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• Richard

Meet our people

University: Loughborough University
Degree type: BSc Information Management & Business Studies
Location: Greenford

How long have you been at GSK?
I joined GSK around two years’ ago in September 2005.

What made you apply to GSK?
Although it may sound a bit of a cliché I really do enjoy working for a company that aims to improve the quality of human life, by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. Being part of the Research & Development IT department provides a clear link to this message, as the systems developed and supported in this area enable our scientist to discover the next breakthrough drug.

What made you apply to the IT Development Programme?
Having undertaken an Industrial Placement year at GSK I realised the opportunities and potential for personal development that could be gained through the programme. There are a number of different IT business units within GSK that can offer completely diverse experiences. The ability to work within these different environments and build networks across the organisation was a key attraction to the scheme.

What was your first role?
My first role was with Research & Development IT (R&DIT) in a group that focused primarily of delivering and supporting applications at the very beginning of the drug discovery pipeline. Immediately upon joining this department I was set the challenge of project managing a series of Oracle database upgrades. The project required me to influence multiple stakeholders from across drug discovery research and to manage a small team of people.

What have been your subsequent roles?
I moved into Systems & Communication Services in the role of Service Improvement Analyst. This placement revolved largely around process improvement initiatives within the Network Services area. I am currently in my final role, working as a project manager within R&D IT. I have been project managing the implementation of standard support processes for incident management and problem management across R&D IT. This placement has really raised the bar in terms of size of delivery and complexity of task that I am involved in.

What kind of support do you get?
There are several GSK managers who all have an invested interest in your progress during the three years. For me personally, the positive of this relationship is that these individuals are very supportive and always take decisions with your best interests at heart. In addition, the support network you establish with other graduates is invaluable and really underpins the enjoyment you get out of the scheme.

What is the company culture like for you?
The company culture is fairly relaxed, but has a real focus on delivery. You are allowed the freedom to complete your work in a manner that suits you, which is really is great. There is a ‘can do’ attitude and people are willing to help and support each other wherever possible.

What is your work/life balance like?
The work/life balance is a message that GSK tries to embed within its company culture. My work / life balance is generally good, that said, there are times where you have to go the extra mile, but so long as you manage your time effectively this does not become the norm.

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