Category: Meet The Team

Meet the Team Blog Series

A blog series based on introducing you to the great team of individuals who make up The Unite Group.

A chat with Callum, our Operations Director

Callum, our Operations Director

Next up in our meet the team series we introduce Callum, our Operations Manager. We recently had a chat with him to find out a bit more about what he does within the Unite Group…

Growing up, what did you want to be?

Growing up, I always wanted to be an astronaut!

What is your role at The Unite Group and how did you end up where you are now?

My role here at The Unite Group is as the Operations Director. This role involves managing the help desk, coordinating the projects, employee well-being and technical support on all things telecommunications related. Being at Unite with Paul from the start, I came into this role as the company grew and we gained 2 more directors. This felt the best suitable role for me to really utilise my skillset and experience (I’ve been in this industry for 20 years!)

What does a typical day look like at The Unite Group?

My typical day consists of lots of coffee, emails, and coordinating the engineers and helpdesk guys as well as planning projects. So my days are often very busy!

What is your most and least favourite part of the job?

My favourite part of the job has got to be seeing projects complete smoothly, it’s always great to see when we are able to help our customers seamlessly. Also seeing customer issues being fixed and getting great feedback about our team is always great!

My least favourite part of the job however has to be delays due to unforeseen issues and the lack of available hardware to complete work as it is still an ongoing problem. These issues take matters out of our hands and can make it a bit harder for us to fix our customer’s problems. However, here at The Unite Group, we will always do our utmost to ensure our customers are back online and working without any problems as soon as possible.

What is your greatest achievement?

My greatest achievement has got to be landing a plane for the first time when learning to fly. I was in the RAF from 1989 through to 2000, I wasn’t a pilot in the RAF I just fancied giving it a go, great fun taking off after getting the go-ahead from the tower, not much happens in the sky but landing is scary and a massive relief once you are down.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

Never give up and stay positive.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time?

In 10 years time I’d like to hope I’ll be in the same role but with a reduced working week and more free time to enjoy life and chill out more, might even take up golf!

How do you unwind outside of work?

Outside of work, I enjoy socialising with my friends. You can also often find me playing random sports (badly) and listening to music. I love to attend concerts when I can. Currently, outside of work, you will find me training for the Great North Run. I am taking part alongside Paul & Ben raising money for a fantastic local charity Grace House! This will be my 10th time doing the run and I hope to beat Ben (A chat with Ben, one of our Senior Service Engineers) again this year 😊. If you’d like to sponsor us, it would definitely help us make it round, please find our fundraising page here. Cycling the Great North Bike Ride again and also cycling to Edinburgh later this year following the coast and castle and pubs route.

If you want to see how Callum and The Unite Group can help you with your business technology needs, contact us on, 0191 466 1050.

August 5, 2022
A chat with Ben, one of our Senior Service Engineers

Ben, one of our Senior Service Engineers

Next up in our meet the team series we introduce Ben, one of our Senior Service Engineers. Ben has been with us from starting as an apprentice and is an extremely valued member of our team. We recently had a chat with him…

Growing up, what did you want to be?

I never really knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. I realised in 6^th form that I wanted to look to work in a trade. So I spent time researching which industry I wanted to work in. That’s when the opportunity to do my apprenticeship with Unite came up it seemed the perfect route.

What is your role at The Unite Group and how did you end up where you are now?

I am a Senior Technician at The Unite Group. Starting at Unite as an apprentice, Unite provided me with all the training and support to get me to where I am now. I was lucky to join the business very early on which has given me a lot of experience in the industry. This has also allowed me to be a big part of the growth in the company.

What does a typical day look like at The Unite Group?

There isn’t a typical day, every day brings different experiences and challenges. My time is split between working in the office, supporting the guys on the helpdesk, working on projects, and attending customer sites. When I attend site visits this can often include installing equipment or troubleshooting faults that have been raised to us.

What is your most and least favourite part of the job?

I really enjoy getting out and meeting our customers. It’s great that we get to work with such a wide variety of businesses which makes no day the same. We have a great team in the office which makes coming to work so much easier! I know there will always be plenty of support and laughs.

I think I would say my least favourite is this! The marketing team loves to get us involved in the social media content and let’s just say it’s not my strongest point.

What is your greatest achievement?

It’s hard to pick a greatest achievement but I am most proud of what I have achieved in my career. Over the past 11 years working at The Unite Group I have accomplished so much to progress my career. Working hard to complete training over the years and putting the time in to now have the expertise I do in the industry, is one of my greatest achievements.

