Meet the Build Team

Get to know the team behind the successful delivery of our client's online and digital projects. Find out what the Build Team enjoys about working at GOSS, how they build online services, and how they deliver high-quality services and websites tailored to our client's requirements. 

Luke Taylor

Head of Build

How long have you been at GOSS?: Just over seven years.

What do you do at GOSS?: My day to day includes: 

• Liaising with, and building systems for, our clients.
• Improving and/or fixing our products.
• Defining and actioning new internal processes.
• Attempting to automate things that bother me and the team. 
• Line management. 

Languages used can vary but mostly I'm jumping between JavaScript/NodeJS or C#, but I often find myself writing a fair bit of PowerShell and some Bash which is always exciting.

What are you looking most forward to doing at GOSS?: Releasing, and iteratively enhancing, the STAN API. More info to come soonish. Am I allowed say I'm looking forward to various holidays? 

What's the best thing about working at GOSS?: The people (cliché I know) they keep me semi-sane and make GOSS a positive place to work. I've made life long friends here, so much so I actually see some of them outside of work, they might not think this is a good thing. Also, each day is never really the same as we are dealing with ever evolving systems, and challenges, that keep things fresh and exciting. Sometimes a tad too exciting!

Favourite motto/quote?: I'm a fan of "Malaphors" and my go to is "We'll burn that bridge when we get to it." Colleagues often frown at me when I drop slightly modified phrases such as "a different kettle of cheese", their disdain brings me great joy.

Who would play you in a movie about your life?: Ron Livingston (Ideally as Peter from the Office Space)

What three items would you take with you to a deserted island?: 

1. My Fiancée, she isn't getting rid of me that easy and she's far more capable in a survival situation than I am.
2. My Cats, someone's got to feed them and they'll keep morale high.
3. Spotify (somehow), everything's better with a little bit of background music.

David Cassidy 

Senior Developer

How long have you been at GOSS?: I have been at GOSS for 7 and a half years.

What do you do at GOSS?: I'm a Digital Platform developer.

What are you looking most forward to doing at GOSS?: Continuing to work on some great projects and working towards a senior position.

What's the best thing about working at GOSS?: I love the culture and enjoy working on a range of different projects.

Who would play you in a movie about your life?: I don't think anyone can capture my essence on the big screen, but maybe I'll just play myself and get an Oscar for my outstanding acting skills!

What three items would you take with you to a deserted island?: A GPS device, a solar charger, and a boat.

Adam Easterbrook

Product Owner

How long have you been at GOSS?: I started with GOSS in July 2020, a bit strange starting a new job during national lockdown but everyone was friendly and I settled in really quickly.

What do you enjoy most about being a part of the Client Success team at GOSS?: In my role as Product Owner I need to understand our clients' needs and wants for our products. Being in the Client Success Team enables me to work with colleagues who are focusing on the same goal - having clients who not only understand our products but are able to make the most out of it. Working in a team with a variety of skills gives me the opportunity to learn more about GOSS and our clients' goals.

What's the best thing about working at GOSS?: Positive attitude of the company, and that I enjoy my job and it is clear that my colleagues do too.

What is your guilty pleasure?: Doritos and Dips. I can demolish a large packet in no time at all.

Favourite motto/quote?: "It's unlucky to be superstitious".

What has been your greatest achievement so far at GOSS?: Since joining GOSS, I've had the chance to work in two different teams. First, I was Head of Training in the Training team, and now I'm part of the Product team as a Product Owner. In both roles, I've championed process improvements that have improved how we work. When I was with the Training team, I took the lead in revamping how we manage and deliver training. It turned out to be a big success, making our processes smoother and our training sessions more effective.

Now, as a Product Owner, I've teamed up with developers and QA folks to introduce sprinting. This change has been crucial, helping us concentrate our efforts, release updates frequently in smaller chunks, and strengthen our ability to adapt to changing needs. My favourite achievements at GOSS have revolved around continually seeking improvements and pushing for progress.

