As a fully qualified accountant, Nathan Morris achieved praise and promotion working within the financial industry. While successful, Nathan felt incomplete and wanted more from his career. What started as a hobby soon became his next career steps.
We recently sat down with Nathan to talk about his career, providing him the opportunity to myth-bust common misconceptions people have when considering a career change.
My journey
Having worked within the financial industry for several years as a fully qualified accountant, I was fortunate to achieve a number of promotions. While being professionally successful, I was not personally satisfied as I was taking little joy away from my role.
I’ve always been interested in the digital industry. So, in my attempt to bring joy to my professional life, I started to learn coding and other digital skills. What started as a passion project, ended up being my next career.
After a lot of hard work and learning, I joined the digital team at DVLA and I haven’t looked back. I joined DVLA Information Technology Services as part of an MSc programme in September 2022. The programme sits at the heart of the directorate’s commitment to become a Centre of Digital Excellence.
Through a blended curriculum, staff members can understand theory and apply it into real world settings.
“I’ve always been interested in the digital industry… What started as a passion project, ended up being my next career.”
From finance to digital
Taking my data driven and logical approach to problem solving, I threw myself into all things digital, and I loved it.
Over 18 months, I was supported through professional certification and academic progression. Working with subject matter experts, I was able to take this learning and experience first-hand what it takes to maintain and operate a digitally enabled organisation.
Joining the team as an Executive Officer, I soon followed in the footsteps of my financial career, rising to the grade of Senior Executive Officer (SEO) in the space of 23 months.
Newly found ambitions
It was never my intention to progress to an SEO role at such speed. My focus was to learn new skills and secure a permanent role. What transpired was the ability to learn new skills, apply my own strengths and achieve things that I never thought possible.
Through supportive leadership and management, I was given the time and space to reach my own protentional. I’m currently Senior Engineer and work to support the agency’s core utility applications (addressing, image, notifications, print). I’m excited about the future of my career and the ways I contribute to DVLA’s advancements in digital.
Tips to get into digital
Since joining the agency, I have achieved beyond expectation. Reflecting on my time, I’d like to share my top tips for anyone considering changing their career.
It’s never too late to learn new things. In a modern age it’s important to continually better yourself and gain new skills.
Taking the jump and changing career is a significant undertaking. Financially, there was short term pain however I knew it would be worth it in the long run.
Want to become part of our digital family?
At DVLA, we use cutting-edge technology to deliver the best-in-class service for our customers and stakeholders. We provide reliable and innovative digital services and systems that are easy to use and offer great value for our customers.
Whether you’re working with us to deliver our mission or a valued customer experiencing our service, we put people at the heart of everything that we do. Through collaboration, support and passion, we’re committed to providing a work environment that’s diverse, challenging and fun.
We’ll support, champion and encourage you to achieve your full potential. Whether that’s finding a healthy balance of work or focusing on your ambitions, we want you to succeed personally and professionally.
To find out more and sign up for job alerts, visit our Department for Transport Hub.
