From cfgdegree to Seccl: meet software engineer, Deeqa. It's a swelteringly hot Friday afternoon in London, but when I sit down to chat with Deeqa, a London-based software engineer, she's all smiles - and for good reason. Five years after completing the CFGdegree (Code First Girls' intensive four-month advanced programme), Deeqa is taking her next big step in tech. This time, she's entering the world of fintech as a software engineer at Seccl. A forward-thinking company that provides backend infrastructure for investment platforms, financial advisers, and fintech apps, Seccl is actively investing in female tech talent through its partnership with CFG. Read on to hear Deeqa's advice on changing careers, joining Seccl, and why more women should consider a future in tech. Q: You originally studied civil engineering at university. What motivated you to pivot into software engineering, and how did Code First Girls help launch that transition? Deeqa: After finishing university, I realised I wanted to pivot into a different field. I chose to do the Code First Girls foundation programme, the CFGdegree. Through the programme, I secured an internship with the EdTech company, Perlego. It was a brilliant place to start my career. I ended up staying there for four and a half years. Q: You're now a few weeks into your new role as a Software Engineer at Seccl. How has the onboarding experience been? Deeqa: It's been fantastic. Before applying, I spent time researching Seccl and reading the company blog. It came across as a genuinely welcoming place to work, and my experience so far has completely lived up to that. I'm part of the trading team, so there's been lots to learn, from new terminology and codebases to meeting colleagues across the business. It's been a really exciting start. Q: What has your experience been like as a woman in tech, especially transitioning from EdTech to Fintech? Deeqa: Tech can feel intimidating because it's still a male-dominated industry. That's why Code First Girls is such a valuable starting point. It gives women the opportunity to learn, grow and see others succeeding. Fintech has been a different challenge. It's highly regulated, security-focused and can feel more male-dominated. But Seccl has such a welcoming culture that I've never felt disadvantaged. Q: What's been the biggest contributor to your success? Deeqa: Great mentors and managers. Also, tech never stands still, so you can't stop learning and be complacent. Seccl really invests in that. We have Learning Fridays, where we spend the afternoon learning something new before sharing it with the team. There are also dedicated learning budgets to keep developing our skills. Q: What advice would you give to other women who are considering a career in tech? Deeqa: It can feel hard to break into the industry. If you are a woman interested in becoming a software engineer, my biggest advice is: don't let the industry intimidate you. We need more women in this space. Thanks Deeqa and good luck in your role!

Seccl, the embedded investment platform owned by Octopus, has established an Irish subsidiary to expand into European markets. Ronan Gahan will lead Seccl Ireland DAC as chief executive. The move follows demand from existing clients wanting to offer investment services outside the UK. Seccl's systems currently serve around one million investors in the UK, processing six million transactions and 25,000 transfers monthly, representing approximately 15% of the UK transfers market. Gahan previously founded Conexim, an open-architecture investment platform, in 2010, which Irish Life Group acquired in 2020. The company has also appointed Miguel Ortiz, former group COO at M&G, as senior adviser. Seccl is engaging in discussions around Ireland's proposed Personal Investment Account, aiming to support firms if introduced.

Investment platform Seccl sets up Irish unit. The step follows demand from existing clients seeking to offer investment services outside the UK, noted Seccl. Seccl, the embedded investment platform owned by Octopus, has created an Irish subsidiary as it seeks to expand into the European market. Ronan Gahan will lead the new Irish unit, Seccl Ireland DAC, as the chief executive. The step follows demand from existing clients seeking to offer investment services outside the UK, noted the company. Seccl's systems currently serve around one million investors in the UK. The new Irish operation is intended to help extend that model into European markets, with local market knowledge and regulatory capability in place. Gahan previously founded Conexim, an open-architecture investment platform, in 2010. That business became one of the larger investment platforms in Ireland, serving more than 300 regulated firms, before being bought by Irish Life Group in 2020. His background covers institutional and retail markets and includes work with large corporations and early-stage companies. He is the founder and former chair of the Irish MiFID Industry Association and is a member of the Central Bank of Ireland's Financial Industry Innovation Forum. He will work alongside executive chair David Ferguson and Seccl's broader management team. The company has also appointed Miguel Ortiz as senior adviser. Ortiz has held senior roles including group COO at M&G, chief transformation officer at Allfunds and partner at BCG. In Ireland, Gahan and his colleagues are involved in discussions around the proposed Personal Investment Account (PIA), with the aim of being ready to support firms if the new account structure is introduced. Octopus acquired Seccl in 2019. The company now handles about 6 million transactions and 25,000 transfers each month, representing approximately 15% of the UK transfers market. Gahan said: "Ireland has a strong and established financial services ecosystem and, with the proposed new Personal Investment Account (PIA) in development, there's a clear opportunity to help more first-time investors and savers access the market - whether through established financial institutions or digital-first firms. "To do that well requires infrastructure that can support low balances, broad asset choice and efficient operations. Seccl has already proven that model in the UK, where its technology powers investments for platforms including Monzo, GoHenry and Söderberg. I'm looking forward to helping bring that experience to Ireland, and to building the foundations for Seccl's wider European ambitions." Give your business an edge with its leading industry insights.