Nine Twenty Recruitment placed Mark at Pro-Sapien just over six months ago. We recently checked in to see how he’s doing in his new role. Read on to learn more about Pro-Sapien and what it’s like to work there!
Pro-Sapien's founders, experienced in business intelligence solutions on SharePoint, identified a need for SharePoint-based safety management systems in the EHS market. In 2012, they established Pro-Sapien to address this gap, aiming to help health and safety teams worldwide.
Starting with clients like BAE Systems and VINCI plc, they quickly went global. Over the years, Pro-Sapien has expanded its EHS functionality, transitioned clients to Microsoft 365, and today, their EHS software is used internationally, supported by their Glasgow-based team.
Below is our interview with Mark, technical project manager, at Pro-Sapien,
Tell us about yourself?
My name is Mark Wilson and I am the Technical Project Manager for the Client team within Pro-Sapien. Many years ago, I attended college and university in both Bristol and Plymouth, receiving an HND and BSc (Hons) in Computing and Software Engineering with Robotics. My first job was as a software engineer, working for a subsidiary of BAE writing code for an “automated self-driving train” project. After a couple of years, I moved back home to Glasgow and joined Clydesdale Bank on their graduate/management scheme. I have been in the PMO space ever since, now with Pro-Sapien. Over the years I have worked across small dynamic projects as well as large multimillion pound programmes, each was challenging in its own way and I learned a lot from working with some great people.
Why did you join Pro-Sapien?
I have been in project management for over 15 years and my career generally covered large banking and insurance companies. When I was approached about the position at Pro-Sapien, I appreciated the opportunity to work in a new sector and I also liked the idea of working for a smaller company where you’re not just a small cog in a large corporate machine.
How was your first 6 months and what have you learned?
My first 6 months have really flown in, no two days are the same and I really enjoy that aspect. I still have a lot to learn about the Environmental, Health and Safety sector, but it’s been great learning about the teams within Pro-Sapien and the people that make up those teams. I’ve also learned a lot about our clients, what they need from us and how we can support them.
Is there a process for everyone who starts?
The onboarding steps at Pro-Sapien differ based on the team you join. In any case, you will be partnered up with either a peer or someone more senior. Then through shadowing them and completing tasks you would slowly build up your knowledge and experience. The more questions you ask the better.
What does your role entail?
I work in the Client team, hence we work directly with clients to configure the Pro-Sapien product for their needs. As the Project Manager, I mainly interface with our new and current clients on what they need, whether that is a new requirement or a change to their current system. I work with my team defining/allocating tasks, tracking progress against the plan, covering RAID items and feeding this back to the client to ensure they’re in the loop. Recently, I have taken over the line management tasks for my team.
What kind of people do you look for at Pro-Sapien?
Being knowledgeable and competent in your field is a given, so I’d say being a team player is then number one. We’re made up of a small number of teams and everyone must pull in the same direction while supporting not only their own team but other teams when needed. Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions if you’re unsure of something, or speak up if you see a problem or a better solution. We’re all open and approachable here.
What career opportunities are there at Pro-Sapien?
Currently, the teams seeing the most growth are in Development and Testing. However, we’ve also recently hired across Sales & Marketing as well as currently having an open role for Client Services & Support. Whatever the role, there’s a good work/life balance at Pro-Sapien and it’s a friendly environment to work in.