Giles joined Burgess after working at sea for the past 15 years. Born and raised in London his seafaring career started at a young age sailing with the Sea Cadet Corps while attending the London Nautical School. After High school he gained qualifications in IT, Training in Structured Systems and Business Systems Analysis, and BA (Hons) in Fashion Management from the London College of Fashion. He worked as an IT Senior Business Analyst designing computer-based software solutions as well as in Retail Merchandising and Sales.

In 2007 Giles wanted to use his nautical knowledge at a professional level and decided to join the yachting industry where he progressed from Deckhand to Chief Officer and gaining his Master (Yachts) 3,000GT certificate.

Leaving life on the sea behind him, he has since travelled around New Zealand and Australia in a campervan and upskilled in cyber security before settling in London.