Two Friends, One Vision: The Birth of Stabilise

Eight Years in the Making

There's a particular kind of partnership that only emerges after years of working side by side. The kind where you can sketch a complex network diagram on a napkin, and your colleague immediately spots both the brilliant bits and the potential pitfalls.

That's what Alan Avins and I built over eight years at LeftBrain, where Alan served as CTO and I was Director of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships. And it's the foundation that eventually became Stabilise.

The LeftBrain Years

Some partnerships are forged in boardrooms. Ours was forged in the trenches of genuinely difficult technical problems.

The Brainlabs Project

Take the Brainlabs project. The kind of infrastructure challenge that makes most IT teams quietly update their CVs.

The brief: Two adjacent buildings. Three floors in one building, with the ISP endpoint inconveniently located on one floor. The second building (a high-rise) desperately needed connectivity, but wouldn't have its own internet connection for months. It all needed to be rock-solid reliable, because this was Brainlabs, and downtime wasn't an option.

I designed the solution: a daisy-chain of connections across all three floors, fibre cable running through the basement and up into the high-rise. But the clever bit? Once the second building's internet finally arrived, we'd configure redundant failover using opposite WAN 2 ports, so either building could lose connectivity and the entire operation would seamlessly continue.

Ambitious? Absolutely.

Making the impossible work

But here's what made it actually work: we kept Brainlabs in the loop at every stage. Not with technical jargon they didn't need, but with clear explanations of what we were doing and why. When the structured cabling company hit a snag, we were on-site the same day, working through solutions rather than pointing fingers.

The relationship mattered as much as the technical solution. Because infrastructure isn't just about equipment, it's about the people relying on it to do their jobs.

Alan took my architectural plan and executed it flawlessly using Meraki equipment, whilst I liaised with the structured cabling company to ensure every metre of fibre was to spec before installation day.

The result? A network that not only solved an impossible logistical problem but delivered redundancy that most enterprise setups would envy.

The dynamic that defined everything

"We work really well together," I explained to someone recently. "We understand complex problems and bounce ideas off each other whilst keeping the client in the loop. Some of our plans are pretty ambitious, but they inevitably work out because we've pressure-tested them from every angle."

It's a dynamic that would define everything we'd build together over the next decade.

The Divergent Paths (That Were Never Really Divergent)

After eight years at LeftBrain, both Alan and I knew we wanted to build something of our own. But first, we tried something together.

BlankState: Building companies, not just solving problems

BlankState tackled two problems most businesses don't think about until it's too late: IT asset disposal that's both secure and environmentally responsible.

Certified blanking of storage in laptops, desktops and servers. Physical destruction when necessary, with every component properly recycled or responsibly disposed of. Because your data security shouldn't come at the planet's expense.

It was niche, technically rigorous, and exactly the kind of unsexy problem that actually matters to businesses and our environment.

It also proved something important: we could build companies together, not just solve technical problems. And that the values we cared about, environmental responsibility included, could be baked into everything we built.

Going solo (sort of)

Then, in early 2025, we each launched our own ventures.

CustomConfig (founded February 2025) was Alan's brainchild. A forward-thinking, consultative approach to Apple IT. Strategic technology leadership. Systems architecture. The kind of work that requires deep technical expertise but also the ability to translate complex infrastructure into business value.

CmdShift (founded June 2025) was my play. Building on my business development expertise to create proven infrastructure excellence with a focus on client relationships and strategic partnerships. Reliability, meticulous execution, and that characteristic ability to turn ambitious plans into working reality.

Different names. Different approaches.

But if you looked closely, the DNA was identical: Apple expertise, complex problem-solving, and an obsessive focus on making things work flawlessly.

Building Teams, Not Just Technology

Here's something we learned early: the best technology means nothing without the right people delivering it.

