Methods Podcast: Recent Episodes
Methods
Welcome to the Methods podcast! Methods are the UK’s leading independent transformation partner for public services. We apply our skills in innovation and collaboration from across the Methods Group, to deliver end-to-end business and technical solutions that are people-centered, safe, and designed for the future. You can find out more about the Methods group at www.methods.co.uk.
As we look towards CYBERUK 2025, the theme of ‘Building a Resilient Digital Future’ resonates deeply with the challenges and opportunities facing our digital landscape. One critical aspect of this future is the resilience of Operational Technology (OT) systems, which are integral to the functioning of critical infrastructure such as energy, water supply, and transportation. Enhancing the resilience of these systems is not just a technical necessity but a strategic imperative for ensuring the stability, safety, and economic well-being of our societies.
In this episode, Aasiya chats with Ian and Nicole, both former armed forces personnel who have successfully transitioned into civilian careers. Taking different paths after military life, they found common ground through the Methods Cyber Academy via our GRAVITATE scheme. They share their experiences in the 12-week programme, the challenges of entering the cyber security field, and how the academy helped propel them into their new careers. Tune in for valuable insights on career change, upskilling, and breaking into cyber security!
In celebration of Armed Forces Week, Ben Thomas hosts an insightful and inspiring podcast featuring Will Keogh and Adam Turner, two ex-military personnel who have successfully transitioned into the field of cyber security at Methods.
Will and Adam share their journeys, shedding light on the camaraderie fostered within the armed forces and how they navigated the challenges of adapting to civilian life.
This engaging conversation explores the adjustments required when transitioning from the structured military environment to the corporate world, offering valuable perspectives on how organisations can support veterans and leverage their unique expertise to drive process improvements and foster an inclusive culture.
Whether you're a veteran considering a career change or an employer seeking to tap into the invaluable skills and experiences of ex-military personnel, this podcast episode provides practical insights and advice that will resonate with listeners from all backgrounds.
Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of the resilience, dedication, and problem-solving abilities that veterans bring to the table, and discover how Methods is creating an environment that caters to and empowers individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Recorded 5th June 2024
"Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women's equality. Collectively we can all #EmbraceEquity."
Today we are celebrating International Women's Day! This year's theme is #EmbraceEquity - where equity is not just a nice-to-have, but a must-have.
Rhian Loveless, Senior Business Consultant at Methods, Jen Evans, Sports Therapist who has undertaken research around the menopause, and Lorna Boon, Primary School teacher with a degree in Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience, join Sarah Hanna in our latest podcast to discuss embracing equity, delving into the themes raised in 'Invisible Women' by the award-winning campaigner and writer Caroline Criado Perez, who provides a startling perspective on the unseen bias at work in our everyday lives.
Recorded 17th February 2023
Sarah Hanna is joined by 6 colleagues to reflect on the year that was 2022. From the role of Cyber and the impact of phishing emails, to haircuts for charity; from Methods' social value endeavours and sustainability drive to help our clients embed environmental responsibility into their transformation programmes, to delivering a customer first approach. This podcast gives you a whistle stop tour of 2022 at Methods!
Recorded 6th December 2022
Ada Lovelace was one of the world's first computer programmers, becoming an influential figure in history, and highlighting a path for women to take up a career in STEM industries (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths).
Inspired by Ada Lovelace day, Sarah Hanna, Gordon Coe, and Himani Gupta take a look at the extraordinary life of Ada, discussing how women today can benefit from greater exposure to careers in STEM and develop the employability skills to follow this path.
Recorded 26th September 2022
Neurodiversity is a term originally coined by Australian sociologist, Judy Singer, and was first seen in print in 1998. However, neurodivergence has been known and talked about for over 100 years.
Neurodiversity looks at the traits people exhibit, and identifies groups of people and commonality.
This podcast challenges some of the myths that surround neurodiversity as our participants discuss the positive impact being neuro diverse can have in the workplace, the importance of looking at the strengths of neuro diverse people, and the range of approaches different brains bring to the table. In addition, they touch on how masking these differences to 'keep up appearances' can become tiring and unsustainable.
With the neuro diverse population at around 1 in 8 – this is an important and eye-opening conversation.
Recorded 29th June 2022
FixTheDigitalDivide is the key message of Good Things Foundation - Methods' charity partner of the year. To understand more what fixing the digital divide means in society today, User Researcher Sarah Hanna met with Helen Milner, Group Chief Executive of Good Things Foundation, and Content Designer Alison Evans, to discuss how the pandemic has created a deeper divide as more organisations sought to move services online. From booking a doctor's appointment, to taking part in an interview, or applying for much needed benefits - they ask whether we should push ahead with digital transformation, if by so doing we create further exclusions.
Recorded 27th April 2022
John C Maxwell stated “Everything rises and falls on leadership”.
In our latest podcast, Ola Phillips, Stuart Ecuyer, Chris Sykes, and Temi Akindele discuss what they think makes a ‘responsible leader’ – touching on different leadership styles, the responsibility of role models, the theory of leadership, and how a responsible leader should live by the standards they set.
This podcast raises the question of whether great leaders stand the test of time, or whether sometimes a ‘season’ leader is all that is required.
