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Technology is getting smarter by the second, which makes this a hugely important department but one which is also fun, friendly and relaxed. We believe that an informal, team-spirited environment where people pull together, especially in times of pressure, increases productivity. Matt, Head of Change, started at Admiral 13 years ago and has had various roles throughout his career here; from Technical Project Manager to CIO, and now he’s Head of Change. Matt’s also more recently completed his MBA at Cardiff University (not to mention also completed an Ironman outside of work!). What do you do in Admiral Tech as Head of Change?I look after all change for the UK Insurance Business with a focus on technology.What do you enjoy most about working for Admiral Tech?I’ve always liked the fact that if you’re willing to try something and get stuck in, there are lots of opportunities, your destiny is in your own hands. It’s also a healthy environment to work in.What do you think really sets Admiral Tech apart from the competition?There are a few things here; the fact that we’re the biggest tech employer in South Wales, given the size of the department. Also, we talk about becoming a tech company that sells insurance, but really this has always been the case. We were the very first direct-to-phone insurer, there’s Confused tech – the very first comparison website and Elephant - one of the first direct to consumer web only insurance providers. Tech has always been at the heart of the business and continues to be.We understand the importance of digital to the future and we’re investing a lot into it.Do you think there are lots of opportunities to grow and develop here?We have a sizeable budget for learning and development – we’re investing in certification courses, through to an all-encompassing online learning tool, PluralSight. Staff also have the ability to learn as part of their day-to-day job.  What’s the culture like at Admiral Tech and how is it changing?We’ve moved from having a structured waterfall approach to an agile environment and culture. We are seeking to give our Delivery team as much autonomy as possible to deliver and prioritise their work.What’s the most exciting project or upcoming change happening within Admiral Tech?There are a few ongoing.. We are embracing digital to ultimately delight customers.  We also have our move to cloud – using new cloud technology for scalability and flexibility, amongst other exciting projects and changes.Where is Admiral Tech heading?I think that tech is moving to an eco system based model generally over the world and if you’re not capable of playing in that field, you’ll be left behind.We’re embracing the power of tech more and more with rapid progression in tech as a key investment of the business. How will the department look in the future?The business will drive prioritisation, and tech will increase and improve to deliver what is needed. I think we’ll see fewer conversations about tech and the business being two distinct things and everything will be a change project.It’s an exciting opportunity for people given the point in the journey we’re at and the level of change that’s around the corner.

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Technology is getting smarter by the second, which makes this a hugely important department but one which is also fun, friendly and relaxed. We believe that an informal, team-spirited environment where people pull together, especially in times of pressure, increases productivity. We recently met up with Chris, our Head of Infrastructure, to find out more.What do you do here at Admiral Tech?Currently, I'm the Head of Infrastructure. My role entails leading the teams that are building out our Infrastructure platform. We are expanding our capabilities and growing our team to give us greater coverage across all areas of infrastructure. This is inclusive of, developing dedicated teams to provide infrastructure as a service, covering servers (both physical and virtual), networking, storage and our DBA technical function.The role has the remit of ensuring we have the right skills to efficiently build, design, deploy and run the infrastructure to support Admiral's core business activities. As well as keeping the lights on - we are actively looking at ways to improve, buildout and enhance the core infrastructure.What is your background?In a previous life, I was a professional rugby player for 5 years playing for Pontypridd & Ebbw Vale. Unfortunately, an injury got the better of me, so I had to come to work for a living!I started off within a service desk in the private sector. Following that, I worked my way up across various roles in both the private and public sector. In areas such as education, aviation, and latterly medical and food packaging. I've worked with some great leadership teams during my time and I’ve been lucky enough to have some inspiring leaders take me under their wing. This has influenced my direction for which I've been eternally grateful for.What was it about Admiral Tech that made you want to join?Admiral first and foremost is Wales' flagship company - being the only FTSE 100 company in the country. You just have to look at our marketing across TV and online to get an idea of how big and important Admiral is, not just in Wales but in the UK as well. Initially, from the interview, I was inspired by the vision for I.T. - The way the department was going, what Admiral Tech wanted to do and the challenges that they faced. It excited me to be able to have an input into the direction of that journey.What's the most exciting change or project happening within Infrastructure and Admiral Tech?From an Infrastructure perspective, we have several exciting projects underway. From starting out on our cloud journey with an internal team that’s completely focussed on that. We are also looking to transform our tech stack from top to toe, we’re looking at all things in the 'art of the possible' as we like to say here.  The business is starting on a digital transformation for which Admiral Tech will be a key enabler.Are there opportunities to progress within Admiral Tech?For sure! 18 months ago, I joined Admiral Tech initially as a team manager reporting to the Head of Business Service. Within 14 months an opportunity came up for the Head of Infrastructure for which I applied and was successful. There are lots of opportunities and not just within Admiral Tech but Admiral as a whole. At Admiral Tech we are always looking to bring in new talent, it's not just about 'putting people in holes' it's about ensuring we nurture the talent we have, upskilling and developing those in current positions and bringing in new talent to expand our knowledge and capabilities across the department.What's your favourite thing about your role?The variation! I get to interact with so many different people and fractions within Admiral Tech and the business. Fundamentally it's the people. The culture here is second to none. When you first start within the company you quickly realise it's the people that make the business.