Welcome, Chris!

How did you get involved with Reuzer initially?

I met Ian right at the start of the Reuzer journey. I was working as a software developer for an agency, and he came in as a client who wanted to build a learning platform. I was the developer assigned to the job. It was the first big solo project I worked on, and I ran with it. It was a massive responsibility, so I spent hours in the evenings researching the best way to go about it. And I’ve been working on it ever since.

What’s your role now you’re a fully fledged part of the Reuzer team?

In my new role at Reuzer, I’m going to be leading the platform’s development, creating a new road map for what comes next. Then I’ll oversee making sure those features are built effectively so our customers can get even more out of the platform.

I’m currently chatting to customers to get an idea of what they want to see from Reuzer moving forward – a lot of what we’re doing is customer driven, as it has been from the start. There’s no point building something that customers aren’t going to be using.

Are you excited about being more involved with the Reuzer Platform?

It’s going to be really good to get involved with the growth of Reuzer and be a real driving force behind developing the platform. It’s also great to be part of something I started and can keep improving. I think software developers in general think the code they wrote last year or even last week could be better now. It’s this constant striving for improvement in what you do every day.

Have you always worked in IT?

No! When I left school, I got an office job as an accounts junior and trained to be an accountant. I did that for around 16 years. But I got bored and wanted to get into the world of IT, so I taught myself development. I made the jump about six years ago and got a full-time development job. When I look back, I’m quite proud of what I’ve achieved, because it was a massive career switch, and it’s really paid off.

What do you love about software development?

Accountancy is very monotonous with a monthly routine. Development is a lot more creative. You can start with a blank sheet of paper and end up with a bit of software. It’s a lot more satisfying than bookkeeping. And the technology is always changing – there’s always something new to learn and something new to use.

I’m very much someone who likes to break a big problem down into little ones that are solvable. Because in this line of work there are always problems that need to be solved. I have a never-give-up approach and often come up with a solution by walking away from my computer or thinking in the shower.

And what are your first impressions since joining the Reuzer team?

Before joining the company, I was only aware of the platform side of the business. But now I’m seeing the other side too – the content and course creation, 3D animation, filming, all this fancy stuff. It blows me away how creative the team is and what they can deliver. We’ve got a massive range of skills here and the platform is just part of it.

What’s next for the Reuzer Platform?

Building up the user base is what I’m most excited about. Then more features will come – it will be a snowball effect. More users mean making sure the website stays responsive and that things load quickly. Hopefully the work we’ve already done to make it scalable will pay dividends in years to come.

We’ll also be working on bringing the learning side offline as well so people can complete courses without an internet connection. We want to have a Netflix-style system where you can download a course, go on a plane, for example, do the course, and then when you’re online again it will upload all your information.

Finally, is there anything your fellow Reuzer colleagues would be surprised to learn about you?

I play darts in the local pub scene in the South Norfolk League. My team’s in the top half of the league at the moment. No, I don’t have a darts nickname, but I’m open to suggestions!