By Gareth Workman, Chief AI Officer at Kainos
When I joined Kainos in 2005 as a placement Infrastructure Engineer, I had no idea that what began as a university placement would become a career spanning more than 20 years.
At the time, Kainos already had a phenomenal reputation within the local technology community. It was known as a place that attracted ambitious people, hired brilliant graduates and gave people the opportunity to stretch themselves. As a Computer Science student, that was exactly the kind of environment I wanted to be part of.
Interestingly, I grew up in a family of mechanics and had always expected I might follow a similar path. While my degree focused heavily on software engineering, the infrastructure side of technology appealed to the same part of me that had always been interested in mechanical engineering: understanding how things work, how they fit together and how complex systems can be kept running reliably.
Kainos felt like the perfect blend of those interests. Once I joined, I quickly realised there was much more to the company than the role itself. The people, the culture and the opportunities available made it clear why Kainos had such a strong reputation in the first place.
Today, I am Chief AI Officer, helping to shape Kainos’ approach to AI across the organisation. It is a hugely exciting and challenging role, particularly given the pace at which AI is transforming our industry.
But when I look back, what stands out most is not the title itself. It is the fact that Kainos saw potential in a placement student and continued to invest in my growth over the long term. My journey is really a story about the opportunities Kainos creates for its people, not just to move into new roles, but to keep learning, keep stretching and keep building careers with real direction.
For me, that is one of the clearest examples of what makes Kainos different. It is a company that takes developing its people seriously and creates opportunities for them to succeed over the long term.
Kainos has always been a place that believes people can achieve more than they think they can. I have been fortunate to work with phenomenal mentors, coaches and colleagues who have supported me through every major transition in my career. Whether I was moving into a new technical role, building a capability from scratch or stepping into executive leadership, there was always someone willing to challenge me, guide me and help me succeed.
That support matters. Taking on something new is rarely comfortable. It can feel daunting, especially when the opportunity feels beyond your current experience. But at Kainos, you are never expected to do it alone. You are surrounded by people who want to see you succeed.
Just as importantly, Kainos has a healthy attitude towards failure. Trying something new does not always work the first time, and that is okay. The focus is rarely on blame and much more on understanding what we have learned. Some of my biggest professional growth moments have come from things that did not go entirely to plan, because they created opportunities to adapt, improve and come back stronger.
That culture has played a major role in keeping me here. For me, it has always been the combination of the people, the culture and the opportunity to continually reinvent myself.
I have never felt like I have had a 20-year career doing the same thing. Instead, I have had the chance to build several different careers within one company. Whenever I have felt ready for a new challenge, I have been encouraged and supported to pursue it.
One of the things I have always valued about Kainos is that ideas can come from anywhere. New joiners, graduates and placement students are not expected to simply follow thinking that already exists. They are encouraged to contribute, ask questions, share their perspective and challenge us to be better.
That is an important part of what makes the culture special. People at every stage of their career are trusted to have a voice. Some of the best ideas come from those who are closest to the work, who see things differently or who are new enough to ask the questions others may no longer think to ask. For people starting out, that can be incredibly powerful. It means you are not waiting for permission to make a contribution. You are encouraged to get involved from the beginning.
I have also always worked on the principle of trying to make myself redundant in a role. That means building capability around me, coaching others and creating opportunities for the next generation of leaders to step forward. One of the things I value most is that Kainos actively supports that mindset through succession planning and talent development. As I have moved on to new challenges, others have been able to step into opportunities of their own.
That is what real growth looks like. It is not just about individual progression. It is about creating space for others to grow too.
As Kainos continues to expand, with 341 roles currently available, there has never been a more exciting time to join. The company has grown significantly, with 3,475 people globally across 17 countries, but the culture that attracted me in the first place remains central to who we are.
My advice to anyone considering applying is to view your first role at Kainos as just the beginning of your journey, not the destination.
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Many people join for a particular role or specialism, but if you are curious, willing to embrace new challenges and prepared to put yourself forward, there are countless opportunities to explore. At Kainos, growth is not limited to one route or one definition of success. It can mean becoming a deeper technical expert, moving into leadership, helping build a new capability or supporting others to take the next step in their own careers.
Kainos has helped me grow by giving me the confidence to take on challenges I never thought possible, while surrounding me with people who wanted to see me succeed.
For anyone looking for their next move, that is what I would encourage you to look for: somewhere that will stretch you, support you and invest in your development over the long term.
At Kainos, your first role really can be just the beginning.
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