Helping grow a world class capability from
4 to 286 in 2 years.
During the period from 2018 to 2021, I played a significant role in establishing the TechWorks in Bristol and the South West as a groundbreaking digital venture under Deloitte. Working as part of the initiation team, I was entrusted with the responsibility of spearheading the creative aspects of the project. This involved collaborating closely with facilities and architects to conceptualize and design the state-of-the-art studio. I also meticulously planned the interior layout and made specific hardware requests to ensure optimal functionality.
As the Head of Design, I not only directed the creative process but also took charge of organizing various social gatherings and studio forums in both Bristol and London. These events served as platforms for recruiting talented individuals and nurturing a diverse team of UI and UX designers, researchers, and developers. Throughout this period, I had the privilege of working with esteemed clients including Burberry, Dyson, UK Space Agency, HSBC, and the MET Office.
Overall, my commitment to innovation, effective collaboration, and a drive for excellence enabled me to make valuable contributions during my involvement with the TechWorks initiative.
Date
June 2018 - 2021
Role
Head of Design / Design manager
Recruitment
I encountered a significant issue with the Deloitte office's atmosphere, as it was excessively formal for the type of talented individuals we aimed to attract. During the construction of our new office, I proposed the idea of obtaining a membership at Engine Shed, a creative hub. This arrangement would provide us with a trendy setting to host events and conduct interviews, instilling a sense of confidence in the candidates we were seeking to hire. Additionally, I organized post-work gatherings with local talent, resulting in consistently high turnout and rapid growth for our team. Recruiting creative minds into a corporate environment proved to be a daunting task due to internal politics, but I remained committed to achieving success through a few necessary modifications.
Agencies
In order to enhance Deloitte's recruitment strategy and shift the focus towards creative talent, I made the decision to move away from larger corporate agencies such as Reed. Instead, I turned to Adlib, a specialised agency based in the South West, with whom I have previous personal experience. By partnering with Adlib, we initiated a consistent influx of high-quality creative talent, ensuring that the company attracted the best candidates for our needs.
Creating a space for everyone
In my role at Deloitte Digital, I faced the formidable task of establishing an engaging, imaginative, and ever-evolving work atmosphere. This undertaking posed one of the most significant hurdles throughout my professional journey, primarily due to the considerable resistance encountered from corporate stakeholders and internal procurement sources.
The Office (need to do)
I controlled the spend on all assets throughout the design and build. Only one floor was budgeted for this phase, but we were growing so fast it then turned into 2 floors, surprise - they wanted to use the same budget for both floors, what a challenge.
Internal comms
In addition to my role, I took the initiative to design and implement an internal marketing campaign aimed at attracting internal candidates. The outcome surpassed our expectations, as we successfully convinced approximately 45 individuals from London to relocate to the west and contribute towards building the necessary capabilities. Undoubtedly, the campaign proved to be an immense triumph for our organization.
During the period from 2019 to 2021, our organization embarked on an extensive recruitment drive to gather highly experienced and capable senior staff members. As a result, we also made significant efforts to tap into the potential of recent graduates and various academies. Engaging with prominent institutions like the Dev Academy in Bristol and Bristol University, I had the opportunity to deliver informative talks and presentations, ultimately leading to the successful recruitment of approximately 40 talented graduate developers through these partnerships. Subsequently, due to our triumphant bidding endeavors, our team expanded exponentially, experiencing remarkable growth from a mere 4 members to an impressive count of 286 individuals within a span of just 2 years.
Capability strategy
In order to secure support from the esteemed partners and investors at Deloitte, I meticulously prepared a multitude of comprehensive documents. These extensively detailed materials were strategically presented to key stakeholders throughout an extended period of several months, with the aim of overcoming internal political dynamics. Additionally, the intention behind producing these documents was to effectively illustrate a coherent and well-defined strategic direction.
Initiation team
From 2018 to 2021, I played a major role in creating TechWorks in Bristol and the South West. TechWorks is a new Deloitte Digital capability. I was part of the initiation team and my main responsibility was to lead the creative direction. This involved designing the new studio space, collaborating with facility and architecture experts, and creating detailed plans for interior design and hardware requirements. As the Head of Design, I organized social events and studio forums in Bristol and London. I also focused on recruiting talented individuals and building a team of UI and UX designers, researchers, and developers.