I have also completed the Great North Run. 3 times actually over the years with my 4^th one coming up this September. As of yet, I have been unable to beat the time of Directors Paul and Callum (both over 50)! So although this is an achievement, I still feel I can train harder to finally get to the finish line before them!

What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

Whatever you do give it 100%.

It is easy to be complacent in things but if you know everything you are doing you have given it 100% then you can look back and wonder what if.

What do you like to do outside of work?

Eating, drinking, and football probably about sums it up. I am a Newcastle United fan so it’s not been easy to support them the past couple of years, but better times are coming. I also play 5 a side football when I can to try and keep fit and this year will be running the Great North Run for Grace House, find my sponsor page here.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?

I enjoy my role here at The Unite Group and the company has provided me with progression throughout my career right from being an apprentice to a senior service engineer. As our company is growing I can see my role changing in the future and I will continue to work hard in order to make the most of my career and continue to be a part of the company striving forward.

If you want to see how The Unite Group can help you with your business technology needs, contact us on, 0191 466 1050.

July 29, 2022
A chat with Chris, our helpdesk manager.

Following on in our meet the team series, we introduce you to Chris.
Chris Nichol is our Helpdesk Manager here at The Unite Group.
We recently had a chat with Chris to find out a bit more about him and his role…

Growing up, what did you want to be?

Growing up I always knew I wanted to work in IT and the plan was always to work up to be in a managerial role. I have always had the drive for progression and so because of this I knew I would always want to excel in whatever I did.

What is your role at The Unite Group and how did you end up where you are now?

I am the helpdesk manager at Unite.
I started out as an apprentice 9 years ago and have worked hard to advance to the level I am at now. Having done my apprenticeship set me in good stead to be able to carry out all areas of the job. I knew the management side was a route I wanted to take and so managing the helpdesk was a natural next step for me.

What does a typical day look like as a Helpdesk Manager?

A typical day can change from one day to the next. It can be a lot of support tickets one day and then a lot of project and planning work the next. It’s always changing which keeps you on your toes but at the same time, the office atmosphere and the banter make it a great place to work.

What is your most and least favourite part of the job?

My favourite part of the job has to be the interaction with clients and other guys on our helpdesk. This was why progressing through the helpdesk route was important to me. I enjoy the challenge that comes our way and being able to talk clients through any issues they have. We are lucky that we are a close Team which makes such a difference coming to work every day.
I would say my least favourite part is not being able to work out a solution and having to look to escalate an issue as you want to get to the bottom of everything.

What is your greatest achievement?

Being able to say that I have my own car, own house and that I have worked as hard as possible to be able to get to this stage is definitely one of my greatest achievements.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

Don’t dwell on things, if you do they will hold you back and keep you from progressing.

But the quote I would always go back to is the following;

“We all change if you think about it, we are all different people all through our lives. but that’s good you got to keep moving so long as you remember all the people you used to be.”

Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time?

I would like to see myself progressing higher up the ladder and taking on more responsibility.

How do you unwind outside of work?

I play tennis for Shotley & Benfieldside, I go on the xbox to unwind with friends or sit and watch tele. The last couple of weeks I have been glued to Wimbledon. I managed to go down for four days this year including getting the experience of centre court. To be honest I do anything but go on a PC in my time out if I can help it!

If you would like more information on any of our Managed IT services, please contact us. The Unite Group on 0191 4661050 or email info@theunitegroup.co.uk

July 11, 2022
A chat with Mike, our Technical Director

Mike, our Technical Director

Following on in our meet the team series, we introduce you to Mike. Mike is our Technical Director here at The Unite Group and mostly focuses on the IT side of the business.

We recently had a chat with him to find out a bit more about him and his role…

Growing up, what did you want to be?

I never really knew what field I wanted to go into when I was younger. However I did always enjoy engineering and problem solving. So naturally I ended up doing tech & sciences which led me into discovering a passion for IT and business. I was told by a careers advisor at school that as I was an early riser and liked the outdoors I should be a farmer, so I’m glad I didn’t follow that advice!

What is your role at The Unite Group and how did you end up where you are now?

I am one of the directors within the group and oversee most technical IT aspects of the company and IT projects. I have worked in IT for 23 years. In roles ranging from IT helpdesk, support desk team leader, IT consultant and GIS analyst. After starting SMT Technologies with Dean we later merged our business with Unite Communications. This formed The Unite Group, combining the IT expertise of SMT Tech with the comms expertise of Unite landing me here amongst a great team.

