The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Safety specialist learned skill set in Formula One
Each week, we ask small businesses key questions. Here we speak to David Jamieson, founder of offshore safetyfocused firm Salus Technical, of Aberdeen.
Q.
How and why did you start in business?
A. Businesses are very aware of their health and safety responsibilities. While employees are encouraged to “act more safely”, there can often be barriers which make it difficult for them to do so. I firmly believe these barriers can be removed, and I’m passionate about making it easier for my customers to understand and manage their risk. So, in November last year, I left my job working for a UK oil and gas operator to focus full-time on Salus Technical. I now work closely with operators to help them understand and manage the risks of major accidents within their operations via a combination of consultancy services, training and our new software solution, Bowtie Master, which is launching in November.
Q.
How did you get to where you are today?
A. My degree in aeronautical engineering took me into the exhilarating world of Formula One, where I spent a few years working as a computational fluid dynamics engineer for Red Bull Racing. I was fortunate
to be part of the winning team of the F1 Constructors Championship for two seasons, in 2010 and 2011. After enjoying a few seasons there, I transferred the skills I had gained to the oil and gas industry, working on modelling fires and explosions. This career move naturally led me into the offshore safety sector, and I gained frontline experience in process safety engineering working for operators in the North Sea. Since Salus Technical launched in 2015, we have supported operators with technical safety engineering on a variety of brownfield, greenfield and decommissioning projects. Q. Who helped you?
A. I’m very fortunate to have had fantastic help from lots of people. Organisations such as the Federation of Small Businesses, Elevator and Business Gateway have been my lifeline. They have all offered support and guidance, and I know they will be there as I grow the business.
Q.
What has been your biggest mistake?
A. I wish I had taken the plunge and focused fulltime on the business sooner.
Having said that, I gained so much valuable experience and grew my network substantially while working in-house, all of which is standing me in great stead as I’m building my business.
Q.
What is your greatest achievement?
A. Outside of my family and work a recent achievement is running the London Marathon last year in two hours and 48 minutes.
Q.
If you were in power in government, what would you change?
A. I would try to do more to eradicate homelessness.
Q. What do you still hope to achieve?
A. I would like to create new jobs in the north-east through Salus Technical, something that’s very much on the agenda once we launch our new safety software in November. A quicker marathon time would also be nice.
Q.
What do you do to relax?
A. I love music, and enjoy nothing more after a busy day than putting my headphones on and going for a run. I’m also partial to playing football and as an engineer I love constructing
things from Lego.
Q. What are you currently reading, listening to or glued to on the TV?
A. I’m more of a music than TV fan. Metallica released a new live album in September, which is great.
Q. What do you waste your money on?
A. Before lockdown it was coffee and car parking when I was out meeting customers, although I suppose that could also be classed as an investment. Now I tend to spend my money on Netflix, takeaways and deliveries from Amazon.
Q. How would your friends describe you?
A. I have no idea, I never let them get a word in.
Q.
What would your enemies say about you?
A, My philosophy is: “What people think and say about you is none of your business.” Q.
What do you drive and dream of driving?
A. I have a young family so currently I drive an SUV but I dream of owning a retro VW campervan. I would drive it around Scotland, taking my family on an extended break to see all that our beautiful country has to offer.