Luke Fry
Head of Design / Design Manager
Emma Stone
HR
Alex Bird
Project Manager
Maria Plotnikova
Consultant
Updates
In order to effectively recruit new staff and potential hires, I would organize engaging Techworks events at Engine Shed where individuals can get to know our company. Additionally, I would make it a priority to regularly update everyone on the progress of Bids, team socials, office design, moving dates, and other important events, ensuring that everyone remains well-informed.
Creating & leading
design across multiple clients.
During my time in Bristol, I dedicated myself to strengthening the team and enhancing our capabilities. Despite being primarily based in London, I took on significant responsibility, leading the design efforts for prestigious projects like Burberry's internal processing app, the HSBC Kinetic app/website, and a drone delivery system for the NHS. Additionally, I played a pivotal role in securing successful bids by creating detailed blueprints and designing user interfaces for influential organisations such as Lego, Nationwide, and the AA.
DVSA commercial vehicle service app
The HSBC Kinetic app is the result of extensive research conducted by our dedicated team to pioneer a revolutionary Business Banking App. Through collaborating with small business owners and actively seeking their input, we embarked on a mission to design an application that revolutionises business banking by enhancing simplicity, relevance, and intuition.
Articles
https://www2.deloitte.com/uk/en/pages/impact-report-2019/stories/dvsa.html
Links
https://vimeo.com/564086649
https://skyportsdroneservices.com/nhs-launches-uks-first-covid-test-drone-delivery-service-in-scotland/
https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/news/healthy-alliance-vodafone-deloitte-virtual-healthcare-hub/
Burberry
The HSBC Kinetic app was developed in response to significant research by our team to create a truly ground-breaking Business Banking App. We asked small business owners what they wanted from their bank, then we took their insights and set out to create an app that makes business banking simpler, relevant and more intuitive.
Making tennis inclusive
I had the opportunity to take charge of leading the design process for the upcoming phase of the LTA website. Throughout this project, my primary focus was on collaborating with users in order to develop an innovative online coaching system, a comprehensive competition search feature, and an engaging fan zone area.
In my role, I had the privilege of overseeing a talented group of UX and UI designers while actively engaging in the UI aspect myself. I recently faced the exciting challenge of making the sport of tennis more inclusive, friendly, and diverse. As a result, the year witnessed an unprecedented increase in sign-ups from individuals hailing from diverse backgrounds, marking a significant milestone in the history of the LTA and a huge success for the team.
Role: Product Design Lead
Role: Product Design Lead
LTA
The HSBC Kinetic app was developed in response to significant research by our team to create a truly ground-breaking Business Banking App. We asked small business owners what they wanted from their bank, then we took their insights and set out to create an app that makes business banking simpler, relevant and more intuitive.
Clear and precise data for engineers
I had the opportunity to take charge of leading the design process for the upcoming phase of the LTA website. Throughout this project, my primary focus was on collaborating with users in order to develop an innovative online coaching system, a comprehensive competition search feature, and an engaging fan zone area.
In my role, I had the privilege of overseeing a talented group of UX and UI designers while actively engaging in the UI aspect myself. I recently faced the exciting challenge of making the sport of tennis more inclusive, friendly, and diverse. As a result, the year witnessed an unprecedented increase in sign-ups from individuals hailing from diverse backgrounds, marking a significant milestone in the history of the LTA and a huge success for the team.
Role: Product Design Lead
Role: Product Design Lead
Creating a new brand for Deloitte Digital
Whilst building the team and capability in Bristol, I was still highly utilised in London, leading design on major projects such as Burberry’s internal processing app, a HSBC Kinetic app/website and a drone delivery system for the NHS. I was also heavily involved in successful bids, producing blueprints and UI for Lego, Nationwide and the AA.
Photoshoots
One of the primary aspects that I aimed to alter at Deloitte was the overall corporate mindset surrounding the management of Deloitte Digital. I voiced the need for improved photography capabilities, both for internal and external purposes, to align with our newly enhanced capabilities. Currently, employee photography is only conducted during the induction process, resulting in around 500 individuals waiting for an hour to have their picture taken. This outdated approach urgently required a transformation.
