Starting out in Application Support
Marc joined Third Bridge during COVID as an Application Support Engineer, working fully remote for his first year. In those early days, the work was all about supporting colleagues – answering queries and requests through the company’s ticketing system.
It was a natural extension of the five years of IT support and technical roles he’d had before joining, but in a much bigger environment than the small companies he’d worked in previously.
“I wasn’t sure in the beginning because I had never heard of an expert network,” he laughs. “I’m not a network person at all, I’m very shy and prefer to keep to myself. But it seemed like the people at Third Bridge were nice and I thought it might be better for me to go somewhere bigger where I could learn from others.”
That instinct – to be somewhere bigger, where he could grow by learning from people around him – turned out to be spot on.
Moving into software engineering
Over time, Marc’s scope widened from internal applications to broader day-to-day tech support: fixing equipment, helping people in meeting rooms, and generally keeping things running. He did that for around two and a half years.
It was valuable experience, but he was increasingly drawn to the engineering work he’d seen others doing. Today Marc works as a Software Engineer – a big shift from operational support to building the tools themselves.
He still remembers when that shift felt intimidating. “I used to look at coding like a black box,” he admits. “I was scared, and I wondered if I’d ever be good at it. But the good thing at Third Bridge is that they give you the time to understand everything – and there’s always colleagues smarter than you to learn from.”
What he loves most is that the work is both demanding and visible.
“Coding is really awesome because you learn things all day,” he says. “There’s a feeling of growth and everything is shared with others. At the end of the day when we deliver something, I feel proud, because it’s out there and actually being used.”
Contributing to bigger projects
Marc’s not someone who measures his career in individual “hero” projects. Instead, he’s most proud of consistently making a valuable contribution.
“I’m proud of how I’ve contributed to the projects that I’ve worked on,” he says. “I feel like I’ve made things move along well. And I’ve felt heard – I wasn’t just on the sideline.”
He’s moved across several teams over the last five years, working on a mix of day-to-day fixes and larger initiatives that ship regularly into production. Being “one soldier in the effort”, as he puts it, suits Marc well.
A fast-paced, rewarding culture
Marc describes Third Bridge’s culture in a way that will feel familiar to anyone who’s navigated London’s tech and finance scene. “It’s very much like London City,” he says. “Fast-paced, hardworking, demanding, and results-driven. But once you’ve proven you can do it, it’s very rewarding.”
He makes a conscious effort to come into the London office at least once a week. “For me, coming into the office makes pair programming easier and allows me to learn faster,” he says. “Plus, the office is great. The location is amazing, so it’s really practical for everybody.”
Marc adds with a laugh that working from home never impacts communication at Third Bridge. He describes the culture as “hyper responsive”, explaining that if he hasn’t responded within five minutes, it’s probably because he’s on leave.
Life outside work
Outside of work, Marc’s world is full. “I have a five-year-old kid,” he says. “He’s really into farm animals, so I now know a lot about sheep breeds. He’s also got a stockpile of energy that needs to be burned, so once he’s tired, I will go for a run.”
In the past he was heavily into trail running – enough to complete UTMB, the famous ultra-distance race around Mont Blanc. These days his long runs are limited to marathon distance, which he tries to fit in once in a while.
Advice for future joiners
If Marc had to give one piece of advice to someone starting at Third Bridge, it would be to lean into who you are. “Be yourself,” he says. “At Third Bridge, I’m always myself. Be curious, open, and honest. Question things, too. Don’t be afraid to give your opinion.”
And finally, care. “One thing I’ve learned from the team at Third Bridge is to really care about things,” he says. “We don’t just say ‘this is my output’ and move on. When we deliver something, we nurture it.”
For Marc, that combination – being yourself, caring about what you ship, and speaking up – is what turns Third Bridge from just another fast-paced London job into a place where you can grow, contribute, and feel genuinely proud of the work you do.
