Here’s how you can make a positive impact by working in tech after uni

If you’re considering a career in tech, you’d be forgiven for feeling like your job prospects are pretty limited to the tech giants or working in the IT department of another boring company. Many people decide to go down the corporate route, but that comes with the fear of selling your soul. Surely there are tech jobs out there that can actually do some social good?

TPP are a global digital health company that provide services across the UK, Asia, and the Middle East – they’re at the cutting edge of the rapidly changing artificial intelligence, smartphones and analytics that support healthcare systems worldwide. With the world’s largest database of over 48 million patient records, TPP are creating the technology your doctor is using to diagnose you. We spoke to the grads working there about working at the forefront of the world’s digital health industry, and what life at TPP is like.

TPP are looking for problem-solving grads who’re looking to make a difference through technology – apply today and receive a starting salary of £45k as a software developer

Fran, Chemistry grad, Oxford 

How did you come to work for TPP?

Having studied Chemistry, I was really into problem-solving, which is what first drew me towards coding. I’d done an evening coding course during my second year, and I managed to get onto an internship with TPP over the summer between my third and my fourth year. Even though I didn’t have a grounding in coding, TPP were very supportive. There were at least four people out of 13 of us who had never touched code when we started, but even so, after my internship, I was accepted as a full time software developer – you learn so much so fast.

From the moment I started at TPP, I really saw work positively affecting people’s lives. One project I worked on was to provide software for universities, so they could train medical students on new technology. I also worked on functionality for clinicians working in community hospitals in provinces in China.

What technology are you working on?

The range of technology I get to work on is fantastic – I’ve recently worked on app development in iOS and Android, SQL optimisation, and machine learning algorithms, to name just a few. I get to work across the whole software package and am involved in every step of the software release cycle. Our UK database is among the largest real-time databases in the world – with nearly 50 million full patient records – so you are often working on problems that no one else in the world has had to solve before.

What’s the training like?

The training is great and is very hands-on. Every new member of our team sits with around four to six people, and within their first few days are working on a real-life task. It’s so much better than simply following a fictional problem from a training guide.

I loved working on real projects right from the start of my career here – especially as I was sitting within a few metres of some very experienced developers and could get all the help I needed. I learnt so much from this approach, as well as from the general learning sessions we have to teach new developers the basics. I’m constantly learning which is really important to me.

You don’t need a degree in Computer Science to go into technology with TPP – apply today and receive a salary of £45k in your first year

What’s the social life like at TPP?

It actually feels a lot like uni – there’s a board games night, climbing, yoga, regular walks, football and loads more. We also get the opportunity to go to international conferences – some of my team recently went to one in San Fransisco. There’s an annual sailing trip for the whole company as well – we’ve been to Croatia before, and this year we’re going to the British Virgin Islands. On Fridays, we finish at 4pm and lots of us go to the local pub, where the tab is paid for by the company.

Is there a lot of room to progress in this company?

Definitely – we have a flat hierarchy, which means there’s no bureaucracy and that your voice is heard from the moment you start. Everyone gets to work on fantastic projects and to be involved in exciting opportunities.

For example, one of my friends had been here less than a year when she represented the company on a trade mission in India with the UK Prime Minister. A couple of people on my team are flying to Shenzhen and Shanghai next week for some technical meetings. Whether you’ve worked here for one year or ten years, you’re still always learning and developing.

Why do you think more students or graduates should consider going into this sector?

The pace of change in healthcare technology means it’s a really exciting time to be working in this industry. Smartphones and AI are going to have are going to have a huge impact in improving healthcare worldwide – you know that you’re positively influencing people’s lives and helping one of the most important aspects of society. Sure, you could go into games design or finance, but I like knowing that I’m actually having an impact and making a positive difference to the world.

TPP’s technology is used across the world, improving healthcare systems and leading innovation – apply for a grad position at TPP and receive a starting salary of £45k

Barney, Physics grad, Cambridge

What was your original plan when you left uni?

I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do – in my first year I considered doing a PhD, but by my fourth year, I’d had enough of uni. I didn’t want to go into something like banking where I’d just be making people who have already got a lot of money even richer. I was always into software development, but it didn’t seem like an option at the time.