At LeftBrain, we weren't just solving technical problems. We were mentoring junior engineers, teaching them to think architecturally, giving them real responsibility on client projects. Watching someone go from hesitant troubleshooter to confident systems architect is genuinely one of the most rewarding parts of this work.

That approach carries into Stabilise. We don't believe in managing people, we believe in building them up. Every team member gets proper training, opportunities to lead projects, and the trust to make real decisions. We give responsibility and expect excellence, because that's how people grow.

When you work with Stabilise, you're not just getting Alan and me. You're getting a team we've deliberately built and developed, where everyone genuinely cares about your success.

Why Merge Two Four-Month-Old Businesses?

Here's the thing about starting a company with someone you've worked alongside for eight years: you already know how the story ends.

"We realised two are better than one," Alan said when we discussed it. "Together we can create something greater than the sum of its parts."

It wasn't that CustomConfig or CmdShift were struggling. Quite the opposite. But we both kept encountering the same realisation: our clients didn't need just technical implementation or just strategic consultancy. They needed both.

What businesses actually need

They wanted partners who thought five years ahead, not five months.

They needed experts who understood that Apple devices aren't islands. They're portals into an entire business ecosystem. Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, identity management, MDM platforms, security frameworks, backup systems. Every piece has to work together seamlessly.

They needed infrastructure designed with genuine foresight: networks that could scale from 300 to 2000 employees without ripping everything out. Cloud strategies that balanced control with flexibility. Security that felt invisible but was bulletproof.

They needed someone monitoring their environment constantly, identifying issues before users noticed them, and continuously refining systems as their business evolved.

And crucially, they needed someone who had spent years building relationships with key software vendors and distributors. The kind of partnerships that get clients preferential support, better pricing, and early access to new features.

The inevitable merger

Separately, CustomConfig and CmdShift were excellent at our respective strengths. Together, as Stabilise, we could deliver the complete picture: technical mastery and strategic thinking, implementation and ongoing evolution, Apple expertise and ecosystem integration.

The merger happened just months after both businesses launched. Some might call that quick. We call it inevitable.

What Stabilise Actually Means

Stabilise isn't just a rebranded MSP. It's the formalisation of a working relationship that's been battle-tested for over eight years.

Alan brings the technical precision and systems thinking that turns complex problems into elegant solutions.

I bring the strategic vision and relationship building that ensures technology serves real business needs.

Together, we bring something more: genuine care about your success. Not just whether your systems work, but whether your team feels supported, whether you understand what we're doing and why, and whether your technology actually moves your business forward.

Built on partnership, building for the long term

We built Stabilise on eight years of partnership, but we're building it for the long-term relationships we want with clients.

And we're building it responsibly. Every device we deploy, we plan for its entire lifecycle. Every piece of retired equipment is certified, wiped, and properly recycled. We offset our travel where we can, minimise unnecessary on-sites, and make decisions that consider both your business and the planet we all share.

What we do

We handle the foundation:

• Complete Apple ecosystem ownership (MDM, identity management, security)
• Infrastructure that just works, designed with the same rigour as that Brainlabs network
• 24/7 UK-based support that actually understands Mac workflows

Then we build the future:

• Fractional CTO services for strategic technology leadership
• Business systems integration (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, identity management)
• Security and compliance (Cyber Essentials, NIS2, network security)
• Proactive guidance that positions you ahead of your competitors

Most MSPs ask, "Is your IT working?" We ask, "Is your IT giving you an advantage?" But also: 'Does your IT partner actually care about you?'

Because brilliant infrastructure delivered by people who treat you like a ticket number isn't brilliant at all.

Building the Tools We Wish Existed: Introducing Airlocker

The merger sparked something else. As Alan and I combined our expertise, we kept encountering the same frustration: device lifecycle management was still ridiculously complicated.

The problem

Want to send a laptop to a new remote employee? Most IT teams face a week-long ordeal: retrieve device from storage, configure it, generate shipping labels, arrange courier, track delivery, manage billing separately, hope nothing goes wrong.