What does a typical day look like at The Unite Group?

As we service a whole host of companies for comms, IT and social media we don’t really have a typical day in the office. I can end up working on any project if the team escalates issues to me. This is one of the exciting parts of the job! Although to summarise a standard week I will mostly be working on planning projects and meeting with clients to discuss the IT options available to them, working with the team on any escalations and trying to fit in work on the groups IT and systems also.

What is your most and least favourite part of the job?

I most enjoy planning and deploying new solutions and systems to overcome issues for clients and our own business, it’s like solving a puzzle!

As for the least favourite part I would have to say, and Lorraine would probably agree, I don’t like completing the finance paperwork we need to keep on top of so I often cause her a headache chasing me to complete or submit information she needs.

What is your greatest achievement?

I would have to say it would be the hard work put into our company which saw us grow from a small 2 man firm into the group we are today. It’s a great source of pride and we really have a great team throughout which delivers a great atmosphere!

What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

Simply try your best and don’t give up, something instilled firmly by my family as a youth and as a married adult and its very much the theme of my favorite poem, IF, with the line “Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools very much instilling the fact that at times you will hit hardship and see a dream dashed but if you just keep on you can make something better. I think most people can relate closely to that with all the tragedies and hardships recently.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time?

We have some exciting plans to scale and grow the group and the offerings we deliver so I very much see myself still here, maybe with a 4 day week if I’m lucky! I don’t like having nothing to do so the hustle and bustle of the business is great.

How do you unwind outside of work?

I enjoy zoning out to music. I listen to anything from classical through to country and heavy rock & metal depending on my mood. My current favourite playlist is leaning very heavily to Pink Floyd and Creedence Clearwater Revival for a bit of a retro kick. I also enjoy cooking (when it’s not a rush just to get dinner out) and we as a family enjoy traveling when possible.

To arrange a chat with Mike, or if you want to see how The Unite Group can help you with your business technology needs, contact us on 0191 466 1050.

June 30, 2022
A chat with Chris, one of our Senior Service Engineers

Continuing on in our meet the team series, next up we introduce to you Chris one of our Senior Service Engineers. Chris joined us just over a year ago and is often out the office working on our customer sites solving any IT issues. We recently had a chat with him…

Growing up, what did you want to be?

Growing up I wanted to be a rally car driver. Clearly this dream never became a reality, however, I am so happy with where I have ended up. Each day is very different and there is never a dull moment.

What is your role at The Unite Group and how did you end up where you are now?

My role here at The Unite Group is a Senior Service Engineer. My career started out in an apprentice role, after which I then worked in IT for 18 years. Back in May 2021 I joined the Unite Group and am really enjoying being part of a team that works so well together.

What does a typical day look like at The Unite Group?

There isn’t a ‘typical’ day, the good thing about my role is I get to experience many aspects of IT. From spec’ing and quoting bespoke IT solutions to meet a client’s requirements. To fully installing and supporting them. Everyday is different for me and that’s why I love my role!

What is your most and least favourite part of the job?

My most favourite part of the job is when everything comes together, and a project is completed to the highest standard possible making our clients happy. However, my least favourite part of the job is when stock levels are low as it makes it very difficult to supply hardware, as you can imagine in the world we are in at the moment this makes things more challenging.

What is your greatest achievement?

My greatest achievement has got to be buying my first home and my 2 children.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

Take pride in what you do and try your best!

Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time?

In 10 years’ time, I hope to be successful and to have worked through many new and exciting projects. I wish to have expanded upon my skillset and knowledge within my role. I also see myself making many more fun and exciting memories with my beautiful family.

How do you unwind outside of work?

Outside of work I like to spend time with my family and friends. Also on the rare occasions when I get “me time” I like to watch football or play video games.

If you want to see how The Unite Group can help you with your business technology needs, contact us on, 0191 466 1050.

June 16, 2022
A chat with Jack, one of our Helpdesk Engineers

Next up in our meet the team series is one of our Helpdesk Engineers, Jack. Jack joined us back in 2018 on a Technician apprenticeship and is now a fully qualified System Engineer.

Jack is likely to be the friendly voice on the other end of the phone if you contact us requiring support. We recently had a chat with him…

Growing up, what did you want to be?