Kev White 

Digital Platform Developer 

How long have you been at GOSS?: Just over three years, five years if you include my placement term. 

What do you do at GOSS?: I'm a Digital Platform Developer

What are you looking most forward to doing at GOSS?: Continuing to build my knowledge base and to get involved in even more interesting projects. 

What's the best thing about working at GOSS?: The atmosphere. GOSS is the friendliest place I've ever worked and the people are fantastic. Our clients are great, and the work is always varied and interesting. Our multiple company social events per year are an absolute blast too.

Favourite motto/quote?: The Dude abides.

Who would play you in a movie about your life?: Seth Rogen 

What's your go-to karaoke song?: Lionel Richie - Dancing on the ceiling

Ronald Middelkoop

Senior Software Developer

How long have you been at GOSS?: A good two years

What do you do at GOSS?: I'm a Senior Software Developer. I'm also involved in the development of our payment integrations quite a bit.

What is your greatest achievement so far at GOSS?: The addition of a reconciliation mechanism for payments where the customer does not return to us after the payment process at the third party.

What's the best thing about working at GOSS?: Definitely the culture. Great set of people with a real love for their product.

If you could become any animal, which animal would it be?: I have to say that cats seem to have it pretty good.

What is your guilty pleasure?: Long Showers

Favourite place in the world?: That must be New Zealand. If only it wasn't so far away...

Avy Gurung

Junior Digital Platform Developer 

How long have you been at GOSS?: I have been working for just over 2 years now.

What do you do at GOSS?: I'm a Junior Digital Platform Developer.

What are you looking most forward to doing at GOSS?: Using my self dev time to build something useful. I've started on something but have been waiting to get some time to work on it again. 

What's the best thing about working at GOSS?: The people. Everyone is so friendly and helpful.

If you could become any animal, which animal would it be?: I would become an orca.

What is your guilty pleasure?: Gaming and reading Mangas.

George Kombostiotis 

Graduate Developer 

How long have you been at GOSS?: I've been at GOSS for just 7 weeks as a graduate developer. 

What do you do at GOSS?: I help build solutions for clients.

What are you looking most forward to doing at GOSS?: Learning from my peers and improving my skills as I continue to learn about the products offered by GOSS.

What's the best thing about working at GOSS?: The great work culture and getting to work with experienced developers.

If you could become any animal, which animal would it be?: An owl.

Favourite place in the world?: Greece.

Ben Gibbs

Junior Digital Platform Developer

How long have you been at GOSS?: Since March 2023. 

What are you looking most forward to doing at GOSS?: I'm looking forward to learning more about the ins and outs of the product, as well as getting to know everyone better!

What's the best thing about working at GOSS?: Everyone is so friendly, welcoming, and helpful. It's been the best new start out of all the companies I've worked for.

Favourite motto/quote?: "It matters not, who won or lost, but how you played the game" - Richard Richard.

Who would play you in a movie about your life?: After getting called Harry Potter a lot when I was younger, it'd have to be Daniel Radcliffe.

Eliot New

Graduate Digital Platform Developer

How long have you been at GOSS?: I joined as a graduate and have been here for 6 weeks.

What do you do at GOSS?: I am in training to become a build team developer.

What are you looking most forward to doing at GOSS?: I'm really looking forward to growing as a developer so I can create solutions that make a difference for our clients. I think it's going to be incredibly rewarding to see how my work at GOSS positively impacts them.

What's the best thing about working at GOSS?: GOSS has the friendliest work environment I've ever experienced. For the first time, I really feel like my employer is genuinely invested in my professional growth. I can't see myself wanting to leave!

What is your guilty pleasure?: Pretending to hate my wife's chick flicks , but watching from across the room when pretending to do something else and getting far more invested than she does.  

What's your go-to karaoke song?: One of my most embarrassing memories was drunkenly singing the ballad of chasey lain by Bloodhound gang and thinking I was hilarious to a completely deadpan, non-reactive crowd as an obnoxious 21 year old.