Meet our Academy Consultants – Ore

The Ten10 Academy offers a range of training for anyone with an interest in tech. Take Ore, who studied computer science at university before starting her training. We sat down with her to learn about her journey through the Academy, what work she’s completing with her client, and how she’s still learning different aspects of technology every day.

How do you feel you’ve transitioned from the Ten10 Academy to your client work?

My transition from the Ten10 Academy to my client work has been exciting and a huge learning curve. The Academy gave me a strong foundation, not only in technical skills but also in soft skills, such as agile delivery, communication, and collaboration. That foundation made stepping into a live client project feel less daunting, and I saw how they make an impact in real projects.

At first, it was an adjustment to work in a new environment with its own processes and pace, and especially since this was my first job out of university, but the Academy’s hands-on approach really prepared me for that. Overall, I’d say the transition has helped me grow both professionally and personally, from learning new tools, taking ownership of my tasks, and seeing the real impact of my work. It’s been very rewarding.

Take us through your placement and tell us what client teams you’ve worked with

I joined the Quality Assurance team at my client and have had the opportunity to work closely in a cross-functional team, including developers, business analysts, project managers, and delivery leads.

The project I am working on is the transition of a legacy system that is coming to the end of life to a new system. My responsibilities include meeting with developers to go through design pages and raise enquiries, reviewing requirements, coming up with high-level test scenarios, setting up test environments for automated test execution, identifying and raising defects early, collaborating with my immediate and bigger teams, and helping to validate that the new system meets business needs without disrupting existing processes.

What is a normal working day or week for you?

A typical day starts with a morning stand-up where the team discusses progress, priorities, and any blockers. It’s a great way to stay aligned and plan out the day’s focus. From there, most of my time is spent on test execution, reviewing requirements, script writing, running test cases, gathering evidence, and logging any issues that surface.

I’m also involved in setting up and maintaining automation tools, which have helped streamline repetitive tasks and speed up testing cycles. When bugs are identified, I work closely with developers to reproduce and clarify them, ensuring they’re resolved quickly and effectively. Peer reviews and report writing are also a regular part of my week, allowing me to reflect on results, share findings with the team, and continuously improve our testing approach.

Each week brings something slightly different, but there’s always a balance between structure and learning, which keeps things both challenging and rewarding.

Have your roles or responsibilities changed during your time on placement?

Yes, my responsibilities have definitely grown over time. When I first joined the project, I started by shadowing a senior team member, then working with a colleague to understand the systems and workflows. That phase really helped me build confidence and learn how everything fits together in a live environment.

Over time, I began taking more ownership of my work. I was assigned specific flows to test and now report my progress and findings directly to my test lead. This shift has been a big step forward; it’s helped me develop independence, sharpen my problem-solving skills, and take accountability for delivering quality outcomes.

It’s encouraging to look back and see how much I’ve grown from observing to contributing actively. Each stage has built on the last, and I’ve learned that confidence really comes through consistent learning and doing.

What technology tools, frameworks, and processes have you gained experience with since starting your client work?

Since starting my client placement, I’ve gained hands-on experience with several tools and frameworks that have strengthened my technical and analytical skills. A key part of my work has been using an internal automation framework built on Java that supports BDD using Cucumber and Gherkin. This has deepened my understanding of how automation supports consistent and efficient testing.
I’ve also worked with Parasoft for service virtualisation and API testing, as well as Jira and Confluence for tracking progress and documenting results. In addition, I’ve used GitHub for version control and collaboration, and I’ve recently begun using SOAtest to validate message queues, which have helped me understand how different systems communicate and handle data flow behind the scenes.

Altogether, these tools and processes have given me a more complete view of modern testing environments and how quality engineering supports every stage of delivery.

How has your client supported your development?

My client has been very intentional about supporting my growth and development. I’ve had access to regular training sessions that build both my technical and interpersonal skills, along with one-to-one meetings that create space for feedback and reflection.

I also have monthly feedback sessions with my test lead, which have been incredibly helpful for tracking progress, setting goals, and identifying areas to strengthen. These sessions give me the clarity and confidence to keep improving with each sprint.

Daily stand-ups and team meetings have also played a big part in my development, helping me stay connected with the team’s priorities and understand how different roles work together. In addition, taking on individual projects and shadowing more experienced team members has given me valuable hands-on learning and exposure to best practices.

Overall, my client has created an environment that encourages learning, ownership, and continuous improvement and that support has made a real difference in my journey.

What support have you received from Ten10 during your placement?

Ten10 has continued to support me throughout my placement. I’ve had access to one-to-one sessions with my coaches, regular check-ins from the wellbeing team, and learning resources, including the option to order books and courses to deepen my skills. That ongoing support has made a big difference. It’s reassuring to know that even while on the client site, I’m still part of a community that genuinely invests in my growth.

Have you been given any extra opportunities through your client work?

Yes, my placement has provided a lot of opportunities beyond my core responsibilities. I’ve been able to attend industry events, including a session hosted with Microsoft, which gave me insight into emerging technologies, building specialised chatbots and industry best practices. Participating in client meetings has also been invaluable, helping me understand decision-making processes, business priorities, and how different teams collaborate to deliver results.

I’ve also been involved in charity and community initiatives, which have been personally rewarding and reinforced the importance of giving back as part of a professional environment. Networking with colleagues from other departments has broadened my perspective and allowed me to see how different parts of the business connect and support each other.

Alongside these experiences, I’ve had access to a wide range of learning and development resources, including courses, e-learning and reading materials, which have helped me continuously grow my technical and soft skills. Taken together, these opportunities have not only enhanced my professional development but also given me a deeper appreciation for the collaborative, dynamic, and supportive environment that client work can provide.