We’re proud to be powered by a brilliant, diverse team of people who bring expertise, creativity and passion to everything they do. From engineers and analysts to operations and leadership, every colleague plays a part in shaping what we deliver.
Our team Q&A spotlights the people behind the projects – sharing their stories, insights, and maybe an app they can’t live without!
First up, it’s our business analyst, Matthew Likely…
- What first drew you to the tech industry?
During my time at university, coding was a key element of modelling geophysical mechanisms. I became aware of how important software is in the way the world works. This sparked my interest in learning more about the various roles within the technology sector.
- What does a typical day at IDS Group look like for you?
One of the best things about my role is that there is no ‘typical’ day. I could be involved with initial project discovery – where we begin to understand a client’s business goals, pain points, and motivations – developing artifacts like user flow diagrams, an example user journey or entity relationship diagrams, or I can even be a project’s factfinder, feeding information into the rest of the IDS team.
- What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone wanting to break into the tech space?
The tech space is vast, so I would suggest taking your time to understand the types of roles within a tech business, discover what software is utilised, and develop a strategy to achieve your goals. Ask questions and don’t be afraid to fail, or realise you don’t like a certain field. There is always a crossover to another role that might suit you better.
- What’s your favourite memory or proudest moment at IDS Group so far?
Honestly, the team singing my praises after my first discovery project. Hearing really positive feedback reassured me that the choices I made up to that point were for the best, and that I could see myself progressing at IDS Group.
- What do you think makes IDS Group different from other technical partners?
I think it’s the strong relationships we build with clients. We take their initial ideas and vision and turn them into fully developed applications that often exceed their expectations. The positive feedback we get reflects our commitment and attention to detail.
- How would you describe IDS Group in three words?
Agile, efficient, and ambitious.
- What are you most excited about for your role at IDS Group?
I’m looking forward to the day that all the deadlines are met, the new application has gone live, and I can step back and see that the project I worked on from its inception has been a complete success.
- What do you see as the biggest tech trend or opportunity coming in the next 12 months?
12 months is hard to predict – if I could I’d be a millionaire – but one thing I hope we’re close to is quantum computing. In the same way we’ve seen a great shift with the adoption of AI, quantum computing has the ability to rapidly change the tech landscape for the better, in terms of processing power, and potentially for worse with question marks over current encryption being good enough. Either way, it’s coming soon, and it will be huge!
- What piece of software or tech tool could you not live without – work or personal?
YouTube. I use it to both learn and unwind – although this can mess up my algorithm!
- Finally, when you’re not at work, how do you like to spend your time?
You’ll find me at an archery range – shooting and coaching – or travelling around the country competing in tournaments.
Want to continue the conversation? Connect with Matthew on LinkedIn.
