Our Associate Spotlight this week is on Beth Kelsey – who’s quickly become one of the rising stars in the Academy, known for her reliability, technical sharpness, and the positive energy she brings to every team she works with.
From strengthening automation frameworks to supporting multiple teams during high‑pressure delivery periods, she consistently delivers results that make a real difference for client teams.
We sat down with Beth to talk about her journey, her proudest moments, and what continues to drive her forward in her tech career.
What’s your background and what made you want to transition into tech?
I started my journey with a BSc in Interactive Media at the University of York, where I completed a placement year in software testing. During that year, I worked with various charities and disaster prevention clients, and this experience really shaped my passion for quality engineering. I loved the idea that the work I was doing had a real‑world impact, and it made me want to pursue software testing as a full‑time career.
After graduating, I joined the Academy as a manual tester initially, then later transitioned into a Java‑based automation role on a large public‑sector project. That shift into automation was intimidating at first, but it’s now one of the most rewarding parts of my career!
Tell us a bit about your role and what you do day‑to‑day.
I’m currently working in the Automation Team, where I focus on creating and maintaining automated test coverage for a major public‑sector system. My day‑to‑day work includes creating new test coverage within a large repo, maintaining test packs that total to around 800 (split across the team), and running project‑wide test packs monthly and flagging any issues.
I also have a personal responsibility of the nightly environment switch, which is essential to the various teams working on our project. Because I’m one of the few people who has supported both day‑team groups, I often act as a bridge between teams, helping with overflow work and keeping things running smoothly across shifts.
What key skills (soft and technical) have been most important for your growth?
On the technical side, I’ve been able to develop skills in automated UI testing, Java, the Page Object Model, accessibility testing, API data retrieval, and static analysis tools like SonarQube. I also gained my ISTQB foundation level certification through the Academy which helped develop my knowledge even further.
But my soft skills have been just as important! Throughout my Academy experience, I’ve had the most amazing time mentoring others, plus learning about stakeholder management, and how to stay calm under pressure.
I think team collaboration is hugely important, so I also try to bring people together in fun, creative ways. For example, I host a quiz every other week, which my team lead once described as “the highlight of our week”!
You’ve had some major achievements over the past year – what are you most proud of?
One of the things I’m most proud of is successfully completing 294 subtasks (43% of my team’s total!) while building new end‑to‑end tests. Seeing these numbers in writing really made me realise how much the Academy training has helped me deliver across my team.
Along with reducing code smells from over 2000 to around 700 for a client’s code analysis platform, I also took the lead on restructuring one of our largest test packs, analysing more than 400 tests and splitting them into smaller, logical groups – making it much easier to maintain and massively improved efficiency for everyone who works with it.
What support have you received from the Academy team?
The Academy team has supported me in so many meaningful ways – from funding my certifications (including ISTQB) to organising out‑of‑hours social calls that’s helped me share new progress updates. One of the biggest benefits has been meeting and working with genuinely great people from the Academy. Having the right community around you makes all the difference when you’re growing in your early career!
"If I had to give advice to someone wanting to enter the world of tech, I’d say be curious and make the most out of every opportunity that comes your way. Theres a place in tech for everyone!"
Beth Kelsey
Associate Java Automation Tester
And looking forward, what’s next for you?
Over the next few years, I’d love to move into a leadership role where I can continue creating a fun, supportive environment for others.
I’m already taking on leadership responsibilities to build my confidence in delegation and team support and I’m also currently expanding my technical skills into API testing, learning from peers and working through tutorials to broaden my expertise even more.
All in all, I’m just excited to see where this path takes me next!
Beth’s growth highlights the impact someone can make when they combine determination with a genuine passion for learning.
From driving major improvements in automation and code quality to becoming a trusted mentor and a cornerstone of the out‑of‑hours team, she’s already making a remarkable impact across her client project and the wider Academy community.
With her ambition to lead teams and expand her technical expertise even further, we’re excited to see where her drive and creativity take her next.
Our incredible Associate Consultants are continuing to shape the future of tech. Meet more of them here.
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