About Lumen IT

Our story

Lumen IT was born from a simple realisation: great technology expertise shouldn’t be reserved for the corporate world.

From web agency to church porches

I started web development while still at school, with a focus on local companies. That passion carried me through years at a web agency, followed by a career in web security consultancy working for some of the biggest companies in the world.

But somewhere along the way, I got fed up. Not with the work - I love the challenge - but with where the work was going. Big companies had big IT departments and big budgets. Often they didn’t care about the reports I wrote, but needed a box checking. Meanwhile, the organisations that genuinely needed help - a local charity drowning in GDPR compliance, a church with no IT person, a small business running struggling to find time for their blog - were being sold solutions they didn’t need at prices they couldn’t afford.

So, I set up Lumen IT in Hereford, with a clear mission: give small organisations access to the same quality of IT expertise that the big guys pay millions for.

The name means something

Lumen is Latin for light - and for those who know, a nod to the faith. I’m a Christian, and I believe work is a form of stewardship. It means I believe in honest work that helps people - whether that’s keeping a parish’s records safe from ransomware, setting up a charity to accept donations online, or building a small business a website that actually loads fast.

What I stand on

• Simplicity over complexity - If a system needs a PhD to understand, it’s the wrong system for the vast majority of people. Your brochurware website and blog probably doesn’t need to be infinitely scalable with databases and caching all over the world.
• Honesty over sales - I’ll tell you when you don’t need something. If a free tool does the job, I’ll point you at it. No upsells, no fluff.
• Expertise over guesswork - 15+ years means I’ve seen and tested a lot of websites. That saves you time, money, and a lot of headaches.
• Fairness over profit - The right price is what allows me to keep doing this work, and something you can afford to pay. If I can’t help within your budget, I’ll tell you that. I want to pay my mortgage and feed my family, but you’re not paying for me to have a super yacht.
• Open source first - I use and support open source solutions wherever they make sense. I believe in software you own and control - not vendors holding your data hostage. This means if you are unhappy with me for any reason, you are free to carry on using what I’ve built indefinitely.

How it works

There’s no one-size-fits-all. Some clients prefer a monthly retainer for ongoing support and peace of mind. Others need a specific project scoped out and priced separately. Either way, the conversation starts with understanding what you actually need - not what we can sell you.

Based in Hereford

Lumen IT is based in Hereford, UK, but most of our work is delivered remotely. That means you get local, personal service without being locked into a geographical region.