Tell us a little about yourself and your work.

I have worked for Tata Steel and its previous companies (Corus/British Steel) since 1998 after completing an EngD in Materials Engineering. I have worked in a variety of technical, product management, IT and Surface Inspection systems section manager. I work closely with Swansea University Computer Science, being a member of several advisory boards, including the Institute of Coding/Technocamps, and an industrial supervisor for 3 doctorate projects in computer vision/deep learning.

My current role is Supply Chain Data Science Lead which involves supporting our re-roller business of importing substrate as well as our future electric arc furnace operation.

 How did you hear about and first engage with the Micro-credentials programme (and other courses) delivered by Institute of Coding (IoC) & Technocamps?

I have been a member of the Institute of Coding/Technocamps industrial advisory committee for some time and have advocated the benefits of the Degree Apprenticeship and the Micro-credentials programmes, which several of my colleagues have attended and graduated from.

What inspired you to get involved and decide to up-skill/re-skill with our courses?

Until recently, I had not actually taken any of the courses I was recommending to my colleagues, so I decided to change that. IT and OT are a major part of my role since I started with the company, so I undertook the Fundamentals of Cybersecurity course. I have also just completed the short course on Introduction to Python.

How do you think the skills and knowledge provided by IoC have benefitted you and if so, how do you use it in your field or day-to-day work?

The courses were excellent, and I learnt a lot of useful knowledge, such as the security issues around new emerging technology. This would be useful for anyone who uses both internet-based tools and software.

As a manufacturing company, we must be vigilant and aware of potential cybersecurity issues. Understanding cyber risks and protection approaches is helpful when using or building technology. I have reached out several times to our cybersecurity staff, becoming more aware of some of the broader cybersecurity risks. Early engagement and knowing what to ask helps with building in security from the start, which is much easier than retrofitting.

The case studies and other presentations shared in the Cybersecurity course showed the worrying effectiveness of sophisticated phishing and social engineering. It effectively showed that anyone with a “nothing to hide” perspective should learn how their publicly accessible data can be used how to take steps to limit this. It is also important to remember that expert companies are targeted, and the victims of cybercrime are often “ordinary people”, so awareness of these issues is important for everyone.

The Python course was a great back-to-basics refresher, having used it a while ago, and now relearning it for work.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

It was excellent to attend the lab and lecture sessions in-person rather than completely online. The online tutorials were very good, but the lab sessions had everyone in the same room discussing and working together on some challenging exercises. This collaboration is much easier and engaging to create in-person than online.

The tutors (Fillipos, Jack, Lauren and Alex) were very well informed, and the courses were a great introduction to some complex subjects but presented in a clear and easy-to-understand way.

I would recommend these courses to anyone with any interest in technology, especially when there is the opportunity to attend in person, as there is no substitute for face-to-face learning. The funding of these courses from UKSPF was much appreciated and allowed a number of us to access high-quality learning at a time when money is a challenge for organisations.