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