People Behind the Logo: James Mearns, NOE IT Service Desk Lead

Career Journey

Meet James, our NOE IT Service Desk Lead in the IT Department, who has been part of Apleona for the past three years James began his career working as a sales assistant in a shoe store, but when an opportunity in Apleona’s IT department came his way, he decided to take the leap, and it has proven to be the right move.

James describes his role as fast-paced and varied, with plenty of challenges to keep him on his toes. A typical day involves what he calls “a lot of firefighting,” making sure requests and issues are resolved quickly for colleagues across the business. From managing password resets and new user setups to overseeing large-scale integration projects and system reworks, his work is all about keeping things running smoothly while improving systems wherever possible.

Time to Unwind

Outside of work, James admits he spends most of his free time online—but not just scrolling. With a home network he has built himself, James uses his downtime to test new ideas, build and maintain his own website and blog, and even take part in online competitions. It’s both a hobby and a way of constantly learning, reflecting the curiosity that drives his professional growth.

When it comes to inspiration, James says it’s impossible to pinpoint just one person. Instead, he looks to the wider IT community, where both well-known and lesser-known individuals are doing great work. This collective drive motivates him to keep learning and developing new skills.

Growth at Apleona

Looking back at his time with Apleona, James says he has gained far more than just technical expertise. Teamwork and people management have been key skills he’s developed, helping him grow in confidence and take on new challenges. One highlight of his career so far has been working with different teams to streamline business processes, particularly improving the new starter process from an IT perspective. He has also introduced changes to make internal systems more efficient, something he’s particularly proud of.

James recalls his very first integration project as one of his biggest challenges. Having never been involved in something of that scale before, it tested his abilities but ultimately became a valuable learning experience. It also paved the way for smoother integration projects in the future.

Advice for New Starters

If he were to offer advice to someone joining his team, James says that while technical skills are important, confidence and communication are key. “It’s important to be able to guide people through fixes in simple terms,” he explains, highlighting the human side of IT that often gets overlooked.

When asked to sum up Apleona’s culture, James chooses three words: fast, positive, and united. And as for a quote that best reflects his work? With a smile, he says: “You’ll find that the majority of IT issues occur somewhere between the keyboard and the chair.”

Thank you, James!