Ever wondered what it's like to work at one of Greater Manchester's leading tech employers or what specific job roles get up to each day?
Andy Roberts is a Senior Developer at ThinkEQ.
We spoke to him to find out more about this role, his experience at ThinkEQ, and what an average day looks like.
Name: Andy Roberts
Company: ThinkEQ
Job Title: Senior Developer
How did you get into your current role?
We had all met whilst working together in another digital agency. It was during this time that the core team of Think EQ was formed.
Our skills complemented one another and we got on like a house on fire. Think EQ was formed when a management buyout took place and I became Head of Tech.
What do you enjoy most about working at ThinkEQ?
The thing I enjoy most is being involved in projects from start to finish - strategy to launch. Also being proud of what the agency, as a whole, has delivered and knowing that we’ve done the best job for our clients.
On a day-to-day basis though, it’s the people. The office is never silent, there’s always something going on. Jokes, laughs, banter, cake, dog visits and client visits. And if you need to, you always have the option of working from home which makes the work-life balance better.
Have you developed new skills whilst being in the role?
As a hands-on development manager, I feel that I’m always picking up new skills. Whether that’s increasing my technical knowledge with platforms and technologies or developing as a manager.
Can you share anything about the tools you use?
We use WordPress, Umbraco, Laravel, IONIC, Bootstrap, jQuery, Angular, HTML, CSS, Javascript, PHP, C#, RestFul APIs, JSON, XML, SOAP, and GIT to name but a few. It’s always evolving so we do like to play around with new tools as they emerge to keep our knowledge fresh.
What is the Head of Tech role in your organisation, and how does it fit into the wider team?
I am involved in the strategic analysis process for clients, ensuring that we’re approaching the technicalities of the solution in the correct way. I also lead the development team that produces the websites and apps for our clients. The team also manages our own IT Infrastructure, which includes remote web servers, remote backup servers, and internal backup devices.
What does a typical day look like for you?
I’m not sure there is a normal day if I’m honest! One day is never the same as another. I think the reactive maintenance side of the work makes sure of that. At a high level though, the role means I have to make sure that we deliver exceptional projects for our clients - ensuring we deliver what we promise on time and to the standard they expect.
What opportunities are there for professional development and growth within your organisation?
As the team grows there are opportunities for existing staff to move into team lead roles, and as that happens, my role is expected to change, becoming less and less hands-on with development - and more towards strategic delivery.
I also think that there is personal growth gained from passing on knowledge and nurturing younger members of the team and seeing them benefit from your experience.
What excites you the most about the work?
Launching an app or a website that we’ve worked hard to design and develop, and then watching as the goals and objectives set out at the beginning of the project be achieved.
Have you learned anything new since you started?
I learn something new every day! Constant improvement is necessary in a fast-paced industry where you’re producing websites and apps.
