The TLS Employee’s Story (April)

Every month, we get to know a bit more about one of our linguists. This month however, we are introducing one of our TLS team: Lydia Smith, product manager.

How long have you been working for TLS?

I’ve been working at TLS for five and a half years, having joined as a graduate in late 2019. It’s been a varied and rewarding journey so far.

Tell us about the work you do for TLS.

I’m currently a product manager, focused on improving and developing our systems and app to enhance the user experience. My role involves gathering feedback from users and internal teams, shaping that into new features or optimisations, and working with our developers to deliver them.

Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work across different areas of the business. I started in the MOJ team, then moved into tenders and commercial work, and later became delivery manager in the Language Examinations Team. That role sparked my interest in using technology to solve problems, which ultimately led me to product management.

What’s been your favourite project at TLS?

Working on the assessment management system for the Exams Team. It’s been a great opportunity to combine my current role with the experience I gained in that team previously. The project covers the full assessment lifecycle, from candidates submitting their responses through to assessor marking and feedback, which makes it both complex and rewarding to work on.

What has been your biggest challenge?

Supporting the transition to our new platform and app, as well as supporting all our users through the change. It was the first time TLS had developed an app, and the project involved many moving parts across different teams. It’s been a significant piece of work, but also a really rewarding one; seeing the positive impact on the user experience and how much easier it’s made managing bookings for customers, interpreters, and our team has made it all worthwhile. I’m continuing to enjoy building on it and making further improvements.

Tell us something interesting about you

I’ve got a real soft spot for animals. I love them to bits (except maybe snakes and wasps… they’re just a bit too unpredictable for my liking!). I’ve been surrounded by animals my whole life. My family have always had dogs, and we currently have a very spoilt Golden Retriever and Spaniel.

I’m also a huge Swiftie and a massive foodie. I love trying new dishes and exploring food from different cultures—especially when travelling.