21 October 2024

A2i’s new staff member – Introducing Rick

Rick joined A2i in October 2023. He moved to Bristol from Southampton, having previously lived in Sevilla, Spain for three years.

In just this short time, Rick has become proficient in audio, Large Print and reading Braille and is currently working towards his first Braille literacy qualification, to further develop his knowledge and skills.

We asked Rick (short for Richard) some questions about his role, as well as what he likes to do outside of work:

Rick, sitting in a park, smiling. Rick has black hair, a moustache and a small beard, and he's wearing a pale green jumper.

How long have you been at A2i?

I’ve been at A2i for just over 11 months

What do you do at A2i?

I transcribe all sorts of documents into audio, Braille and large print, including letters, phone bills and theatre brochures, as well as dealing with customers and handling quotes. I’ve also recently taken on the role of ensuring our stocklist is up-to-date.

What do you like about working for A2i?

I like the atmosphere in the office – I’m working with some very lovely people – and I like the fact that the work we do makes a difference in normal people’s lives – not just making rich people richer.

What kind of projects are you most excited to work on?

I quite enjoy the unique one-off orders where people have out-of-the-ordinary requests – kind of difficult figuring out how to charge for those, but actually doing the work adds a nice change of pace. E.g. Can you emboss this thank-you card onto a sticker? Can you emboss these poems onto black card? (The former request earned us a box of fancy chocolates!)

What do you enjoy doing outside of work? Do you have any hobbies?

I enjoy cooking & baking, watching films & series, playing board & card games, and reading novels, depending on how I’m feeling and how many people I’m with at any given moment.

What do you like about living in Bristol?

What I look for when moving to a new city is that the city has character, and Bristol certainly has a lot of character. I still miss Sevilla, but I do feel quite settled here now, and I’ve got a good group of friends to hang out with. So overall, it’s a pretty positive experience thus far.

Any other comments?

All my previous jobs had some element that seriously hampered my enjoyment of that part of my life (e.g. working nights). Thus far, A2i is my favourite job out of all the ones I’ve had (and I’m not just saying that to gain brownie points! 😉).

Thanks Rick!
P.S. we love the homemade baking you bring to the office for the team!