At East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, our people are at the heart of everything we do.

Behind every campaign, project, and initiative is a dedicated team of passionate professionals working together to support our local businesses and drive growth. 

We're continuing our series by introducing another vital member of our Communications team.

Say hello to Shafiq Khan, our Internet Services Manager.

"Hi, I'm Shafiq, Internet Services Manager here at East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce."

Q: What does your current role involve on a day-to-day basis?

"My role involves overseeing the Chamber's digital infrastructure, which includes managing our websites, email systems, and internal platforms. I work closely with various team members to ensure our services are secure and help the organisation achieve its goals.

A typical day could include anything from troubleshooting technical issues to planning digital improvements or supporting a client project."

Q: Being in a technical role, where do you find opportunities to be creative?

"Even in a technical environment, I guess creativity plays a big role especially when it comes to finding smart and efficient solutions to complex problems. I often find myself thinking creatively when automating workflows, customising platforms, or improving how information is presented online."

Q: What's one misconception people might have about your role or the work you do?

"People often assume my role is purely technical or reactive, fixing things when they go wrong. In reality, much of my work is strategic and forward-thinking, ensuring our technology is used effectively to strengthen communication and support the Chamber's wider objectives."

Q: How do you stay current with fast-moving trends in web and internet technology?

"I stay up to date by regularly following trusted publications like The Verge, Smashing Magazine, and TLDR; exploring online tech communities on Reddit; and testing out new tools as they emerge. You must remain intrigued and open to learning.

Technology moves fast, and keeping up requires both habit and passion."

Q: What's your favourite digital tool or platform right now – and why?

"At the moment, I'm really enjoying using Cloudflare to manage web performance and security. It's incredibly powerful and makes a genuine difference in protecting and optimising both our online presence and our clients."

Q: When you're not working, what do you enjoy doing to unwind or get inspired?

"I'm a keen runner and have completed 63 marathons, along with a couple of ultra-distance events. Running is a huge part of my life – it helps me recharge both mentally and physically. I also enjoy being a pace runner at various races, which allows me to give back to the running community by helping others achieve their goals.

I also love night photography. It's a great way to see the world from a different perspective. I've been out shooting several times with Mr Thompson, and I'd say another outing is well overdue, especially with our new light-painting tools."

Shafiq isn't just the person behind the tech; he's a kind and supportive team member, always ready to help others and share his knowledge. His creativity, innovation, and forward-thinking mindset were recently recognised by his colleagues when he was awarded our Chamber Innovation Award, voted for by the team for his ability to think outside the box and drive new ideas forward.

We're proud to have Shafiq as part of our team, bringing a rare blend of technical expertise, creativity, and approachability to everything he does.

Stay tuned as we continue to introduce the talented individuals who make our mission possible.

Need digital or technical support for your business?
Shafiq and our in-house team are here to help.

Get in touch today to find out how we can assist you:

Email: Hello@chambercomms.co.uk | Call: 01254 945901

For more member news, click here.