Meet Acre’s new team members!

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A warm welcome to Acre’s newest members—Anna, Eliza, Grace, Jason, Morgan, and Sam!

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Read on to hear their thoughts on start-up culture, the daily variety of their roles, and what they love most about being part of Acre’s journey.

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Transitioning to a start-up can feel like a big leap. Start-up life brings a unique level of freedom, where each day offers something new (except maybe our lunch orders!). It's a dynamic environment that thrives on adaptability, innovation, and the chance to make a tangible impact.

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Hear from our new team members about Acre and the unique world of start-ups.

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Acre's new team members:

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Anna - Backend Engineer

Eliza - Operations Associate

Grace - Customer Success Associate

Jason - Graduate Software Engineer in Test

Morgan - Graduate DevOps Engineer

Sam - Senior Frontend Engineer

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Why did you choose to work in a start-up?‍

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Anna

I chose a startup because it’s a place where I can directly contribute ideas and learn fast. My role is in backend development but I’m already involved in discussions about how my skills in machine learning development could help improve classification processes and error detection. I really enjoy the energy in startup atmosphere where ideas can turn into actions overnight and everyone has the chance to make an impact. From my first interaction with the company I could tell Acre has the kind of ambitious, supportive culture I’d thrive in and it’s been so rewarding to contribute from day one!

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Eliza

After completing my degree, I knew I wanted to work somewhere where I could utilise learning from my whole degree. I liked the idea of working in a start-up to have responsibility from day one and also have the opportunity to wear ‘several hats’. My role has allowed me to understand various departments within a business and have the opportunity to take on different responsibilities.

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Grace

I chose to work in a startup because I wanted to be in a vibrant and evolving environment surrounded by like-minded people. The growth of a start up can open lots of opportunities, making it an exciting and motivating experience.

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Jason

It seemed very hands on and that the learning opportunities were endless. This turned out to be true; I’m thrown in the deep end a lot which provides some spice in my life.

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Morgan

I wanted to work in a challenging environment where you can constantly learn and grow. You can directly see the impact and value of your work which is very rewarding. Also, working in a start-up means that you get to work closely with everyone across the company which creates a real sense of community.

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Sam

I had the opportunity to do an internship at a startup years ago, and I discovered that regardless of your age or experience, you can genuinely be involved in shaping a product and feel like your voice is heard. I've mostly worked in startups since, they give you the chance to make an impact and see your contributions go live in a short time, like 2 weeks sometimes, without waiting for multiple rounds of hierarchy approvals.

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What does your typical day-to-day look like?

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Anna

My day-to-day starts with a standup meeting where we go over priorities and any blockers/challenges that might have popped up from the day before. I can then dive into the code debugging issues, figuring out what’s causing bugs and work on new feature developments for the platform. I spend a lot of time collaborating with different teams to make sure our code is solid and performs well. In Between there’s always time for a quick coffee break and chat with the team!

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Eliza

I start each day with a coffee and a chat with Katherine to catch up on our tasks and priorities. After that, my days vary—some days, I'm focused on drafting our next LinkedIn post; others days, Katherine and I work together to find the next great addition to the Acre team or plan our upcoming Acre social! I love variety and the chance to apply myself to various tasks when needed.

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Grace

I’ve been here about a month now, so still in the training and onboarding process, but so far its been joining our weekly webinars, answering brokers queries, supporting the Acre system and lots of troubleshooting.

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Jason

Attend stand up and other meetings, research the steps involved in solving a problem, think about questions to ask, do some QA, make some progress on writing automated tests, fix test flakes, pester people for MR reviews, and slowly but surely expand my emoji repertoire to send on slack. After work I might go climbing or draw something :)

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Morgan

Working with my team to discuss and implement solutions to technical problems related to AWS, Kubernetes, CI/CD, Terraform and observability.

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Sam

My day always starts with feeding my cat, who makes it very clear he's the priority, followed by making one of my mandatory coffee. Then I go to the office a couple of times a week, so the Tube is optional. I try to get some work done before our standup meeting, where I sync up with the team. After that, it's a mix of coding sessions and team syncs, depending on the day and where we are in the sprint. I also spend time collaborating with other devs in pair programming sessions and like to have some "focus time". Lunch breaks are essential, and I usually relax with some YouTube or playing a bit of Balatro when I work at home. By the end of the day, it's all about disconnecting and enjoying some downtime (and my wife's dinner).

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What is your favourite part about working for Acre?

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Anna

That's easy, the people here are definitely my favourite part! Acre is full of very smart, social and helpful people who are motivated to grow and build the product as well as others. Everyone has been super welcoming and very willing to help me develop and get up to speed. We’ve already had several team socials which made me feel like I was part of the team from day one. I love that the culture here is open and that I’m encouraged to ask questions, bring new ideas and get the support I need for my professional development. It's an ambitious and supportive environment that I thrive in!

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Eliza

My favourite part about working at Acre, is definitely the people. It has been a really smooth transition from uni life, as it is really sociable and we do various team socials every month. Some of the highlights have been pasta-making and pottery painting.

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Grace

The team environment, coming to work in London and the atmosphere across the whole company, has been a great start.

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Jason

It’s a lively place! I feel everyone around me is very capable and on board with the mission, which makes me feel like I’m in the right place. I feel motivated to do my best and to help those around me in whatever way I can.

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Morgan

The people. Everyone here is nice and friendly which creates an amazing working environment. The office snacks and monthly socials are also a bonus!

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Sam

One of the main reasons I joined Acre was the people I met during the interview process, and they've proven me right since. Everyone has been very welcoming, and there's a truly collaborative culture here where people are always available and open to feedback. It's also a fast-paced, challenging environment where decisions are made quickly. By day two, I was already working on a task, which was exactly the kind of experience I was looking for.

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What is your favourite lunch spot near the office?

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Anna

There are a couple of lovely markets nearby with lots of options but I always find myself going back to the falafel wrap stall! If I’m really treating myself that day I’ll add some halloumi as well which is usually plenty and rarely need much dinner when I get home!

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Eliza

I can’t choose one!! But definitely going to the local food market as there is so much choice from burritos to falafel to poke bowls!

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Grace

I need to explore and try more! But love the Pizza pilgrims, and the Asian style chicken and rice bowl from the local street market.

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Jason

The £9 Persian rice food stall provides unbeatable value for money.

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Morgan

The ‘little market’ which is a bunch of food stalls that do the best falafel wraps.

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Sam

I was surprised by how many food options there are around the office, including a couple of food markets, but my favourite so far has been an Italian deli that makes great sandwiches.

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If you're excited about what you've learned and are interested in joining the team at Acre, please visit our careers page here to explore available opportunities.

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