It’s Mathematics and Statistics Awareness month which provides a great opportunity to shine a light on the importance of mathematics and statistics in our everyday lives. As a technical and engineering-led organisation, we recognise the immense value of these disciplines in shaping our world and empowering individuals to think critically, solve problems creatively, and make informed decisions.

It may come as no surprise that within our innovative tech business, a significant portion of our workforce comes from engineering, science, mathematics, or data science backgrounds. These skills are invaluable to us as they enable our employees to tackle complex challenges, analyse data, and apply mathematical models to drive innovation to complex problems.

In this blog, we explore the journeys of three of our employees – Laurence, Dominique and Simon, each from different departments, as they share their passion for mathematics and look at how these fundamental skills contribute to their everyday roles at FocalPoint.

Laurence Bennett, Software Engineer

Laurence’s journey into maths was inspired by his ability to apply his passion for the subject to tackle real-world technical problems. His mathematics PhD kickstarted his professional journey into the tech industry and today he uses these skills in his role as a Software Engineer. This involves data processing and visualisation, user interface design and implementation, combined with statistical analysis.

“My doctoral research involved the development of mathematical models to further our understanding of a new and sophisticated solar panel technology. This new type of solar panel, made from a class of materials called perovskites, offers the potential to generate electricity at an even lower cost and environmental impact than current technology.

Studying mathematics has equipped me with a diverse skill set essential for success in the tech industry – from proficient data handling and effective communication to writing scientific code and solving technical problems. In our tech-driven environment, sophisticated mathematical principles underpin our technology, enabling us to derive more accurate and reliable positions from GPS/GNSS signals, I’m proud to be part of this”.

Dominique Campbell, Senior Project Manager

Dominique’s love of maths encouraged her to study maths at university and led her to share her passion for the subject as a secondary school teacher. Fast forward a few years and Dominique is now a Prince2 Practitioner, responsible for the planning and implementation of projects at FocalPoint.

“My background in maths allows me to apply critical thinking to everything I do. I use data analytics to facilitate decision making, making recommendations on projects to the wider team. This, I feel, aids communication and buy-in, to our Engineers and Developers. I really enjoy being surrounded by like minded lateral thinkers, it’s both stimulating and rewarding for me”.

Simon Gibbs, Sensor Fusion Engineer

Simon’s interest in maths and science led him to study combined Maths and Physics at University, followed by taking an MSc course in Applied Maths. Encouraged to take his studies further, Simon became a research student of one of the lecturers in non-linear systems, finally getting his PhD in 1993. Today as a Sensor Fusion Engineer he leverages mathematics daily to enhance algorithms to create more accurate and reliable GNSS measurements.

“My love of maths was developed in my teens, combined with Physics and Chemistry. I realised it was fundamental to understanding how the universe works. At University I developed an interest in the weird behaviour of non-linear systems, which led me to a career in technology that involved physics. My past experience in sensor fusion for navigation on a small project led me to my role FocalPoint. Here, I use mathematics pretty much every day to understand, analyse, develop and improve algorithms in navigation systems that fuse inertial measurements with GNSS measurements”.

The stories from Laurence, Dominique, and Simon exemplify their gratitude for the opportunities and skills gained through studying mathematics. As a business, it’s crucial for us to emphasise the importance of Mathematics and Statistics as part of their daily roles, making the subject more accessible, engaging, and inclusive for individuals from diverse backgrounds and skill levels. Together, we can foster a culture that values and celebrates the contributions of mathematics to our collective real-world success.

Keen to join us as we continue to drive our success and shape the future of our organisation? You can find our open roles here.