At the start of July, we welcomed Liam and Jess to the Service Desk team as our newest trainees.
In joining the team, Jess has created a milestone for Breakwater as our first female engineer on the Service Desk.
Liam joins us as a Trainee Junior Systems and Workshop Engineer, and Jess as a Trainee Junior Systems Engineer. We can’t wait to see them grow in their roles, but in the meantime, why not find out a little more about them with our welcome questionnaire:
What is your professional background?
Liam: I have spent the past 8 years working my way up in the retail world under Tesco, I went from a Customer Assistant in large stores at the age of 16 all the way to Shift Leader in the smaller express format stores.
Jess: Primarily customer service and administration. I worked at the University of East Anglia for 6 years where I progressed to manage the campus Travel and Transport team (the wonderful work of parking!). I then pursued a dream of mine to go to Canada where I spent a couple of years travelling and working seasonal jobs (managed to get a ski season in just before covid hit!).
Since being back, I’ve been temping whilst looking for an opportunity to enter the tech industry. So here I am at BWIT – my first IT job!
If you could only keep three apps on your phone, which would you keep?
Liam: Facebook, TikTok and Reddit, I live in the tight grip of social media apps!
Jess: Spotify, Pinterest and Mario Kart.
What is your biggest achievement to date – personal or professional?
Liam: My biggest personal achievement is the birth of my two sons, our second son Arthur is now 2 months old and his older brother who unfortunately passed away at 3 months is always with us.
My biggest achievement professionally is starting my job at Breakwater! It sounds biased however I am finally in a role that allows me to work in the industry I have always wanted to.
Jess: I really can’t think of anything for this as bad as that sounds … currently teaching myself Javascript and if I ever manage to get my head around that, I’ll be chuffed!
If you had an extra hour in the day, what would you do with it?
Liam: If I am being honest, take a nap. Sleep can be elusive with a child!
Jess: I’d love to know how to longboard dance so maybe I’d spend an extra hour in a day dedicated to that.
Are you team iPhone or team Android?
Liam: Team Android all the way!
Jess: No real affiliation either way – I have an iPhone but only because there was a good deal when I was phone shopping!
Who is the most famous person you’ve met?
Liam: I once met Miles Kane and got a picture with him at a Liam Gallagher concert!
Jess: My first job was at Maccy D’s and Ross Kemp popped in for a McFlurry one time.
If you could be any character in a video game, who would you be?
Liam: I would choose to be the Lone Engineer from Factorio, so much freedom to build what I want.
Jess: Kaori from SSX.
If you could have invented or created anything, what would it be?
Liam: Hover Cars for definite! Think of all the time you could save from not being stuck in traffic.
Jess: Serious answer alert – I would invent a pill or a button that would instantly put you to sleep. I know sleeping pills and alcohol exist, but this would be in a natural way.
If you were a wrestler what would be your entrance theme song?
Liam: Shawn Michaels’ sexy boy theme, a man can dream!
Jess: Hmmmm… so many good choices but maybe I’d go for something to get the crowd going like a 90’s dance tune – maybe a little Rhythm is a dancer.
If you could have any job in the world, what would it be?
Liam: To be able to build custom PC’s all day with no budgets!
Jess: Super star DJ!
