Wed, 28 May 2025 When SSTL was founded in 1985, Sam Cordes was working as a claims supervisor for an insurance firm that would later become part of Lloyds of London. Fast forward to 2008, after taking time out to raise a young family, Sam joined SSTL – and she’s been a cornerstone of our Facilities team ever since.

Back then, we had around 200 employees. Within just a few years, that number had trebled – and with it, the demands on the Facilities team. Sam played a key role in helping us scale up, from managing day-to-day operations to supporting the major transition of our manufacturing facilities from the University to our current home on the Surrey Research Park.
Over her 17 years at SSTL, Sam has witnessed incredible change – in our size, our systems, and our ambitions.

"It’s been amazing to see how far we’ve come. SSTL still has the energy of a start-up, but now with world-class infrastructure to match. I’ve always loved that it feels like a community here – and I’m proud to have played a part in helping it grow." – Sam Cordes, Office Services Manager