Agency shots (need to do)
I controlled the spend on all assets throughout the design and build. Only one floor was budgeted for this phase, but we were growing so fast it then turned into 2 floors, surprise - they wanted to use the same budget for both floors, what a challenge.
Forums
Forums provided an invaluable platform for fostering team connection, enhancing mutual understanding, and facilitating the exchange of valuable insights and experiences among colleagues. In addition to discussing work-related matters, these forums also served as a space to encourage participation in various non-work-related activities, including engaging in sports events, enjoyable pizza nights, and entertaining games that further contributed to team bonding and a vibrant office culture.
Design forums & socials
In order to maintain the pace of our rapid growth and keep up with the constant changes happening in our company, it was crucial for our forums to occur more frequently than just occasionally. We believed that convening every two weeks would ensure that our entire team stayed in the loop and aligned with our goals.
Reflection
Whilst building the team and capability in Bristol, I was still highly utilised in London, leading design on major projects such as Burberry’s internal processing app, a HSBC Kinetic app/website and a drone delivery system for the NHS. I was also heavily involved in successful bids, producing blueprints and UI for Lego, Nationwide and the AA.
Lego, AA and Nationwide Blueprints
During my tenure at Deloitte, I actively participated in the development of comprehensive Blueprints for Bids. These invaluable resources, serving as instrumental tools for prospective clients, took shape in the form of well-crafted PowerPoint presentations or meticulously crafted high-resolution illustration files.
HSBC Kinetic
The HSBC Kinetic app is the result of extensive research conducted by our dedicated team to pioneer a revolutionary Business Banking App. Through collaborating with small business owners and actively seeking their input, we embarked on a mission to design an application that revolutionises business banking by enhancing simplicity, relevance, and intuition.
Socials
When it comes to the process of team building, one essential aspect that should not be overlooked is the early initiation of social engagement. By prioritising this practice, you have the opportunity to lay a solid foundation for a team that is not only strong but also imbued with happiness and satisfaction.
Cutting the ribbon
The office that I had the privilege of opening garnered enthusiastic acclaim from my peers, leaving me with an overwhelming sense of pride and accomplishment. It was an opportunity that I had never ventured into previously, yet I wholeheartedly embraced the challenge with unwavering determination, ultimately triumphing in my endeavors.
Welcome
In order to generate excitement and attract new talent, I recommended implementing welcome packs within our organization. This small yet impactful change had a significant ripple effect, capturing attention not only within our office but also across various social media platforms. As a result, we experienced heightened promotion and an increased interest in job openings.
Budgets
During the design and build process, I effectively managed the expenditure of all assets. Initially, the budget allowed for the construction of only one floor. However, due to our rapid growth, we swiftly expanded to encompass two floors. To add to the complexity, we were tasked with utilising the same budget for both floors, presenting a significant challenge.
Office ideas
In order to ensure a smooth and inclusive recruitment process, I would organize regular Techworks events at Engine Shed for both current staff and potential hires. These events would not only serve as a platform for networking and getting to know one another, but also provide valuable updates on various aspects of our operation, such as the progress of bids, upcoming team socials, office design plans, moving dates, and other important events. By keeping everyone informed and involved, we can foster a sense of unity and transparency throughout the company.
Plans
I controlled the spend on all assets throughout the design and build. Only one floor was budgeted for this phase, but we were growing so fast it then turned into 2 floors, surprise - they wanted to use the same budget for both floors, what a challenge.
Office materials (need to do)
Whilst recruiting, I would hold get to know Techworks events in Engine shed for staff and potential hires, I would keep everyone up to date with progress on Bids, team socials, the office design and moving dates and other key events.
Team bonding
One of the other immensely beneficial motives behind organizing this particular shoot was to create an opportune occasion where the novel additions to our team could establish their initial acquaintanceship with each other. The intention behind this rendezvous was to actively facilitate the initial interaction, fostering a congenial and relaxed atmosphere, leading to a truly enjoyable and entertaining gathering.