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  • From Classroom to Conference room: How HSO's graduate program is shaping Sam's career

From Classroom to Conference room: How HSO's graduate program is shaping Sam's career

Sam Yeo began his journey with HSO through a graduate program, earning certifications and looking to work on various projects across a wide range of industries. Let's see what the future holds for Sam.

Meet
Sam Yeo
Graduate Consultant

What made you join HSO?

I think when doing my research prior to applying, you get the vibe that HSO does care about its people and the work that they do.

...also, the assessment day was a really big thing for me. Walking in and meeting directors, and really senior people like managing directors, who would give you their time and wanted to be there that day to meet people like myself, who had very little prior experience, was great.

How did you find the onboarding process?

I really enjoyed it - talking to people, getting to understand their backgrounds, and understanding ourselves as well. Being able to understand myself with insights to see where my strengths and weaknesses are, and which areas I am stronger in, was something I really enjoyed.

What were the challenges you faced?

Things that I was challenged by were, of course, the technical aspects. With my experience lacking a little bit in Dynamics, being able to understand the system and really drill down into it was something challenging, but enjoyable.

How did you find your initial foray into the business?

Yeah, I think what I’ve enjoyed is being able to talk to people at various levels and understand their experiences and expertise. Path sessions with Peter Sharpe, Director of Enterprise Architecture, HSO and Mike Stanbridge, Enterprise Architect, HSO recently have been great; they've been able to share so much about their expertise and give us so much time.

They have said, "If you need us, just book a meeting in the diary. We are always happy to take that time," and that is what I have loved. Being able to talk to people of different levels and everyone having time for you, even though we are brand new graduates with very little experience, is wonderful.

Even though we aren’t valuable to them at the moment in terms of a business perspective, they always wanted to give their time to help us develop, which is so lovely. It really makes you feel at home.

The best thing I can say for new starters is just talk to people.
Everyone is willing to give you their time, instead of saying they do not have the time at all, they’ll simply say right look at my calendar, find a time that works for us both, set it up and I will be there, and that’s great.

So being able to utilise that and make the most of it, if people are willing to give you their time, try and take it and learn from these skilled people in their expert areas and prospective people looking to join HSO.

Sam Yeo Graduate Consultant

What advice would you give yourself?

Personally, I have a little bit of a lack of experience in the working world, and that was something about which I was slightly worried.

Of course, having met people who are on the graduate scheme on the assessment day and seeing their experience, I understood that everyone is on a level playing field with the graduates.

We have not worked with Dynamics before, so being able to give yourself that confidence and say that you can do this, and knowing that you will be able to learn this, is important. Just have confidence in your abilities and your skills.

What are you looking forward to over the next few months?

Going into projects. I have now completed two certifications and have one left, so I am really looking forward to being able to work on projects in a different capacity.

Looking at things from a supply chain perspective or in various other ways, and being able to develop those skills in these different projects and areas, is something I am excited about.

HSO Graduate Programs

We have been running our graduate scheme for the past seven years recruiting and developing our graduates into business associates who have a real impact on the business and for our customers. Get to know how.

Graduate Programs

Want to join our HSO family?