Growing up I wanted to be either a youtuber, Jedi, DJ (Record Producer) or footballer for the Magpies. None of which came true! However I still like to play football when I can. Likewise, I enjoy watching Newcastle play, it has obviously become more enjoyable this year!

What is your role at The Unite Group and how did you end up where you are now?

I joined The Unite Group on an apprenticeship almost 4 years ago. I am pleased to say I completed this back in 2020 and I now am a Helpdesk Engineer. In this role I have been dealing with a variety of issues over the years and developed into my role with experience fixing any issues that our clients may face.

What does a typical day look like at The Unite Group?

No two days are the same in my role on the helpdesk, which keeps my job interesting. Customer service is such a big part of my role. Therefore I always strive to make sure our clients are kept up to date with what is going on as communication plays a big part in my role.

We are a busy helpdesk but work well as a team to manage calls and have a good laugh along the way!

What is your most and least favourite part of the job?

My most favourite part of the job has got to be managing to resolve issues quickly to get people up and running ASAP, this is very rewarding even with long term issues. When an issue occurs, it can be a very stressful time for our clients and it’s great to be able to relieve the headache such faults can cause.

My least favourite is long drawn out problems where we may need to deal with 3rd party companies. This can take more time and can be quite time consuming; meaning it can take slightly longer to get our client back up and running again.

What is your greatest achievement?

My favourite achievements are climbing various mountains such as Scafell Pike highest in England. I am aiming to start doing more of these on my own to be able to do more. I am supporting local charity, Grace House, by taking part in their 10 peaks challenge. To visit my sponsor page please click here.

My second would be able to now lift personal bests in various weight training exercises. I actively go to the gym and really enjoy challenging myself.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

Take on and use criticism, listen to it to develop going forward and don’t take it personally.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time?

10 years from now I’d see myself having a family with my fiancé Megan. I’d also like to be able to go on nice holidays. In terms of work, I hope to be in a higher role in my line of work I am currently in.

I hope to enjoy sharing my knowledge and experiences with others at work when the company grows and takes on more people.

How do you unwind outside of work?

To unwind, I enjoy going to the Gym and I also do weight training with no cardio lol!

I also love a day trip out and weeks away going up mountains and sightseeing places like water falls or all sorts of historical attractions.

If you want to see how The Unite Group can help you with your business technology needs, contact us on, 0191 466 1050.

June 9, 2022
A chat with Lorraine, our Office Manager

At The Unite Group, our team is the heart of our company! So we thought we should introduce them to you. Over the next few months our blogs will allow you to get a real insight into The Unite Group, and who the people are who make our team great!

First up we introduce you to Lorraine (also affectionately known as Lozza).

Lorraine is the Office Manager here at The Unite Group and is the one you will chat to if you ever have any queries regarding your bills and finances. We recently had a chat with her…

Growing up, what did you want to be?

Growing up I always wanted to be an airhostess as I loved the idea of travelling all over the world. This never happened as I got married and had 2 daughters, yet I did move to Australia back in 2013 but only lasted a year as I realised I’m a massive homebird and missed my family & friends back home too much!

What is your role within The Unite Group team and how did you end up where you are now?

I am the Office Manager so my day-to-day includes managing our client accounts, along with the general overseeing of staff in the office as well as managing the fleet of company vehicles. My role means I am a part of the management team and work alongside the directors. Paul, our sales director, is my husband and despite 13 years working together we are yet to kill each other! I started working for the company alongside Paul and Callum back in 2009, when it first started as Unite Communications.

What does a typical day look like at The Unite Group?

Busy! But I love the buzz of the office, we’ve got a great team.

What is your most and least favourite part of the job?

My least favourite part of the job has got to be the bill run – it’s a running joke in the office everyone knows to leave me alone when I’m stressed during bill run week. However it’s all worth it seeing how much the company has grown and changed over the past 13 years!

What is your greatest achievement?

My greatest achievement has got to be coaching gymnastics up to a national standard where my teams competed at the British Championships! Both my daughters were gymnasts and I ended up becoming a coach as I was never away from the gym. I worked my way through the coaching qualifications and I am a qualified Level 3 Teamgym and Level 2 Women’s Artistic coach.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

Just be you.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time?

I’d like to think I’d be retired and perhaps sat on a beach sipping a cocktail somewhere! 😊

If you want to see how The Unite Group can help you with your business technology needs, contact us on, 0191 466 1050.

June 1, 2022