Sophie launches career in software engineering

A change of direction in study has led Sophie Feakes towards a career path in software engineering.

Sophie, who graduated from the BSc (Hons) Software Engineering, is now working as a software engineer at Nicander.

She recently completed her second-year work anniversary with the firm after first starting with him as a placement student while completing her studies.

Sophie said: “My studies at Teesside University allowed me to develop strong skills in a subject I had never previously studied. As well as graduating, I also have two years of industry experience, having progressed from a placement year into continued employment.

“My path hasn’t been a straight one. Having previously studied a completely different subject at another university, I made the decision to move closer to home and study at Teesside University.

“The accessibility of courses at Teesside led me to pursue software engineering and build a career that I find exciting and fulfilling. Looking back, it was one of the best decisions I’ve made, and in my case, the care and teaching quality at Teesside surpasses that which I had previously experienced.”

Sophie followed in the footsteps of relatives who studied at Teesside University more than fifty years ago.

Back in 1970, Sophie’s great uncle, Andrew Ellis, graduated from the first computer science degree at Teesside. A year later, Andrew’s wife, Eileen, graduated from the University’s first degree in mathematics. Among Eileen’s classmates were Phil Willers, who went on to become an academic in computing, along with his wife Hilary. The four Teesside University graduates have kept in close touch ever since.

Andrew, who began his studies in 1966 at what was then Constantine College of Technology. He continues to work in information technology, currently as IT Risk Manager for Greencore PLC.

He said: “I am enormously proud of what Sophie has achieved. It is great that she has done so well in a male-dominated discipline. I have seen first-hand how information technology has developed incredibly and is now so pervasive and powerful.

“In 1970, the whole department relied on a single computer rather less powerful than a laptop today. In contrast, the discipline is far wider, the tools more complex and the challenges have grown enormously. Sophie starts the next stage of her career at a fantastic time, and I am certain she will do tremendously well.”

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