See our vacancies below

GB Reading

Consulting & Technology

Senior Data Architect - Data Migration

HSO Success and AmbitionHSO has grown organically to have more than 400 people throughout the UK and we expect to continue to grow significantly in the next five years. We are a leading member of the Microsoft Dynamics Inner Circle, founded in 1987, and specialize in sectors such as Retail, Manufacturing, Professional Services, Financial Services and Local Government. We’ve won several prestigious awards over the last few years including being voted in the UK’s top 10 Best Large companies to work for the last 3 years running. This year we are also proud to have been named the D365 Finance Microsoft Partner of the Year Award and Finalist for D365 Sales & Marketing.HSO is the place to work for those in the Microsoft Dynamics channel. People join and stay because we care; about adding value to our customers, about delivering what we say we will, striving to improve ourselves, being inclusive and having fun.The core values that enable us to work so well together, also mean our customers want to work with us. We choose to be different to other Microsoft Partners. Caring about our people, customers and quality of work differentiates us. We always support our people and customers to achieve shared, agreed goals.Reason for vacancyContinued growth of HSO and with the increase in the number and increased complexity of D365 projects, we need to extend our capabilities to have a dedicated Senior Data Architect.Job PurposeThis is a highly visible role, both internally and externally. The Senior Data Architect will work with HSO customers, with regular customer-facing and on-site contact. Good customer awareness is essential to be able to fulfil the breadth of the role. The Senior Data Architect will take a leading role in supporting the design and implementation of solutions for our customers and will be a key contributor throughout the entire project life cycle, and into prospect/customer engagement, the Cloud Services Team, and the Project Team. Alongside the team, you are tasked with finding and delivering the best solution for the prospect/customer utilising the full breadth of the D365 product and the rest of the Microsoft Azure stack. You will provide modelling and analytical direction for all end-to-end elements of the solution design for our customers and will ensure cost-effective, high quality and controlled delivery of the customers requirements.Key Responsibilities• To be a member of the HSO Project Team focussed on implementing D365 at our customers.• To support the architectural definition of a solution which can provide business intelligence and reporting landscape encompassing strategic, analytical, operational and compliance reports throughout the business• To provide architectural modelling and documentation for the solution being implemented, ensuring that the rationale behind decisions is clearly communicated within the project team and customer.• Be able to design smart data systems, using the information to drive forecasts, make predictions and support decision making.• To design and implement data migration paths from legacy systems to D365 Apps.• To design and implement master-data store concepts and distribution strategies.• Be able to design and implement proof of concept solutions• Provide the link between the customer technical team and the internal technical & development teams for queries and issues arising from the D365 architecture proposal and build.• Provide the link between the implementation teams and the technical teams, ensuring the new system architecture provides a solid foundation for the solution being provided.• Provide the link between the customer team, HSO implementation teams, HSO technical teams and Microsoft.• Working closely with the Solution architect and the Technical architect to ensure that proposed data architecture will service all customer requirements and it takes maximum advantage of standard D365 Apps.• Working closely with the Solution architect and the Technical architect to ensure the implementation details of a solution do not deviate from the agreed design.• To produce systems architecture and design documentation to agreed HSO standards.• To understand the HSO project delivery methodology and apply this implementation approach to all HSO Projects.• Involvement in the migration of data between non-production environments and the production environment.• Always represent HSO in a professional and positive manner.• Ensure that all Microsoft certifications and accreditations required to fulfil this role within HSO are met as determined by you and the Team Head.• To ensure that you are up to date with all Microsoft and D365 products through self-learning, and where necessary, through external / Microsoft-led conferences.• To promote new or emerging technologies to the HSO Management Team where you believe HSO can benefit and provide a competitive advantage.Key Competencies• Commercial and budget awareness• Client facing• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills• Planning and organising• Decision-making• Communication skills• Influencing and leading• Delegation• Team work• Negotiation• Flexibility LocationBased where appropriate whether on client site, in the office or working from home. Travel will be extensive to various locations. There is an expectation that this role will be part of the project delivery teams, and a likelihood of at least 3 days per week on customer sites. It will be a requirement to spend some time in the office to develop relationships in-house with the rest of HSO, as well as keeping abreast of the developments of the business and understanding the company’s approach to the market.

