Hull, Yorkshire - Stephen Platten, local resident of Hull and Principal Consultant at Inspired Testing, a global software testing company, is making waves in both the professional and volunteer sectors. As an award-winning tester recognised by the European Software Testing Awards, and LinkedIn as Top Software Testing Voice, Platten’s passion for test improvement and development shines through his work.
Beyond his professional accolades, Platten has spent around 15 years volunteering, focusing on education and children. As a school governor of Endike Academy in Hull, he has dedicated over 200 hours to schools, including delivering talks on resilience and morals. He recently began supporting fathers of autistic children through peer counselling with a children's charity.
As a STEM Ambassador, Platten participated in STEMFest 2024 to promote software testing among school children. Organised by the North East STEM Hub, STEMFest aims to inspire young minds about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). The event featured around 60 companies showcasing various careers and job roles in the Yorkshire and Humber regions.
Platten engaged students with an interactive bug-hunting activity. Each student identified 'bugs' and recorded their findings on a 'bug report,' which they submitted to receive a colourful stress ball, proven to be very popular with the kids. "Software testing ensures software works as expected," Platten explained. "We wanted to raise awareness and inspire students to consider careers in software testing."
STEMFest organised by education and STEM specialists from the North East STEM Hub, drew over 3,000 young people aged 10-14 from local schools over three days. The event provided a platform for local businesses to deliver fun, interactive sessions and engage with the future workforce.
For more information about STEMFest Yorkshire & Humber and the inspiring work of volunteers like Stephen Platten, visit North East STEM Hub. To pursue a career in software testing, visit Inspired Testing.