TPP didn’t require any particular experience at all – so being able to become a software developer at a company that was making a positive difference seemed like a no-brainer. The application process was really straight-forward; myself and the other developers actually really enjoyed the maths and logic aptitude tests.

What are you currently working on?

I’m working on a series of AI projects – there’s about twelve of us on the team and we’re looking at machine learning algorithms to improve the early detection of cancer. My work is specifically focused on ovarian cancer; a significant percentage of ovarian cancer diagnoses are discovered at a late stage in A&E. If we can reduce that number, we could save a huge number of lives. It’s something I’m really proud to be working on.

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Are a lot of developers you work with from a STEM background?

Yes, a lot of people have STEM degrees. There are a variety of degree backgrounds on my team, including Maths, Computer Science and Physics. However, some of our developers studied non-STEM subjects at university, like Music and English Language. It actually works really well having a mixture of degree backgrounds and helps us to get good solutions to tricky problems.

TPP don’t require any coding experience for their jobs in technology – apply for a job with them today for a starting salary of £45k

What’s your favourite part of the job?

I’ve really enjoyed working on AI and smartphone apps. In general, I find the design phase of a project and the brainstorming process pretty exciting. It’s great to know the solutions you’re designing will have a real impact. At a later phase, we’ll go to doctors’ surgeries, hospitals, and speak to the people who use the software to get their feedback. It’s great to be able to see how people use the system and how we can work to improve and develop it.

Why would you recommend this role to a graduate?

There are a lot of exciting opportunities at the moment – AI will change the whole scope of how we predict illness and manage everyday healthcare. The work we’re doing will be used by people themselves through apps – everyone’s got a smartphone these days, and we’re putting more control into people’s hands which will enable them to have better healthcare.

Earn a £45k starting salary in a grad job that not only challenges you but has an impact – apply to be a Software Developer at TPP here

Jinjin, Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies grad, PKU and Cambridge grad

How did you come to work for TPP?

Coming from my course, the obvious option for me was a translation job, which I didn’t really want to do. I met someone from TPP at a careers fair, where the company were recruiting Mandarin and Arabic speakers. I found out about the work the Analysts did and the projects they were currently working on in Dubai, Doha & Shanghai. It sounded like the perfect fit for me – the application process was really quick with no lengthy forms to fill in.

What’s your role at TPP?

I’m a Business Analyst, so I work closely with clients to find out what their requirements are so we can design the best solutions for them. I then work closely with the developers so they can implement the solution and write the very best products. It’s the best of both worlds – I get to design technical solutions but also to meet the doctors and consultants at the front line of healthcare around the world.

What surprised you most about working for TPP?

The environment is really supportive and constructive. We have an open mistakes policy, so if there’s anything that needs improving, we discuss it openly as a team and work through the solution together.

You can earn up to £45k as a Business Analyst, with huge travel opportunities and fulfilling work from day one – apply for a grad job at TPP here

Have you had the chance to travel a lot?

I’ve had the opportunity to work on many projects internationally. I’ve now been to lots of cities in China that I’d never really heard of before, including Chengdu, Shenzhen and Haikou (the capital of Hainan, which is kind of like the Chinese Hawaii). We have a lot more international opportunities in front of us and I’m really looking forward to visiting even more of the world to see how the work we do can help improve healthcare.

What’s the work/life balance like?

It’s surprisingly one of the defining factors of this job. We stick to our working hours very strictly to make sure no one gets burnt out. It’s a team effort – if everyone pitches in, everyone gets home on time. Obviously, we’re working in the healthcare industry – if there’s a serious problem, then we need to come in and fix it. However, this is pretty rare and I work nothing like the hours that my friends in finance, consultancy and law do.

Do you think you made the right decision going into this industry?

Definitely. I get to see how my work is having a positive impact on people’s lives every day. For example, most recently I have been working on a project to improve healthcare for diabetic patients. It’s allowing patients to take vital measurements at home, record that data on their smartphone and share it with their GP. This is a much better experience for both the patient and doctor. Working on these sort of innovations is exactly what global healthcare needs, and it’s amazing to be part of it. 

TPP are looking for passionate grads from any degree discipline to work with healthcare technology used worldwide

Earn a starting salary of up to £45k across their various schemes and make a difference from day one

Apply for a grad job with TPP here