From winning the Kyloe Student of the Year Award to joining the team - Sam’s story shows what’s possible right here at home.

From classroom to career | Sam’s journey with Kyloe

When Sam Hay received the Kyloe Student of the Year Award at the UHI Orkney graduation ceremony in St Magnus Cathedral last September, he had no idea how quickly life would come full circle.

Less than a year later, the talented Computer Science HND graduate joined Kyloe as an Associate Software Developer, putting his passion for technology and problem-solving into practice. Since then, Sam has continued to impress the team - even earning a nomination for our Kyloe Rising Star Award at our recent 10th birthday celebration.

We caught up with Sam to hear more about his journey...

What course did you study at UHI Orkney, and what drew you to computing?

"I studied HND Computer Science. I have been interested in technology and how things work for as long as I can remember. Back in primary school, I remember always being interested in technology, and loved trying to help the teachers with their computers when something unexpected happened.

There was never a defined moment when I decided that this is what I wanted to do - the curiosity was always there. So, when it came to deciding what to pursue after secondary school, the decision was made automatically."

How did your studies prepare you for your role at Kyloe?

"Most of what I know now, I learnt during my time at UHI. Both during lectures and in my free time. UHI covered a vast range of computing topics in considerable depth and made it encouragingly easy to be able to explore areas in more depth at my own leisure. Not out of necessity for the course, but from a desire to learn more. I think that the educational and nurturing environment did a huge amount to not only prepare me for my current role in Kyloe, but for the tech industry as a whole."

How did it feel to win the award at the graduation ceremony?

"I was very grateful - and a little nervous! I was thankful to both the UHI lecturers and to Kyloe for believing that I was deserving of the award. At the time of the ceremony, I was a bit nervous, but looking back, I am very happy with how it turned out. I will forever be thankful for the award and the experience."

Did winning the Kyloe Student of the Year Award give you more confidence when applying for the job at Kyloe?

"I think it did. I guess my hope was that winning the award would put me on Kyloe's radar, so when I applied, I would have a higher chance of being considered. I wouldn't say that winning the award was the reason I applied for Kyloe - it was more of an added bonus that made Kyloe stand out as an exciting opportunity."

Showing what’s possible right here in Orkney

“It’s been fantastic to see Sam join Kyloe after presenting him with the Student of the Year Award last year. His journey really shows what’s possible for young people in Orkney who are passionate about tech. You don’t have to leave the islands to find exciting, rewarding opportunities - there are great careers to be built right here at home.”

- Gordon Robinson, Head of Customer Solutions and Product Management at Kyloe

How have you found working at Kyloe so far? Has it been what you expected?

"Saying I'm enjoying working at Kyloe would be an understatement. Getting to have a career that is aligned with my passion is great. Everyone that I have worked with have been super friendly and great mentors. The environment has been very nurturing as well as encouraging of both personal and professional growth. It's safe to say that Kyloe has far exceeded my expectations."

How have you developed your knowledge and skills since joining?

"As mentioned, Kyloe really encourages learning new skills and technologies. Since joining, I've started learning and using different technologies that are new to me - including AWS, Angular, Micronaut, just to name a few. And this is just the beginning! I don't think I will ever stop learning and developing my skills. That is one of the biggest joys of working at Kyloe."

An impressive start to a promising career

“It’s hard to believe this is Sam’s first job in tech. He’s quiet but confident, thoughtful in everything he says and does, and shows an incredible attention to detail. His measured approach and composure are qualities you don’t often see in someone so early in their career, and they’ll serve him well as he continues to grow with Kyloe.”

- Craig Heron, Head of Technical Delivery at Kyloe

What advice would you give to other young people in Orkney thinking about a career in tech?

"Everyone is different, but what I have learned so far from my experience is to just enjoy it. If you truly enjoy what you are doing, the passion to learn and grow comes naturally through curiosity. On top of that, if you can find a place that encourages that passion - whether that be a job or a place of study - that will act as a catalyst to allow you to go even further."

- Sam Hay, Associate Software Developer at Kyloe

Supporting local talent

At Kyloe, we love seeing local success stories like Sam’s come to life. Supporting young people in Orkney and helping them discover exciting opportunities in IT and tech is a big part of what we do.

We’re proud to continue sponsoring the Kyloe Student of the Year Award and will once again be presenting it to this year’s winner at the UHI Orkney graduation ceremony next month.

It’s always inspiring to see the talent, creativity, and determination coming from local students and to know that we can play a small part in helping them take their first steps into a tech career.

As we continue to grow, we’ll keep building strong connections with UHI Orkney and local schools to show that a global tech career can start right here in the islands.

From winning the Kyloe Student of the Year Award to joining the team - Sam’s story shows what’s possible right here at home.

From classroom to career | Sam’s journey with Kyloe

We caught up with Sam to hear more about his journey...

Showing what’s possible right here in Orkney

An impressive start to a promising career

What advice would you give to other young people in Orkney thinking about a career in tech?

Supporting local talent

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