30 August is a significant date for Outlook Creative. Any guesses why?

Yes, it’s the penultimate day of the summer (*cries in British weather*). No, it’s not the collective sigh of relief at it almost being time for the kids to go back to school.

It’s actually way more significant than that.

We’ll give you a clue: for us this year, summer’s not the only season drawing to a close with the arrival of September.

That’s because on 30 August, we bid a fond Outlook Creative farewell to two of our longest serving and much-loved Seekers. Jason, our Design & Digital Director, and Amie, our Operations Director.

With a combined 51 years of service between them, both Jason and Amie have played key roles in shaping the Outlook Creative we know today—which it’s fair to say is completely unrecognisable from the place they joined over 20 years ago.

We’ll miss them hugely, and it’s impossible to thank them enough for everything they’ve done over the years. But before we get too mushy, as with all goodbyes it’s only right that we take a good old trip down memory lane.

You ready? Step inside the Outlook Creative time machine…

The year is 1996. Spice Girls’ Wannabe is top of the charts. Acid-wash denim is all the rage. The nation’s buzzing with the hopeful prospect of football coming home (too soon?).

Jason, however, is walking through the Outlook doors for the first time, having taken a chance on one final job application before boarding a one-way flight to Australia.

“It was a completely different place back then,” he muses. “It was much smaller—I think only around 10 people—and it was heavily event-focused.

To put it into context—and God, this really does make me feel old—when I rocked up on my first day, they had no Apple Macs, just a couple of really rubbish PCs using software I’d never heard of for slide production. The Internet wasn’t even a thing. It was still faxes and couriers for moving assets and files around.”

Mad, right? Jason agrees. “I really did wonder how I was going to get on, and whether it was the right choice for me.” Luckily for him (and us), he was soon enveloped by the Outlook charm—as was Amie, when five years later in 2001, a series of sliding doors moments led to her first day on the reception desk.

“I remember it like it was yesterday,” she reminisces. “I saw the job ad in the Chronicle and dropped round my application in person. Bill, the Finance Director at the time, recognised me from his local, the Bold Dragoon, where I’d been working.”

Little did Bill know, Amie had already been shortlisted for the role. “I started the week before my 20^th birthday, was handed a branded mug with my name on it, and immediately felt like part of the family.”

“Believe in yourself and don’t wait for things to fall into your lap. I’d also say be kind and full of praise for your colleagues—let people know you value them!”

Of course, such extensive tenures come with a whole heap of memories. When asked for his standouts, Jason can’t help but smile. “I’ve got loads, as you can imagine. And the majority aren’t publishable!”

We’ll have to use our imaginations for those. But some of the more SFW ones give an idea—think travelling round the world, including a pretty memorable client sales conference that took him to Palm Springs.

“They had the astronaut, Buzz Aldrin, as guest speaker, and camels being paraded through the audience as part of a big reveal. The local techies working for us on the event decided to abseil down the hotel wall to meet us on the patio for beers!”

While Amie’s favourite memories may not feature wild animals or abseiling techies, her 23 years at Outlook have been shaped by the same two key components: people and fun. “I’ve made some of my best friends here,” she reflects. “And it’s these relationships that have made me who I am today.”

When asked about personal highlights, she paused for a moment. “A real proud moment for me was getting my seat on the LT in April 2017—the first woman to do so, having worked my way up from my very first role here.”

This impressive trajectory embodies Amie’s parting advice for her fellow Seekers. “Believe in yourself and don’t wait for things to fall into your lap. I’d also say be kind and full of praise for your colleagues—let people know you value them!”

Jay, however, takes a slightly more practical approach: “Never eat yellow snow.” He laughs, before continuing, “But on a serious note, time really flies and 25 years at Outlook genuinely only feels like five. So make sure that, as well as working hard, you’re taking time to savour and appreciate the work you produce, the brands and clients you’re working for, and the impact your work can have.

Never take that for granted. Step back and take pride in what you individually and collectively have achieved—the business is only as good as its people, so take care of each other, be respectful and helpful, and make the most of every minute. Even during the busy and difficult times, which ironically is when you really learn about yourself and your colleagues.”

“Step back and take pride in what you individually and collectively have achieved—the business is only as good as its people, so take care of each other, be respectful and helpful, and make the most of every minute.”

Wise words indeed.

Now, we couldn’t let them leave without sharing a few of our own favourite memories. Read on for cracking anecdotes, standout moments, and bonding over the best team in the league.

Sarah Skates, Assistant Operations Manager

Pete Hanson, Senior Creative Artworker

Rachel Beard, HR Administrator

Andy Upton, Art Director