We’re incredibly proud of everyone at Edinburgh Analytical and the amazing work they do every day, often out of the spotlight. So, we decided it’s time to celebrate them! This new series offers you an exclusive peek behind the curtain, revealing what drives, excites, and truly captivates our fantastic team. Dive in and discover the heart of Edinburgh Analytical – we think you’ll love it!

Meet William, A Product manager here at Edinburgh Analytical!

What does a typical day/ week in your role look like? 

My typical day involves communicating with different people from our development, QA, marketing, and sales teams. Each EA product is a collection of many different aspects, such as optics, mechanical, electronics, software control and interface, chemistry and physics, applications, ergonomics, marketing ideas, design and colouring, and service and repair. 

We have different people who are experts in their field. My role is to coordinate and consolidate their efforts to produce a reliable product with its own unique character that customers will buy and use. 

What have you enjoyed the most working for EA? 

Working with numbers – there’s a real magic behind them! In the analytical world, we feed instruments a stream of data: wavelengths, slit widths, detector voltages, and so on. In return, they give us a torrent of numbers like absorbance or fluorescence values. 

It’s fascinating how even a small difference in input numbers can lead to vastly different outputs. The real fun, for me, lies in predicting those results by truly understanding each parameter and how it influences the data. Sometimes, simply by understanding a set of numbers, you can unravel a whole story or solve a complex problem.

Do you have any hobbies/ interests? 

I love hiking and camping because they let me explore diverse landscapes, get exercise, and practice planning, organising, wild cooking, and building things like tents and shelters. There’s something incredibly refreshing and relaxing about being in the countryside. When it comes to sports, squash is my game; I thrive on its speed, the need for fast responses, and the full-body workout I get moving around the court. At night, I turn to reading. It allows me to journey to different worlds—whether they’re far away, in the distant past, or in an unknown future—and discover the knowledge, feelings, and ideas hidden within and beyond the words. 

What is your favourite food? 

My favourite food is crab. Although un-shelling them is tedious, I just like the delightful taste of crab meat!