At the forefront of digital transformation, Sopra Steria is a European leader partnering with the UK government and major global brands to revolutionise digital services. Guided by our ‘Living’ philosophy and values pillars, we place people
at the heart of our mission, aligning our efforts with the purpose of driving positive change in business and society. With over 80% of our work supporting essential services that impact countless lives across the UK, Sopra Steria places people at
the heart of its mission.
Our Future Careers programme is an example of our commitment to career development, which includes the Digital Academy, formally known as ADCA (Accelerated Digital Careers Academy). This innovative training initiative provides individuals with access
to cutting-edge digital skills and structured training, focusing on potential rather than formal qualifications.
The first in our series of short interviews is with Rachel McGurk, Junior Project Manager, within the Government and Transport sector at Sopra Steria. In this insightful conversation, Rachel shares her experiences with the ADCA programme and her role
in Defra’s Legacy Application Programme (LAP).
Can you tell us a little about yourself and your goals?
Prior to starting my journey at Sopra Steria through the ADCA programme, I gained my university degree in Computer Games Software Development. After graduating, I realised I preferred the more non-technical aspects of the course and wanted to make a career
switch. I then applied to the ADCA programme and am now in the permanent role in Programme and Project Management. I have been on the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) account in the LAP since October 2023. This is my first
role in a programme since starting my career and I am gaining lots of valuable skills and experience. I have a keen eye for detail and enjoy problem-solving on both an individual and team basis. I am extremely interested in utilising these skills
within Defra, specifically using IT solutions to help improve and protect the environment in a sustainable way.
What attracted you to the ADCA programme?
I was attracted to the ADCA programme as it allowed an opportunity for a career in the industry without any prior experience or training. The ADCA programme stood out to me as the clear training structure and career progression made it clear that this
would be a great opportunity to transfer my skills and thrive in a new environment with the appropriate levels of support and guidance.
Journey Through the ADCA Programme
Reflecting back, what was your experience like during the ADCA programme?
During the ADCA programme, I gained skills in and learned about different areas of project management, including gaining professional qualifications in Agile methodology. However, I think the most valuable thing the ADCA programme taught me was the key
soft skills required to thrive in a professional environment, such as communicating with teams, running meetings and networking skills. The supportive learning environment from the leaders and mentors on the course was so important as it really helped
me gain confidence in my abilities and showed me that I could do anything I put my mind to. Gaining these skills and knowledge has helped me get a running start in my role so far and I continue to use and evolve these skills every day.
Would you recommend the ADCA programme to others?
I would highly recommend the ADCA programme to others as it has given me the chance to start my career in my dream industry that, otherwise, I may have struggled to get into. It has also given me the skills and confidence to try new things that may be
out of my comfort zone initially, but after time proves to be a brilliant opportunity both for career and personal development. Joining through this programme has also been great for networking, as I now have lots of peers that I can reach out to
for anything, from advice and support to brainstorming sessions. Overall, it has been such a positive and beneficial experience.
Working with Defra
What achievements or contributions are you most proud of during your time at Defra?
During my time at Defra so far, I am most proud of learning so many new skills so quickly and adapting and thriving in my new role. From having no prior experience, I have learned how many different processes and activities work, and I have recently taken
ownership of certain processes and reporting cycles. Doing this has allowed the governance process of the programme to flow much better, and has improved the experience for everyone involved. Based on feedback from the Programme Director and Programme
Managers, the LAP Programme has benefitted from the improvements I have helped with so far, and I look forward to contributing further.
Legacy Application Programme
Can you explain what the Legacy Application Programme is and your role within it?
The Legacy Application Programme is a programme of work that will stabilise, enhance and transform the aging Defra IT infrastructure over a number of years. I work within the LAP Project Management Office (PMO) team, and my role is Programme Support Officer.
My role involves supporting with project reporting and meetings, risk and issue management, change management and many other areas of support. The LAP Programme aligns with Defra’s overall mission as it is enhancing and improving legacy IT system
that are crucial to the preservation and continuation of our environment.
How has your experience with the ADCA programme influenced your work on the Legacy Application Programme?
My experience on the ADCA programme has influenced my work on the Legacy Application Programme greatly. It has given me the skills to take on new tasks and has taught me how to overcome hurdles. It has helped with my problem-solving skills, and it has
given me the confidence to take control of tasks and communicate with team members. Going through the ADCA programme has given me a running start with my new role, and has given me the ability to be proud of my contributions.
Reflection and Future Outlook
What are your career aspirations and how has your experience with ADCA and Defra helped shape that?
In the future, I’d like to continue my PMO journey, and explore different aspects of Project Management. I would like to learn more about project planning as this is an area that interests me, and it is something I feel like I would be good at based
on my experience so far. I also want to continue to develop the soft skills that both Defra and ADCA have taught me, such as networking and public speaking. My experience with ADCA and Defra has helped shape these goals as it has allowed me to find
my professional strengths while gaining real-life experience with the help of mentors and colleagues. ADCA and my time and Defra so far has allowed me a running start to my career, and I will continue to carry forward all the things I have learned
in my future career.
Closing thoughts
By prioritising education and training, Sopra Steria is empowering individuals to unlock their full potential, contributing to a safer, healthier, and more sustainable future. Their commitment to skills development not only prepares people to face upcoming
challenges but also equips them to seize new opportunities, fostering a more resilient and innovative workforce.
“Rachel joined the client-side delivery team on Defra’s Legacy Application Program as PMO analyst in 2023. This was her first role and it’s great to see how quickly she grasped it and grew into this role using her skills from the ADCA
program. Rachel showed eagerness to learn and developing her skill set creating a foundation for her future career in PMO and Project Management” said Jeroen Boomsma, Portfolio Director IT Services.
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