Abbie Prescott

Computer Science, 2021

Current job title and employer:
Graduate Trainee Threat Hunter at NHS Digital

What appealed to you most about Heriot-Watt?
I got into Heriot-Watt through clearing so hadn’t visited the campus and had no idea what to expect. However, I thought that the course sounded really interesting and provided a range of different opportunities (like studying abroad in Dubai). Walking around the campus for the first time, it was really peaceful and attractive, and I ended up meeting a lot of really friendly people - I am so glad that I came to Heriot-Watt!

What’s your favourite memory of your time as a Heriot-Watt student?
My friend and I had a coursework due at midnight one day, and we had been working on it for almost the whole day straight. We were really tired but were trying to power through so we could submit something good.
We decided to take a break and started walking down to the loch and came across a bag of bread, next to a bin, in one of the corridors in the EM building. We both looked at each other and in our exhausted state, we thought that it would be a great idea to take the bread and go feed the ducks in the loch. I remember it so well because it was so relaxing and re-energising. When we went back to our coursework, we ended up fixing a bug in our code that we had been stuck on for hours and completed the coursework.

Tell us about your career since graduating from Heriot-Watt?
I am currently on the graduate scheme at NHS Digital. I am having an amazing time on the scheme and have met so many inspiring people. The idea of the scheme is that we rotate around three different areas from Product Development, Cyber Security to Data Science and then choose the place we wish to stay, and at the end of the scheme we get a permanent role.
I have so far been in the IT Operations Centre, where I monitored data coming through the NHS to ensure there were no issues or threats, Data Science, where I trained Data Analysts to use Git and Python whilst creating a codebase to output some annual data reports for the NHS. I also created a website for the team to promote our work and resources.
The current placement I am in now is Cyber Security, Threat Hunting where we prevent, detect, respond, and recover from cyber security incidents across the NHS – helping to protect, secure and defend NHS Digital’s staff, systems and data.

How has your Heriot-Watt education contributed to your success?
I wouldn't have been able to apply to my current graduate scheme without having degree at a first or 2-1 level and fortunately I secured a first. Alongside that, I was given a huge range of opportunities at Heriot-Watt that gave me amazing soft skills and built my confidence, which made me excel in both the interview and now in my role.
I was the treasurer in the Pole Dance committee, a student guide, a class rep, taught a Code First Girls course, and was a member of the Women in STEM society. Having the opportunity to participate in these, has given me the confidence and life experiences to be where I am today.
The more that I joined in with activities outside of lectures and classes, the more comfortable I felt speaking up and participating in discussions.
The lecturers were amazing in encouraging us to come and talk to them and I would spend a lot of time asking questions that I thought were silly but they would answer happily. This meant that I gained more knowledge around the subject rather than just answering the question in front of me.

What advice do you have for current students or anyone considering studying at Heriot-Watt?
I have learned that every opportunity you can take, definitely take it. So long as you have the capacity (don't overwork yourself), do something new. You may enjoy it, or you may not. It could lead you down an amazing path or just be a funny story you tell your friends. Someone at work told me "Get comfortable with being uncomfortable" and I think that really resonates with life at university. You're thrown into a whole new world and it can feel like you're all alone, but always try something new because you might absolutely love it and meet new people!

What are your aspirations for the future?
For your career?
Working for the NHS, I feel like I can make a real difference to people’s lives with the work I am doing which gives incredible satisfaction. My current aspirations are to work incredibly hard in my new role so that I have an opportunity for a promotion at the end of my graduate scheme. I want to move into a leadership role and be able to help and influence new people coming into the organisation. I am going to keep on following what I enjoy and see where it takes me.
For your local and wider community?
My hope is for everyone to be happy in themselves - with what they're doing and who they are. I think acceptance of yourself and others can create a much better environment for everybody. Like Mama Ru says, "If you can't love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?".