Each year, we invite 28 technology students from the University of Northampton (UON) to work in teams and apply their skills to a real-life scenario. This year, they had just 48 hours to build an AI tool to generate a discovery plan for consultants to use.
We asked the winning team (Logan Fraser, Ahmed Abdallah, Kameron Baines, Warren Browne, Jamie Howlett and Natnael Sintayehu) to join us for a quick chat.
Pictured from left to right: Triad Principal Consultant Henry Grech-Cini, and UON students Logan Fraser, Ahmed Abdallah, Kameron Baines, Warren Browne (behind), Jamie Howlett (front).
Why did you choose to study software engineering?
Jamie: I chose Software Engineering because I like the logical and creative aspects of building solutions and improving systems. I really appreciate the practical opportunities the course offers, particularly experiences like the Triad Challenge, which allow us to apply what we’ve learned in a real-world context.
Warren: From an early age, I enjoyed learning how systems worked under the hood. Later, I experimented with reverse engineering tools such as x64dbg, IDA PRO, and Cheat Engine to understand how things behaved and how changes affected them. So, software engineering was an obvious degree for me.
Logan: I chose this subject because I have always been interested in computing and wanted a change from healthcare, which I had been doing before university.
Natnael: I have always found coding fun, and it’s something I have wanted to do for a long time.
What did you learn on this Triad Challenge?
Kameron: This was my second time taking part in the Triad Challenge. This year, I stepped into more of a leadership role, drawing on my previous experience to guide the development process and support the team. I was more confident in my decision-making this time around.
Ahmed: The event challenged me to work under pressure, collaborate effectively, and deliver a professional solution within a short timeframe.
Jamie: I learned that we worked well as a team. I thought that we communicated effectively throughout. We made sure everyone understood their role, supported each other, and stayed aligned with the overall goal. I think this is one of the main reasons we won.
Natnael: On this challenge, I worked as a developer, but I also did some Business Analysis work. It was fantastic to see those two areas come to life in a live consultancy scenario.
What was your experience of working in a live consultancy environment?
Ahmed: This is an environment I would love to work in. It felt realistic, fast-paced, and impactful. It showed me how teams collaborate to solve real client problems, make decisions, and deliver professional outcomes under pressure.
Warren: Prior to this challenge, I only had a few weeks of experience with frameworks, so this challenge really pushed me to learn quickly and apply those skills in a practical way. I loved doing the team’s software engineering. I threw myself into building and revamping the text-to-speech feature. I learned how to use the native web text-to-speech API and became much more confident with React, Node.js, and Express.
Logan: Initially, I found it uncomfortable. Compared to academic work, the lack of structure and shifting client requirements made planning difficult. However, I realised over time that this forces prioritisation, communication, and practical decision-making, and I really enjoyed the problem-solving elements.
Kameron: I loved it. I am very interested in pursuing a developer role after graduation. The Triad Challenge helped me develop both my technical and leadership skills.
If you had one piece of advice for the 2026 Triad Challenge cohort, what would it be?
Logan: Take advantage of the massive wealth of knowledge and experience that is on offer from Triad employees.
Ahmed: Don’t be afraid to share your ideas, support your teammates, and step outside your comfort zone, because that is where you grow the most.
Kameron: Get involved, even if it feels intimidating at first. The Triad Challenge is a great opportunity to work on a genuine industry problem and gain valuable experience to talk about on your CV.
Warren: Step outside your comfort zone. Getting stuck in and learning as you go is where the real value is.
Jamie: Don’t underestimate the importance of presenting your ideas clearly and confidently; strong communication can make a big difference.
Natnael: I agree with Warren – you’ll get a lot out of it if you step out of your comfort zone. It’s 100% worth it.
If you have a question for the Triad team, please get in touch.