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GB Reading

Consulting & Technology

D365 CE Service Line Director

UK Service Line Director – Customer Engagement (CE), Job Description About HSO:Founded in 1987, HSO has more than 2,500 professionals throughout Europe, the Americas and Asia and is one of the world’s top Microsoft Services Partners. We are a member of Microsoft’s elite Inner Circle, representing the Top 1% of Microsoft Partners worldwide.HSO UK has grown to more than 350 people and we expect over 100% organic growth in the next 4 years. We specialise by industry sector, including Retail, Manufacturing, Professional Services, Financial Services and Public Sector.HSO is a business transformation partner to Enterprise clients that have committed to Microsoft as their strategic enterprise platform. We leverage the power of the Microsoft Cloud to transform the way in which people work, ultimately accelerating the impact of Cloud and AI, to improve overall business performance. We combine our deep transformational expertise with the power of Dynamics 365, AI, Data, Copilot capabilities and the Microsoft Cloud, to help our clients deliver results faster, by modernising business operations, adopting data-driven intelligent automation, delivering real-time insights and connecting the enterprise.HSO UK has been recognized as the global winner of the 2023 Partner of the Year Award for D365 Finance and as a Finalist for D365 Sales and Marketing. In addition, we have been recognised as a Best Tech Company 2021 to Work For and the 6th Best Large Company to Work For in 2022.For more than 30 years we’ve measured our success in just one way: We win when our clients win. HSO is the agile, industry-focused alternative to large, traditional global SI’s and our culture reflects this: Collaborative, Entrepreneurial, Ever-Evolving and Value Driven.Why Work for HSO?At HSO, we are more than just a Microsoft Gold Partner, we are a trusted leader in digital transformation. By joining our team, you’ll be part of a dynamic, forward-thinking organization that values innovation, collaboration and professional growth. Here are some of the reasons why HSO is a great place to build your career:· Career Development: We prioritize employee development and offer ongoing training and certification opportunities. You'll work with cutting-edge Microsoft solutions, helping you stay ahead in an ever-evolving tech landscape.· Inspiring Projects: We partner with diverse clients across multiple industries, so you’ll work on impactful projects that challenge you and allow you to make a meaningful difference.· Supportive Culture: We foster a culture of diversity, inclusivity and respect. We believe in creating a positive work environment where everyone’s voice is valued.· Flexibility and Well-being: We understand the importance of work-life balance and offer flexible working arrangements to support your well-being and productivity.· Commitment to Excellence: We are dedicated to excellence in everything we do. You will join a team that is committed to delivering top-tier solutions and services to our clients.If you're looking for a rewarding career with opportunities to grow, make an impact, and work with a supportive team, HSO is the place for you!

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Remote GB

Consulting & Technology

Cloud Solution Architect - Data & AI

HSO Success and AmbitionHSO has grown organically to have more than 400 people throughout the UK and we expect to continue to grow significantly in the next five years. We are a leading member of the Microsoft Dynamics Inner Circle, founded in 1987, and specialize in sectors such as Retail, Manufacturing, Professional Services, Financial Services and Local Government. We’ve won several prestigious awards over the last few years including being voted in the UK’s top 10 Best Large companies to work for the last 3 years running. This year we are also proud to have been named the D365 Finance Microsoft Partner of the Year Award and Finalist for D365 Sales & Marketing.HSO is the place to work for those in the Microsoft Dynamics channel. People join and stay because we care; about adding value to our customers, about delivering what we say we will, striving to improve ourselves, being inclusive and having fun.The core values that enable us to work so well together, also mean our customers want to work with us. We choose to be different to other Microsoft Partners. Caring about our people, customers and quality of work differentiates us. We always support our people and customers to achieve shared, agreed goals.Job Purpose As the Cloud Solution Architect you will lead all engagements with our customers from presales to discovery, designing and implementation of wider cloud services with a focus on Data & AI.  This means having overall ownership of the solution, ensuring that the delivered solutions are implemented in a cost-effective, high quality and controlled manner that satisfies customers’ technical and business requirements. Your responsibilities will involve leading customer workshops, documenting requirements, defining deliverables, and estimating projects with the assistance of the delivery team.The role is key in designing new go-to-market propositions working with sales teams to ensure correct customer alignment, and with the Data & AI Delivery Lead to ensure the team has the necessary skills and expertise to implement the solution. The role works closely with the Cloud Strategist and other Cloud Solution Architects to ensure that Data & AI solutions are aligned with the overall cloud strategy for that customer. This role is part of the small senior leadership team for the Data and AI team and will help guide the delivery team to develop skills required to be the best Data and AI partner in the market. This role has a utilisation target of 40%, which will covered by the paid engagement as part of presales and discovery workshops and related deliverables. Reports to Data and AI Practice Lead LocationThis is a hybrid role and can be based either from our Reading, Glasgow or Manchester offices, or home.  Please expect a large amount of planned travel which will involve overnight stays near customers, our offices and other UK locations for meetings, events and training.

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