We're thrilled to celebrate a milestone with Ruaridh Leedale, a fantastic member of our Testing team, who has just hit his two-year anniversary at Answer Digital! Ruaridh started his journey through the Answer Academy and has since been promoted to a Level 2 Tester, proving the power of dedication and our in-house talent pipeline.

Ruaridh's journey so far

Ruaridh joined Answer Digital through the Test Automation Academy in Autumn 2023. After graduating, he worked with a finance client, guiding their test function on various internal projects. His role has involved hands-on testing, teaching the client's testers the right approach, and delivering theoretical training sessions on software testing.

We caught up with Ruaridh, to get to know the man behind the bugs!

How would you describe your job in three words?

Professional: Ensure software quality
Not as professional: Break the software!

What is your biggest career milestone?

Ruaridh is most proud of mentoring others: "It's been rewarding to see testers I've taught / mentored achieving their goals, gaining promotions and growing in confidence and ability. I know I've been doing things right when a mentee no longer needs my help".

What is the best thing about the team?

"The test team at Answer is very supportive and everyone is willing to help one another out and share knowledge with each other".

What has been your most unusual job?

He once played the trombone for backing tracks on a band's album recording!

What has been your favourite travel location?

Staying with a friend's family in Bergamo, Italy, and spending a week "living like an Italian." Ruaridh enjoyed the history of the place, adding, "although all of Italy has plenty of history".

What is a fun fact that surprises people?

Ruaridh speaks three languages, which sometimes lets him "overhear and understand some interesting conversations in public".

What do you like to do in your spare time?

He loves spending time outside: running, cycling, sunbathing, and gardening. He's even converted his bike shed into a personal greenhouse and is growing a "healthy crop of tomatoes and courgettes".

If you could job swap, what would it be?

If he could swap jobs for a day, he'd pick someone with an interesting, non-9-to-5 role, like an investigative journalist or private detective, a "modern-day Jessica Fletcher".

What is your biggest goal for 2025?

Being part of the weekly Answer Run Club, Ruaridh's sights are set on the finish line: "To run a half marathon in under 2 hours".

Congratulations to Ruaridh on two fantastic years! Your journey perfectly embodies how the Answer Academy builds talent and expertise from within.

Cheers to many more milestones to come!