Lewis’s Journey: From IT Exposure to CHEC’s Management Team Post Date : September 3, 2025 Career 4 minutes read When Lewis talks about his journey in IT, it’s clear that his passion for technology started early. Growing up with a father who worked as a programmer, Lewis had plenty of exposure to computers and the world of IT. It was a natural choice for him to pursue computer science and IT courses after school. After getting a BTEC with a distinction, Lewis felt the pull towards a more practical, hands-on approach. He moved south to the Cotswolds for a DevOps apprenticeship, where the small company environment gave him the chance to explore many different areas of IT. This early experience helped him figure out where his interests truly lay. Finding a Place at CHEC After moving back up North, Lewis took on a Support Engineer role in Preston. While this role provided valuable experience, he eventually felt like he was doing “first line support” and wanted to progress. He also found it challenging to feel a real sense of accomplishment as a service provider, where he was supporting external companies without seeing the direct impact of his work. This led him to CHEC, where the prospect of working for an in-house IT team was a game-changer. Lewis realised that at CHEC, he could see the tangible results of his efforts. The work he did wasn’t just fixing a problem for a faceless customer; it was directly improving the experience of his colleagues and helping the company run more smoothly. Growing and Leading with Intent Lewis started at CHEC as a first-line engineer, but his progression was swift. After a series of leadership changes, he and his team were given the autonomy to manage their own work. This was a crucial period for Lewis, as he was able to develop his leadership skills by guiding the team without formal training. This experience, along with his previous role managing a small team at a service provider, helped him successfully apply for the Lead Support Engineer position. Lewis’s progression was not a fluke; it was a result of his dedication and the culture at CHEC. As he explains, “everyone in the IT team really likes doing a good job and they actually have a lot of pride in the work that they do.” This commitment doesn’t go unnoticed, and CHEC actively recognises the hard work of its employees.” The Power of Tangible Projects For Lewis, one of the most rewarding parts of his job is working on big projects with a clear outcome. He particularly enjoys “mobilisations”—setting up IT infrastructure in a new, empty building. “By the time you’ve left at the end of the week, it’s fully fledged and everything is working,” he says. This is a stark contrast to the incremental work of streamlining processes, where the results can be harder to see. Working at CHEC has also allowed Lewis to build strong relationships with his colleagues. He values being able to work with internal teams to build solutions that genuinely make their lives easier. “Just getting that feeling of helping someone and making someone else’s life easier is a massive benefit,” he shares. A Team of Specialists Now in a managerial role, Lewis fosters an environment where his team members can grow and specialise. CHEC’s internal IT team is responsible for everything, from networking and infrastructure to security, team members can explore different areas and find what they’re passionate about. Lewis believes in a natural progression, where people gravitate towards the areas they enjoy and excel in. This approach is already yielding results, with one team member moving into a dedicated security role and another focusing on infrastructure. He envisions a future where each team member becomes a subject matter expert in their own area, creating a strong, collaborative team with a wide range of skills. Lewis’s journey is a testament to the power of hands-on experience and a supportive work environment. His story highlights how a company that recognises and values its employees’ contributions can create a culture of growth and success.