Nick Gatrell
A technology professional with over 20 years of experience spanning web development, digital marketing, business automation, and operational leadership. Born and bred in the North East, Nick has built his career from the ground up: starting in IT support and progressing through founding and directing multiple successful digital businesses.
His background bridges the technical and the commercial. He has led development teams, managed multi-department operations, reported to boards, and worked directly with clients from local SMEs to councils and Higher Education institutions.
The background
Nick started his career in 2002 during a placement year at a busy solicitors firm, maintaining IT infrastructure and building their internal intranet. He graduated with a BSc in Computing for Industry in 2004 and joined HERO (Higher Education and Research Opportunities), where he spent six years building websites for universities across England and helping develop one of the earliest bespoke in-house CRM systems in the sector.
In 2010 he co-founded Pear Digital, a web agency working with local councils, museums, and commercial clients across the North East. Five years later he founded OJM Digital, growing a client base that spanned SMEs and local government, and expanding into PPC and SEO strategy alongside development.
Between 2021 and 2026 he took on senior leadership roles, eventually serving as Director of Operations at Retro Renewables: reporting to the board, overseeing a cross-functional team of nine, and leading company-wide automation initiatives. That blend of hands-on technical skill and boardroom-level operational experience is what makes the approach at North Labs distinct.
In February 2026 Nick established North Labs to bring practical, affordable digital transformation to North East SMEs, working under a structured framework: Automate, Build, Communicate. Alongside client work, he is completing the PMI-CPMAI AI Project Management certification and preparing for his PMP examination.
Technical expertise
Development
- Next.js
- TypeScript
- React
- PHP
- Python
- WordPress
- Shopify
- Headless CMS
- JavaScript
Automation
- n8n
- Make (Integromat)
- Zapier
- Zoho CRM
- Microsoft Dynamics
- Custom API integrations
AI & ML
- LLM integration
- Prompt engineering
- RAG pipelines
- AI agent frameworks
- Chatbot development
Commercial
- SEO strategy
- PPC management
- A/B testing
- Operations management
- Team leadership
- Board reporting
Currently studying
Structured professional development programme running alongside client work.
Career history
Founder
North Labs
- Founded an AI integration and automation consultancy supporting North East SMEs with practical, affordable digital transformation.
- Operating under the ABC Framework: Automate, Build, Communicate.
- Delivering web development, automation, AI integration, CRM solutions, chatbot development, and e-commerce solutions.
- Building scalable, productised automation solutions and reusable templates for rapid client deployment.
Director of Operations
Retro Renewables
- Reported directly to the board, contributing to business strategy and long-term planning.
- Led company-wide process automation initiatives across all departments.
- Served as the senior technical and operational point of contact for the business.
- Oversaw teams spanning lead generation, compliance, operations, and field engineers.
Operations Manager
Retro Renewables
- Managed 9 staff across lead generation, compliance, and operations teams.
- Bridged the gap between technical systems and day-to-day team operations.
- Drove adoption of automation tools and business processes across departments.
Lead Developer
Retro Renewables
- Built and implemented a Zoho CRM system tailored to the business.
- Developed the company website and custom PHP dashboards for internal reporting.
- Implemented automation workflows using Zapier and n8n.
Technologies: PHP, Next.js, Zoho CRM, Zapier, n8n, Python
Lead Developer
Business Cost Comparison / Better Waste
- Specialised in web development, portal creation, and landing page design with A/B testing.
- Built dashboards and reports using Microsoft Dynamics to support business decision-making.
- Developed and maintained the Better Waste sub-brand digital presence.
Founder & Director
OJM Digital
- Founded and ran an independent digital agency delivering web development and digital marketing to SMEs and local government.
- Clients included Middlesbrough Council alongside a growing portfolio of North East businesses.
- Expanded from development to include PPC campaign management and SEO strategy.
- Evolved the technical stack to embrace modern JavaScript frameworks and headless architecture.
Technologies: PHP, WordPress, Shopify, JavaScript, headless CMS
Co-Founder & Lead Developer
Pear Digital
- Co-founded a web development agency delivering digital solutions across Higher Education, local government, and commercial sectors.
- Key clients included Stockton-on-Tees Council, Middlesbrough Council, and Preston Park Museum.
- Represented the agency at director level in stakeholder meetings with local council clients.
Technologies: PHP, WordPress, Magento, JavaScript
Web Developer
HERO (hero.ac.uk)
- Part of a web development team building websites for Higher Education institutions across England.
- Helped build and manage a bespoke in-house CRM system ahead of off-the-shelf solutions being widely available.
- Liaised directly with education institute leads to understand their needs and shape their online presence.
Technologies: ColdFusion, HTML, CSS, PHP
Education
BSc Computing for Industry
Three-year degree with an integrated industry placement year.
Placement year at Ben Hoare Bell Solicitors (2002—2003): IT support and intranet development across 4 office locations.
Work with Nick
If your business needs a website, a smarter workflow, or an AI tool that actually fits how you operate, book a free discovery call. No pitch, no jargon: just an honest conversation about what would make the biggest difference.