Meet the Expert: Simon Handby, Content Writer

Content writer Simon Handby brings years of experience in journalism and marketing to the Resonates team. Here he reflects on the technology that gets him excited, and why he’s driven to write about it.

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How has your PR and marketing journey grown?

I came into PR and marketing in quite a roundabout way. I started out in IT, before pivoting to become a journalist with a focus on consumer technology. A few years later I joined a digital agency and started developing my skills in marketing and corporate comms. Since then I’ve mixed journalism and marketing in my work as a content freelancer.

I’m excited to join the amazing group of people at Resonates. The team has varied and rich experience, so I’m looking forward to learning new skills while contributing and improving my own.

What do you find most rewarding about your job?

I love the creativity of writing, and the challenge of researching, processing and conveying information. At the same time, I have a fascination with machines and technology, and have always wanted to know exactly how things work.

At Resonates, I get to do both, writing for businesses innovating in technical industries. I learn about incredible new solutions to the climate crisis, and work out how we help our clients convey their ideas, technologies and expertise to the world. Most importantly, for the first time in my career I feel like I’m working to advance climate solutions – that’s immensely rewarding.

What’s your favourite brand and why?

I tend to admire brands who design good products or services, especially if they make a positive difference to the world. Most of my favourites are the technical, transport or energy brands I have personal experience with.

Octopus interests me as it’s taken innovative ideas – the ‘green crap’ if you will – and made them into a mainstream proposition. It’s grown into the largest GB household supplier, helping expose the lie that renewables are niche or expensive. It’s a highly recognisable, huge brand, but one with substance.

There are many great bike brands, but I’ve ridden thousands of miles on my Trek mountain bike. It’s the main way I get out into nature and clear my head. I think what I’m saying is I’ve come to admire the brand purely based on the respect I have for a single product it made more than a decade ago

The future workplace is evolving – what do you think businesses need to focus on in the next few months?

It’s impossible to overlook AI solutions, and the effect they’re having on the way we work. We’re all learning how to use the new tools to help deliver better results, for example by accelerating research, or improving notetaking in meetings. But in the rush to adopt AI, businesses must make sure they’re not losing sight of the human elements that make workplaces unique, or the human satisfaction that comes from working collaboratively and creatively.

One area I feel that AI is already out of control is in the employment market. Many employers are using AI tools to filter applications, and many prospective candidates are using AI to help write them. Computers are screening computers, devaluing the process – to everyone’s detriment.

What are the major challenges to tackling Net Zero and how do you overcome them?

I think a large amount of disinformation around Net Zero, green technology and green policies has been allowed to fester in the public debate. Many people still believe that clean energy is more expensive than fossil fuels, for example, or that the latter are essential to our energy security. It’s demonstrably untrue, but it sells newspapers. Those of us working with clean tech need to keep challenging it and pushing back.

What content are you enjoying consuming right now?

I listen to a lot of music, but I usually stick with old favourites when I’m working. My partner and I put together playlists for every decade since the 1950s, so we can clue our kids in to older bands while they keep us up with what’s new. That’s worked pretty well: there’s a few newish bands I like, but the last thing I thought was great is the debut from Dry Cleaning.

I watch quite a bit of TV, particularly comedy. We just finished Bump (iPlayer), the five-series Australian comedy drama about a teenager’s cryptic pregnancy. I thought Ripley (Netflix) was a masterpiece, and can recommend Severance, Slow Horses and The Afterparty (Apple TV+). We’re watching Modern Family (Disney+) with the kids.

I read a huge amount for my job, so these days I don’t read so voraciously outside work. I’m currently reading Agatha Christie’s The Sittaford Mystery, but I’m not sure whodunnit yet.

What green products/services do you use/like/would recommend?

We installed solar panels a couple of years back, and they’re saving us a fortune. I’d recommend it to anyone with a suitable roof.

I’m also an EV bore. They’re great to drive, and we haven’t had any issues in more than 40,000 miles. We’ve survived five trips through France in ours.