Recorded 13th April 2022
To shine a light on some of the women we work with who successfully have forged their careers in somewhat historically male dominated environments, Jane Fallon, Hannah Pinnock, Sam Hall, Bee Kelly, Mersha Aftab and Jude Jennison come together to discuss ‘Leading Digital Transformation – why women do it so well’.
Working across the pubic sector, these six inspirational women reflect on the joint vision to do public services better, and the need to have the right organisation and cultural change in place, which works when ‘action centered leadership’ is adopted.
This interesting discussion covers themes of authenticity in the work place, balancing emotions and behaviours, valuing trust, building workplaces that allow everyone to thrive, and taking time for self reflection.
Recorded 24th February 2022
Suzanne Maxted, Jennee Thomas and Jane Fallon discuss the themes of sustainability, invisibility and opportunity as they navigate bringing up children as single or solo working parents.
They discuss the need to deal with the weight of the expectations of others, managing priorities and setting boundaries and the importance of working in an environment that supports flexible working to successfully balance life with children.
This is an eye-opening listen, full of relatable stories that bring home the unique challenges faced by single and solo parents.
Recorded 9th December 2021.
The power of design is well documented and evidenced across the board. We've seen central government transform over the last decade, but this change has not filtered through to local government in the same way.
Hannah Pinnock (Design Strategist) and Jane Fallon (Head of Digital for the Midlands) explore how the structures and governance of local government actively resist the adoption of design approaches, and discuss how we begin to clear the way for design and digital.
This podcast is a audio recording of a webinar from the Digital Leaders Innovation Week which ran between the 8th - 12th November 2021.
Throughout October we are celebrating Black History Month.
Join Mike Raphael, Trudy Beharry and Jadene Aderonmu to hear how they navigated being black whilst growing up and forging careers in the UK. This podcast will make you laugh and cry, and highlights the diversity of experience of black people in the UK.
Recorded 21st September 2021.
Local authorities across the UK have begun exploring the benefits, but few are currently making the most of low code platforms. Mike Holmes joins Matt Culpin to discuss the benefits of low code platforms in the public sector and examine the considerations and requirements of widely adopting and integrating a low code approach. An insightful discussion for anyone considering the adoption of a low code platform.
Recorded 21st September 2021
Acknowledging World Youth Skills Day, our latest podcast highlights the importance of technical and vocational educational training, and equipping young people with the skills they need for the future.
In todays workplace there is an ever increasing significance of skills that are not spoken about at school, or typically subjects you can learn at university, the global pandemic for example has showed us just this with technology playing a vital role in our survival. As such it is ever more important that the youth of today have the opportunity to learn about digital opportunities and skillsets that will create a sustainable model for the future.
Matt Culpin hosts this podcast and is joined by Trudy Beharry (Head of ServiceNow Practice), Zoe Lewis (Executive Director of Professional Services), Roger Bearpark (Senior Delivery Manager at Methods Analytics) and Jake Wilkins (ServiceNow Systems Administrator), who joined Methods in 2020 after going through the Midlands youth initiative, Digisheds.
Recorded 6th July 2021
June is a month of celebration of the LGBTQ+ communities, attracting millions of people around the world who participate in parades, marches, parties and also protests. Pride is about promoting equality, dignity, visibility and self love in a society that does not always allow for people to truly feel they can be who they are.
Hosted by Daniel Kumar, with Sarah Rudston and Lucy Kerslake, our Methods Analytics colleagues discuss ‘what does Pride mean to me?’. From community, celebrating diversity, to being your authentic self, Pride means different things to different people, and we all have reasons to be proud of who we are and how we express that.
Proudtobeme. An inspirational listen.
Recorded 7th June 2021
Our latest Methods podcast celebrates the 10th Global Accessibility Awareness Day. Methods 'Accessibility' podcast explores the misconceptions surrounding accessibility; after all, we all want to complete a task without encountering a barrier in any form, and therefore accessibility issues impact everyone. The panel discuss how organisations can prioritise accessibility and provide practical examples.
Our 4 participants are made up of content designers, UX designers, developers and user researchers, and is hosted by Jadene Aderonmu, accessibility lead at Methods.
You can view the transcript here.
Recorded 27th April 2021
To mark Earth Day 2021, Sarah Tulej (Sustainability Consultant), Suzanne Maxted (Business Architect at Methods) and Hannah Pinnock (Design Strategist at Methods) talk about how we can use behaviour change to tackle the climate crisis. They discuss how the UK government have used strong messaging during the pandemic to change people's behaviour, and question why the same can't be done for climate change. They discuss the importance of public sector organiations making it easy for citizens to make 'the green choice', and how companies 'should' pay for the impact they have on the planet. An inspiring listen!
To mark International Women's Day, Alison, Sarah and Hannah explore the problematic theme of resilience, and what it really means today, given the seismic shifts we've experienced as a result of COVID-19. Recorded 4th March 2021
Mark Thompson, Strategy Director at Methods and Professor at Exeter University, joins Hannah Pinnock, Design Strategist, to discuss the Future of Digital Transformation.
Looking at the biggest game changers over previous years, and how covid-19 has driven acceleration with increased investment in IT and digital, Mark reflects on spend control, before asking, "is it about just technology, or should we start to think about how we can re-architecture and re-design our services for a cloud based world?".
Recorded 14th December 2020
Alison Palmer speaks to Rachel Burden of her mixed feelings, when government announces that vaccines have been offered to all UK care home residents.