Let’s give a warm welcome to Joe Clayton, our newest addition to the team! We are thrilled to have Joe join us as a Data Scientist here at Firemind. With his background and skills, we are confident that Joe will make invaluable contributions to our ongoing projects, and help drive further innovation within our organisation. Welcome aboard, Joe!

Here’s what Joe had to say when we sat down with him for our Q & A session.

Hello Joe and welcome to Firemind! It’s lovely to have you with us today. For our viewers, could you please tell us a little about yourself and your professional background?

Hi! It’s fantastic to be joining Firemind at such an exciting time. My route into data science wasn’t exactly straightforward. I studied audio engineering at an undergraduate level and worked freelance in the industry, both in the studio and at live events. After completing an MSc in Digital Signal Processing in 2021, I wrote a data science-focused thesis and fell in love with the subject. I worked with a few other businesses, before deciding to tackle the next challenge of my career here at Firemind.

How did you find out about us and what made you decide to apply for a role with Firemind?

I found out about Firemind through Firemind’s Talent Lead, Tom Willmott, who painted a picture of an exciting opportunity available. It was a chance to leverage my skills and develop new technologies. Firemind’s proactive stance on new technologies really appealed to me – it was something I felt was absent in my previous roles.

What is your new role at Firemind?

I’ve joined Firemind as a Data Scientist.

Which areas of our business interested you the most?

In terms of delivery, I’m keen to collaborate with the team on developing innovative generative AI tools. My onboarding experience has already introduced me to some fascinating ideas that we’re turning into solutions for our customers. As for industries, I’m especially excited about diving into sports or media focused projects, where I feel my previous experience could come in handy.

What will be your main goals/objectives whilst working at Firemind?

Personally, I aim to stay abreast of new technologies and resources within the wider data science community. I’m also eager to expand my AWS credentials by securing multiple AWS Competencies.

Which aspects of your role are you most excited about?

I’m looking forward to deepening my understanding of the AWS ecosystem and creating innovative systems that can truly help our customers thrive.

What do you hope to achieve within your first 12 months here?

My primary aim is to ensure that my contributions significantly impact both our customers and the Firemind team. Beyond that, I’d like to focus on obtaining the relevant AWS credentials to advance further within the ecosystem.

Outside of work, what do you get up to? Tell us about your hobbies.

I think it’s safe to say music would be an obvious one, with my prior career working with audio. I’m an avid music fan and love to go to gigs when I get the chance. Football is another important aspect of my life. I try to play twice a week, so will look forward to playing with my new colleagues. I’m also a lifelong Watford season ticket holder, which I don’t think would be too wild of an assumption to assume that might be a Firemind first!

What’s your favourite song on your playlist right now?

Now this is a cruel question to ask… but if I had to pick right now, it would be a song called ‘Biggest Joke of All’ by an Artist called Fatima. One of my all-time favourites.

Any fun nicknames we should know about? If yes, what’s the backstory?

Growing up throughout school I was always called my second name, and I could not tell you why, so I will instantly respond to Clayton. Another solid mention should probably be my stage name when I used to DJ during my time in Manchester, which was Joey Bricks – I wish I had a cool story for this but admittedly it stemmed from my housemate calling me it one day (for which I have no memory why) and it just stuck.

If you could only choose one dish to eat every meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

I feel like I could give you a different answer to this every time I eat something new or nice. Let’s go with risotto, as I’m feeling that right now, although I don’t think it would be the best for my stomach, eating this every day!

What’s at the top of your bucket list?

I’m a big NFL fan, and I support the Tennessee Titans. They’re currently building a new stadium, so top of my list is to watch a game in Nashville, Tennessee.

What is one skill you would really love to learn?

It’s a bit predictable, but I’d love to learn another language. Languages weren’t my strong suit at school. A few years back, I started learning Russian, but I had to put it on hold. Hopefully, I’ll pick it up again soon.

How do you wind down after work?

After work, I like to hit the gym and I’m quite into cooking. These are my main ways to unwind. And, as mentioned, if it’s a football night, that’s where you’ll find me.

We’re growing at a rapid pace and are constantly looking for talented individuals to come and join our team.

Visit our Careers page for further details about the Firemind culture and new opportunities.