So we built Airlocker. A UK-focused device lifecycle management platform that turns that week-long process into a one-click operation.

How it works

An employee needs a MacBook. Your IT admin logs into Airlocker, assigns the device, and clicks ship. Airlocker instantly generates shipping labels, arranges same-day delivery (because it's UK-focused, not trying to serve 47 countries), processes payment through saved methods, and tracks everything from warehouse to desk.

The device can ship from anywhere. Your office, your warehouse, even a client's premises if you're an MSP managing multiple clients. Complete lifecycle tracking from deployment through to return. Enterprise-level device management without enterprise-level complexity.

Why we built it

"We built Airlocker because we needed it ourselves," I explain to people. "Every MSP and IT team is managing device deployment with spreadsheets, email chains, and manual processes. It's 2025. There has to be a better way."

Unlike global competitors that try to serve every market, Airlocker specialises in the UK. Same-day delivery capabilities. Seamless payment processing with UK banks. MSP-friendly multi-client management. Optional warehousing if you don't want to manage physical inventory.

The core differentiator? "Ship from anywhere" flexibility combined with UK specialisation. Turning week-long device deployments into one-click processes.

A beta will be available in the coming months, with early access for Stabilise clients and select MSP partners.

It's the kind of innovation that only emerges when implementation specialists and strategic thinkers collaborate. And it's just the beginning.

What This Means for London Businesses

If you're a London business running on Apple technology, you've probably experienced one of two scenarios:

Scenario One: Your MSP treats Macs like difficult PCs, constantly suggesting you'd be better off switching to Windows. Your tickets take days. Simple problems become complex because your support team doesn't actually understand Apple ecosystems.

Scenario Two: You found an Apple specialist, but they're either too small to provide strategic guidance or too focused on consumer devices to understand business complexity.

Stabilise solves both.

What you get

You get the technical precision of someone who can architect multi-building networks with redundant failover, combined with the strategic thinking of someone who understands how that infrastructure drives business value.

You get unlimited UK-based support from people who genuinely understand Mac workflows, alongside fractional CTO services that help you plan your technology roadmap for the next three years.

You get infrastructure that just works and innovation that pushes you forward.

What you can expect

Deep expertise across every aspect of Apple business technologyFrom device management to identity systems to network architecture

Faster problem resolution with combined team resourcesTwo brains that have been bouncing ideas off each other for eight years

Strategic guidance that considers both today's operations and tomorrow's opportunitiesTechnical decisions that align with business goals

One partner for your entire Apple ecosystemNo more juggling vendors or explaining your setup repeatedly

The Path Forward

We're not interested in being London's biggest Apple MSP. We're interested in being the best.

That means:

• Continuing to push the boundaries of what's possible with Apple in business environments
• Building tools like Airlocker that solve real problems, not imaginary ones
• Maintaining the personal relationships and deep client understanding that makes complex projects actually work
• Staying small enough to care, big enough to deliver

The name Stabilise isn't about standing still. It's about creating the solid foundation businesses need to move fast, innovate freely, and grow confidently.

Timeline: How We Got Here

2017-2025: Alan and I work together at LeftBrain (eight years)

2022: BlankState proves we can build companies together

February 2025: CustomConfig launches

June 2025: CmdShift launches

October 2025: Stabilise is born

Welcome to Stabilise

Some partnerships take years to develop trust. Alan and I spent eight years at LeftBrain building that trust. Solving impossible problems, executing ambitious plans, and learning exactly how the other thinks.

BlankState proved we could build companies together. CustomConfig and CmdShift proved we each had unique strengths worth building upon. Stabilise is what happens when you combine those strengths deliberately, strategically, and with eight years of shared experience backing every decision.

Where infrastructure meets innovation.

Where technical precision meets strategic vision.

Where complex problems meet creative solutions.

And where your Apple technology finally becomes the competitive advantage it should be.

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