Manager

 

I was originally working as a production designer on a television set. I really enjoyed that environment, but I realised I was especially drawn to writing and digital design. That’s what led me into marketing, a field that combines both! After completing my Masters in Writing for Script & Screen, I wanted to apply my skills in a practical setting, so I joined Brainboxes as a Marketing Assistant.

My day-to-day includes creating content for our website, newsletters, and social media channels, as well as preparing for exhibition shows throughout the year. A highlight for me has been growing the Brainboxes LinkedIn page, increasing followers from 572  in 2022 to over 1000 while also improving engagement and click-through rates. I’m currently working towards becoming a Certified Social Media Marketing Specialist by studying each week, applying what I learn, and keeping up with the latest trends in social media.

One of my biggest achievements outside of work was winning Best Woman Script at the World Film Festival in Cannes in 2025! I’ve always loved screenwriting, and my skills have really come in handy at Brainboxes. Whether it’s creating content for case studies, articles, marketing literature, or social media campaigns. It’s been fun to bring that same creativity and storytelling mindset into everything that I make 💛 – Natasha, Marketing Assistant

 

I was originally from a Facilities Management and Logistics/Warehouse background and thought I had the skills required to take on a Purchasing role as I always involved in cost saving. I thought I would just apply for the position Brainboxes were advertising and managed to secure an interview – followed by an offer for the role.

A typical day for me is a very busy one. I always have a million things to do and the there isn’t much time to come up for any air. It is fast moving, can be stressful but I hold a lot of responsibility is ensuring our Production line keeps moving.

I have made some significant cost savings for the business since starting here and changed a lot of operational procedures to ensure the business runs a smooth as possible. The goals never end and there is always something new to aim for.

Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my wife and 3 daughters. – Family is everything – Dean, Head Purchaser

 

After dropping out of art school, I started working as a casino croupier working nights dealing blackjack and on the roulette tables etc. It was glamorous and fun when I was in my early 20s but after about 10 years, not so much! I decided to go back to school, so alongside working full time I enrolled in Open University to do my English Language/Literature degree. Realised I’m actually a big Lisa Simpson style nerd and love studying, so went on to get my Masters in Creative Writing.

By this time, I’d been trusted to do all the casino’s local marketing and found my perfect niche: actually getting paid to do art, design, and writing! I needed to get out of the casino and into the real world, so started applying for every entry-level marketing job I could find. I interviewed with Brainboxes for an assistant job and on the way home, Ste phoned and said they’d like to bring me back to interview again but for the marketing manager position – I nearly fell off the bus seat in shock 😂

I didn’t actually get the job that time, they hired someone with more direct experience and while I was gutted, life went on. One day about 3 months later, I was sitting behind the desk in the casino foyer, covering the receptionist who was off sick and doing a Sudoku (badly); thinking to myself “I wish Brainboxes would just call me and say they made a mistake, I really wanted that job”. Well, this is how I know manifestation works because a few hours later when I got my phone out my locker, I saw I had a voicemail from Ste asking me to call them back! I figured he was just looking for a venue for their Christmas night out or something, because, well, wishes don’t usually come true… Fast forward 6 ½ years and here I am! – Hellen, Marketing Manager

 

In 2008, I won HSBC Unipreneurs award as a student, for a business I started with a friend making software for people with Colourblindness.

However in 2010, i couldn’t resist the pull of coming to work in the family business.

Every day is different, most of the team work in the same building, from sales, marketing, R&D, admin and production. We are a tight nit team, and we all care deeply about doing the best for our customers.

Biggest professional goal is expanding the company without compromising our values and amazing team environment and workplace atmosphere. Plan to achieve this by being thoughtful and clear about how we expand, and careful about which partners we engage with and who we bring into the team.

I designed and built a climbing frame for the kids based on a DaVinci Bridge:

– Luke Walsh, Managing Director

 

A typical day involves arriving at work, checking emails, and greeting colleagues. I then determine where I’m needed most—whether that’s on the production line, in dispatch, purchasing, or handling returns. On some days, I may take on responsibilities across all four areas.

What led me to Brainboxes? I was looking for a job, and they gave me an opportunity.

One of my hobbies outside of work is crafting—particularly beadwork, resin, and polymer clay jewellery. I bring this creativity into my role in dispatch when packing our products, making sure they look their best before leaving the building. As the last department to handle the products before they reach the customer, I take pride in ensuring they are presented as professionally and attractively as possible.

I am also actively involved in several community groups near my home, where we focus on gardening, building social connections, and raising funds by selling handcrafted items. Brainboxes has always been very supportive of these efforts, even allowing me to use some company resources to help support our initiatives. – Debbie, Production Engineer

 

 

While we’re proud of how far we’ve come, we’re even more excited about our future. We look forward to continuing our growth as a team, tackling new challenges, and creating even more innovative solutions.

Thank you for taking a moment to walk down memory lane with us! Whether you’ve been with us from the start or you’re just discovering Brainboxes today, we’re incredibly grateful for your support and for being part of our journey!

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