Before moving to Oxford he worked as a software engineer at the company Softease located on the edge of the Peak District but then made the move south to the company Research Machines; both companies produce web- and desktop-based software mainly for use within UK schools. He obtained a BSc in Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence at the University of Essex, and is currently studying towards a BSc in Astrophysics with the Open University. He hopes one day to fly to Mars.