Meet the Team: Mike Thomas, Headforwards Dynamics Developer

To find out how a computer works, dismantle it 

Mike was first introduced to computers by his dad, a science teacher who brought a BBC Microcomputer home on weekends, hoping his children would learn how to use it. (Interestingly, Headforward’s co-founder Craig also credited the “The Beeb” for his early interest in tech.)

But Mike had other ideas. He systematically pulled it apart, surveying its different sections and leaving his dad to put it back together in time for Monday morning.  

“After investigating the computer’s inner workings, I started looking at programming and coding – destroying the computer that way, which my dad didn’t like me doing either,” says Mike. “But it sparked my interest in what computers were and how they worked.” 

When Microsoft launched Paint, Mike was able to combine his passion for computers with his creativity. “I always enjoyed being creative, and with Paint and very basic animation packages, I was able to create something that was instantly visually gratifying,” says Mike. 

Partying, surfing – and some study 

Years later, Mike followed his love for creativity and went to Falmouth University to study graphic design. “I went for a little bit, did a lot of partying and surfing,” says Mike. “But I decided I wasn’t ready for it, so left.”

Instead, Mike taught himself Adobe Creative Suite – including Photoshop and Illustrator – and started his own graphic design company. 

For the next ten years, Mike specialised in logo design, animation, design print, web development and 3D architectural visualisation. “Graphic design is my background, but I didn’t enjoy being a businessman,” says Mike. “I wanted to leave that side of it and be employed again.” 

Enthusiast turns expert – a breath of fresh air with Headforwards 

After five years as a UX designer, Mike wanted a change. When looking for jobs, Mike saw a vacancy at Headforwards. He knew it from its reputation and decided it was the company he wanted to work for – but he needed to have a good understanding of React, a JavaScript component library that he’d never used. He applied anyway, and immediately started learning. And even though he wasn’t the expert Headforwards needed, the team saw potential and interviewed him.

“Headforwards offered to help me learn React and build the skills I needed to be perfect for the role,” says Mike. “Those skills didn’t exist for me yet, but the team saw that possible value in me.”

Almost three years into his career at Headforwards, Mike now works on the Cornwall Council team. As a Microsoft Dynamics 365 developer, Mike uses a consultancy approach to transform the council’s front-end portals and digitalise its services under a Microsoft banner.

“It’s a really multi-faceted role,” says Mike. “I could be working on CRMs, dealing with data, programming, setting up out-of-the-box functionality that comes with Dynamics – in different development languages like JavaScript, HTML and React.”

Being a developer isn’t all about your qualifications 

According to Mike, being a great developer isn’t all about your qualifications; it’s about being open to continually learning. 

“With the passion I had for it, I could have gone to uni to study 3ds Max or Maya, but the knowledge I would have learnt would have been out of date by the time I finished,” said Mike. “There’s only so much formal study you can do that stays relevant in the fast-moving technical world.”

At Headforwards, Mike has access to paid training and a license for LinkedIn Learning, so even with two children and limited time to do extra-curricular study, he’s still able to keep up to date and learn new things.

“If you’re not willing to learn constantly on the job, it won’t work,” says Mike. “It’s about having the right mindset and ability to learn about what’s next. And it can be frustrating – when you open a door, there’s always ten more behind it. You can’t be an expert at everything, but it’s also exciting to have that freedom, constant innovation, and be able to springboard into lots of peripheral areas.”