We welcome Luke Watkins to Firemind as a service desk analyst

Hello and welcome Luke to Firemind! For our viewers, could you please tell us a little about yourself and your professional background?

First of all, thank you for this opportunity, it’s great to be able to join the team here at Firemind. I grew up in Essex and studied for my degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Kent.

My Dissertation project involved the development of a Smart Door Lock which replaced conventional radio frequencies with visible light communication, which instead uses the flashlight module of a smartphone to transmit a rotating unlock code in binary format. The rotating code system used to improve the device’s security was something I built around the AWS platform. To further develop my understanding of the AWS platform and C#, I have also been responsible for the development of a mobile application, which aims to tackle the environmental challenges as a direct result of food waste.

How did you find out about us and what made you decide to apply for a role with Firemind?

I initially discovered Firemind through a careers fair at the University of Kent. During this, I met the Talent Acquisition Lead, Tom Willmott. In our brief conversation, I found that unlike many large financial institutions and consultancies, Firemind welcomes new technologies, instead of slowly reacting to changes within the technology sector. Thus, Firemind was a much more appealing company to work for, unlike larger institutions where it is easy to just be another number in the system.

What is your new role at Firemind?

I am joining the MSP team as a Service Desk Analyst. With some experience with the AWS platform, it is an ideal role for me to learn the process of issue identification and resolution within cloud-based architectures.

Which areas of our business interested you the most?

There are many different areas of Firemind which interested me, however, if I had to pick one, the adoption of generative AI is something exciting to be a part of, as it is such a rapidly evolving space.

What will be your main goals/objectives whilst working at Firemind?

My main goal is to get more exposure to the AWS platform and learn to identify and resolve issues more efficiently on behalf of the customer. Another priority is to achieve as many AWS certifications as possible whilst working for Firemind. With some existing practical experience of a few AWS products, I am looking forward to expanding my arsenal of knowledge.

Which aspects of your role are you most excited about?

I’m looking forward to learning more about the MSP team and the work which goes into the development of systems on behalf of customers.

What do you hope to achieve within your first 12 months here?

Within my first 12 months at the company, I aim to gain some AWS certifications in addition to learning how to successfully resolve customer issues efficiently. Learning to identify and resolve common issues is important to ensure our customer workloads maintain the highest level of uptime.

Outside of work, what do you get up to? Tell us about your hobbies.

I have always been a petrol head; hence I can occasionally be found at the local go-karting tracks, working on a friend’s project car, or browsing online for the next bad financial decision… Hence the recent acquisition of a racing simulator. In addition to this, I have been learning to play the guitar in my spare time over the past couple of years.

What’s your favourite song on your playlist right now?

After recently going to Liverpool to see their first show since the band split in 2021, I would have to say Catfish and The Bottlemen – Anything.

If you could only choose one dish to eat every meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Although a simple choice, I would have to say steak (cooked to medium rare), chips and peppercorn sauce. However, depending on how much time I have had to cook, this favourite dish does change quite frequently.

What is at the top of your bucket list?

As a petrol head, one day I hope to drive a GT3 or CUP car on a track. It may result in the destruction of many sets of tires, but it would be fun to experience a car built specifically for the track.

What is one skill you would really love to learn?

When I get the chance, I would like to learn to develop smart contracts for blockchains, as they can be useful for many different applications, not just the transfer of digital assets.

And finally, how do you wind down after work?

If I can find the time, I enjoy cooking, something which I discovered I enjoyed whilst at university. Although it is not always possible to find the time.