Kadriann Deacon
Location: Edinburgh
Qualifications: MA Economics, MSc Management of Information Systems and Digital Innovation
I joined SQW in 2018 after completing an MSc in Management of Information Systems and Digital Innovation at LSE. Prior to this, I had worked for two years at another research consultancy, and also gained experience at economic development agencies in Estonia and Australia. These experiences sparked an interest in innovation, finance and technology.
I joined SQW primarily because of its strong track record in the research and innovation policy domain. Over the years, and I have been able to build up my experience to specialise in that area. Equally, the company's breadth of expertise allows graduates to gain experience across a range of policy areas such as education and health. There is also some overlap between these domains, for instance I have worked on projects mapping the opportunities and challenges for innovation skills in the UK, and assessing the funding landscape for MedTech.
From the outset, I have been able to work on high-profile projects with real impact, gradually taking on more responsibility as I have progressed (from Research Consultant to Consultant, and then to Managing Consultant). One of my first project experiences at SQW was to provide research support on the interim evaluation of the Innovation Loans pilot programme, a government-funded repayable finance product for late-stage R&D projects. Two years later, I was project managing a large-scale follow-on evaluation of the same programme. The structure of SQW enables you to develop at a pace that feels challenging yet manageable, while acknowledging that this is different for everyone.
The aspect I enjoy most is the breadth of work. As a Managing Consultant, I am responsible for leading on the day-to-day management of various assignments in parallel. Even within a single policy area, the diversity of projects keeps the work stimulating and means that no two days are the same. I have, for example, learned about the precision medicine landscape in Scotland, the challenges for early-stage companies spinning out of public research institutions, the potential opportunities in AgriTech, and the routes to implementing innovations within the NHS.
Perhaps the best part of SQW, however, is working alongside some very clever and talented people. Across the three offices, the team spans a wide range of knowledge, skills and interests. I have always, even as a recent graduate, felt that my input and opinions were valued in both project work and at management level. The size of the company makes it easy to build strong relationships across the business, and cross-office working is the norm (enabled by technology and the hybrid working model). It is the combination of impactful work and a collective desire to have fun along the way that makes SQW a really rewarding place to work.
