Colin Gill - Solutions Architect

"My name is Colin, and I began working in PDS over 15 years ago. I initially saw the job advert while travelling South Africa but couldn't apply at the time. A few months later, I reapplied, and to be honest initially as a strategy to potentially negotiate a better financial package at my current job.

I realised Parliament was a great opportunity and so I accepted the role of Service Desk Analyst in PDS and quickly discovered a strong sense of community, backed up with onsite bars, restaurants, and numerous organised social events. Over the years, I've gathered plenty of friends and stories from the various work social circles and eras. ‘Community’ is one of our core values and I’ll touch on the other three values below.

Care' is another core value that has been increasingly emphasised in recent years, particularly through wellbeing initiatives that prioritise our physical and mental health, something I’m very passionate about. The supportive culture in Parliament reflects this value with colleagues readily assisting each other, whether it's with internal job applications or day-to-day challenges. This commitment to care extends to an exceptional work-life balance, offering flexible and compressed working hours, and a generous amount of leave. Over the past 16 years, I've spent a couple of months travelling and backpacking each year and snowboarding in the winter.

Curiosity' is the third core value, and it fuels career progression for those eager to learn. My journey from the Service Desk to becoming an Engineer, where I tackled everything from fixing desktops in MPs' homes to crawling through the Palace’s basements and dungeons to patch cables, was driven by a desire to explore and grow. After various roles in Parliament, including working with the R&D team on Office 365 experimentation, I set my sights on a long-term career as a Solutions Architect. Rediscovering this career goal from my school days made the achievement even more meaningful. This culture of curiosity is supported by teams that encourage continuous learning through courses and development opportunities, and even allow time off to pursue them. During lockdown, I studied for the CISSP, a personal endeavour that my manager fully supported, recognising its value to both my growth and the organisation.

Confidence' is the final PDS value, and for me, it means tackling challenges allowing confidence to grow afterward based on the positives you take. This value has been central to my approach, particularly when volunteering for the various national priorities that arise in Parliament. Four standout events illustrate this. First, I reached the finals of a Dragons' Den competition, where our team confidently pitched a digital idea to an audience of MPs, digital staff, and the Speaker. Second, during the Queen's lying in state at the 1,000-year-old Westminster Hall, I volunteered to escort heads of state to her, and even bringing my mum to see the Queen lying in state. Third, during the 2017 cyber-attack, it was all hands-on deck, with most Parliamentary work frozen; the intensity of the situation felt like being at war. Lastly, confidence is further developed during general elections, where we hold a 'freshers' week' for new MPs, helping them settle in by providing equipment and orientation, and building the confidence needed to communicate effectively with members.Top of FormBottom of Form

Looking back, what began as a simple attempt to secure a pay rise in my old workplace, has evolved into a fulfilling 16-year journey at PDS, culminating in my ideal role as a Solutions Architect. Along the way, I’ve benefited from strong community ties, ample growth opportunities, and moments of national significance—all while enjoying an excellent work-life balance for my passions outside of work."