Meet the Team: Alan Ryan

June is upon us and in the hot seat for this month’s instalment of ‘Meet the Team’ is our managing director, Alan Ryan.

Having set the business up back in 1988, Alan has been at the heart of everything here at Technoprint for over 30 years and knows the printing industry inside out.

Find out more about our brilliant MD…

Alan’s career

After leaving school, Alan went to Fielden Park College in the Didsbury area of Manchester where he enrolled on a full year print course before becoming an apprentice with a local printing firm.

While learning his trade during the apprenticeship, he was able to complete his City & Guilds qualifications and even squeezed in a BTEC night course at college.

However, whilst in the midst of his BTEC course at age 22, Alan set up Technoprint. With his focus on getting the company up and running he was unable to conclude his studies, but it clearly has not done him any harm.

A day in the life of Technoprint’s MD

 As the managing director of an industry leading company, Alan’s diary is unsurprisingly never empty. It’s filled to the brim with customer meetings which he’s thankful are now getting back to being face-to-face after switching to Zoom over the past couple of years.

A huge part of his role is meeting with customers and potential customers which is something he loves to do.

Like most business leaders, during the pandemic, much of Alan’s time had been spent having virtual meetings, but in recent months many clients have fortunately been keen to meet face-to-face, so travelling to premises across the country is keeping Alan busy.

Alan said: “The opportunity to meet our customers in person has been something I’ve really missed, so being able to get out and about again has put a spring in my step!”

When he’s not meeting with our customers, attending trade shows and exhibitions or helping to develop his staff, Alan is hard at work at work making sure the business is running smoothly.

Secrets of Technoprint’s success and optimism for the future

One of the key ingredients in Technoprint’s continued ability to thrive over the last three decades has been the way in which it values its customers.

Alan believes that: “Listening to our customers’ needs and providing a solution to their problems is the overall reason for our success.

“However, it’s also down to our fantastic team and investment in high quality specialist equipment that means we can provide this solution.”

Alan also points to the ethics and values, that the business adhered to, such as sustainability and inclusivity, as another factor that has been central to the company’s success.

As we emerge from the pandemic, the future looks bright for Technoprint, with continued growth on the horizon.

“I think we are perfectly placed to meet the demands of the marketplace and we are investing in additional machinery and have a staff training plan in place to cope with the expected increase.”

Outside of work

When he’s not working, Alan enjoys walking his two beloved dogs, which he says kept him sane during the pandemic.

He is also a keen runner and has set his sights on running a marathon, something which has been a long-held ambition.

Other than printing, Alan’s passion is Bolton Wanderers. He has supported the club through thick and thin for many years and, as a season ticket holder, he enjoys watching them with his grandchildren.

He is also looking to dust off his garage-bound motorbikes and get back on the road with them in the near future.

Final words from Alan

 “The print industry is an incredible one to be involved in.

“I’ve been hooked since my early years, and I love both the historical background of print and the continuously changing technology. Being a leader is also something I relish and I’m looking forward to seeing my team continue to flourish.”

To contact Alan, visit the contact us page, or visit his profile on LinkedIn here.