After graduating with a degree in Aerospace Engineering, Ryan Lam decided he wanted a career change. The adverse economic climate affected the aerospace industry and left Ryan with limited career options.
Ryan had a keen interest in Data Analytics and felt this was an area where he would like to pursue a career.
In April 2021, Ryan joined The Progress Group (TPG) under the Government’s Kickstart Scheme. The Scheme provided funding to employers to create jobs for 16- to 24-year-olds on Universal Credit.
Ryan was employed on a six-month placement as a Data Analyst in the marketing department, which saw him primarily working on market research and data analysis.
He quickly became a valued team member, providing valuable contributions to business planning and team activity One of his greatest achievements during this time was presenting the key findings of one of his reports to the senor leadership team within one of our subsidiaries, an activity that significantly enhanced their business planning for the forthcoming year. Ryan used this opportunity with the business to hone his data analysis and interpretation skills, whilst also developing his knowledge of IT systems such as PowerBI.
Ryan’s meticulous attention to detail, hard work and genuine passion for the role was quickly recognised, and when a role came up for a permanent Data Analyst, Ryan was quick to throw his hat in the ring.
Ryan said: “During my transition into my permanent role, I needed to get up-to-speed quickly on new systems and best practices.
“Having not strictly come from an IT background, I knew that there were gaps in my knowledge but through collaborations with industry professionals and nurturing from my manager, I was supported to plug these knowledge gaps.
“I was given continuous support and coaching, which helped guide me in the right direction. I received constructive criticism, which helped me identify areas for improvement and make changes to enhance my work.”
Ryan highlighted how his motivation and perseverance were also key to his success. He said: “It takes some self-motivation and perseverance to proactively learn new skills and handle new technical projects.”
In his current role, Ryan is responsible for developing PowerBI tools and dashboards, providing operational dashboards to streamline workflow, and ad-hoc data analytic duties to support business decision-making.
Ryan praised TPG for fostering a culturally inclusive workplace where he feels appreciated morally and professionally. He also highlighted how he felt supported to develop professionally.
He said: “I have been given many valuable opportunities and exposure to grow in the field of data analytics. Most of my CPD came in the form of on-the-job training and projects. There was also one occasion when I worked with an external consultancy agency, which helped me gain new knowledge and technical skills.”
Despite only being at the onset of his professional career, Ryan has ambitions to further develop his skills in the data analytics field. Ryan said: “I would love to become a senior data analyst or engineer in the coming five years.”
When asked what his favourite part of the job is, Ryan said: “For me, my job satisfaction comes from feedback from my colleagues. My work can save colleagues hours of admin time and allows them to focus more on the value-adding elements of the business, which is fantastic.
“I also love the flexibility of the role. I was recently able to travel home to Hong Kong for a much-needed reunion with my family and friends while still being able to work.
“The Group is like a big family, and you are supported professionally and personally.”
The Progress Group is a group of subsidiaries providing education and training to 11 – 65-year-olds. The Group comprises six subsidiaries, each supporting different demographics.
The Group’s mission of changing lives through the power of education is echoed through the workforce, as they support their colleagues to excel in their careers.
