Richard Lewis Commissioning
Champion
Sustainability Specialist Apprenticeship Ambassador
celebrating 30 years of davies partnership in 2026
Richard Lewis
Technical and Quality Director
EST. JAN 2015
Commissioning Champion
Sustainability Specialist
Apprenticeship Ambassador
It’s hard to imagine Davies Partnership without Richard. This year (2025) marks a decade since he joined the team – ten years of relentless drive, innovation, and influence.
From day one, Richard has had the most incredible impact on the team and the business. As a mentor, a fountain of knowledge and an extraordinary engineer, Richard leaves a lasting impact on everyone he works with. Whether he is grilling manufacturers on product specifications or advocating for the most sustainable, carbon-neutral design scheme, Richard’s intentions are always for the greater good – he’s the Martin Lewis of Sustainable Living.
He truly lives the story he tells. Over recent years, he’s undertaken a personal transition away from Scope 1 emissions — electrifying his home heating, installing solar PV, replacing both cars with BEVs, and switching all garden tools and his lawnmower to electric. In fact, the only Scope 1 emission left is his beloved Italian motorbike. It covers very few miles each year but provides countless hours of tinkering pleasure - and serves as a valuable outlet from the pressures of day-to-day life.
With his tenure comes reflection on his greatest achievements outside of the Davies team, and it’s no surprise that his most treasured accomplishments all share similar attributes: Ambition, Balance, and Commitment.
EARNING A
FIRST-CLASS HONOURS
DEGREE IN
ENERGY ENGINEERING
COMPLETING THE THREE PEAKS CHALLENGE THE BIRTH OF HIS TWO CHILDREN
FOUNDING A BUILDING SERVICES COMMISSIONING COMPANY
His critical contributions to crucial societal sectors specifically Residential, Healthcare and Education, and his revolutionary approach to Quality Control have set new benchmarks for excellence within the industry, extending well beyond Davies Partnership.
THE EVOLUTION OF A TECHNICAL AND QUALITY DIRECTOR
In 2019, as part of a major review of business management processes, Davies Partnership created the role of Technical and Quality Director, appointing Richard to address these challenges and elevate design standards. One of the most significant structural changes was the separation of M&E design delivery from M&E quality control. Two distinct departments were established: Operations, led by Operations Director Peter Lyke, and Quality, led by Richard.
“I was empowered to withhold the release of any design that did not meet our high quality threshold. Every design now passes through a dedicated mechanical and electrical quality control team.”
Today, quality is recognised as Davies Partnership’s key Unique Selling Point and the foundation of its continued success.
APPRENTICESHIP AMBASSADOR
“How do I stay motivated and passionate about my work? I’ve always believed you’re born an engineer. Engineering is an integral part of who I am, and I couldn’t imagine life without it. As I’ve grown older, two motivations have become increasingly central to my work:
Decarbonising the construction industry &
Developing the next generation of engineers
Richard is extremely passionate about delivering a high-quality apprenticeship scheme, ensuring that young engineers are surrounded by our best people, equipped with the right tools, provided with meaningful guidance, and inspired to raise quality standards across the industry for years to come. Richard reflects on one of his most rewarding moments during his time at here:
“I watched a junior engineer, who had joined us just the year before, explain an aspect of mechanical design to one of our new apprentices in exactly the same way I had taught him only months earlier. I couldn’t have been prouder. Moments like this give me real confidence in the future of our company and of our industry as a whole.”
“I HAVE LOOKED IN THE MIRROR EVERY MORNING AND ASKED MYSELF: ‘IF TODAY WERE THE LAST DAY OF MY LIFE, WOULD I WANT TO DO WHAT I AM ABOUT TO DO TODAY?’ AND WHENEVER THE ANSWER HAS BEEN ‘NO’ FOR TOO MANY DAYS IN A ROW, I KNOW I NEED TO CHANGE SOMETHING.”
S teve J ob S , co - founder , chairman , and ceo of a pple i nc
SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
Richard’s approach to sustainability extends beyond design. He genuinely cares about how people live and use the buildings we create, long after handover. His focus on better living, decarbonisation, and future-proofing ensures every project contributes positively to both people and the planet.
Following the 1990 recession, Richard co-founded his own commissioning company, delivering projects across the South East for major national M&E contractors. He credits this period as pivotal, providing invaluable practical insight that remains one of the most powerful tools in his professional toolkit.
“Through the application of Whole Life Carbon assessments, I am committed to driving meaningful change. I actively support the Part Z whole life carbon campaign alongside many leading organisations in the sector. My goal is to help make this approach mainstream across the UK and to assist manufacturers in producing Environmental Product Declarations, ultimately improving the quality and accuracy of Whole Life Carbon assessments.”
Peter Hughes joined Davies Partnership in January 2023 as an LJMU Masters Mechanical graduate. Since his arrival, Peter has worked closely with Richard, consistently challenging ideas, learning from experience, and bringing a fresh perspective. The mutual respect between them is clear, both recognising the path followed and the journey to come.
Richard
“Peter’s eagerness to learn and genuine engagement in his work, challenge and advance our design processes. He consistently demonstrates both client focus and teamwork. Investing time and effort in refining our process is now paying dividends - we’re bringing in talented individuals who strengthen both our business and culture. Encouraging more firms to follow this path would bring long-term benefits to the industry. Peter, along with our apprentices, has truly restored my faith in the next generation of engineers.”
Peter
“Richard has been a true mentor and a constant source of support throughout my career. His guidance, encouragement, and genuine care have made an incredible difference to both my professional growth and confidence. Richard has an exceptional talent for supporting and developing those around him — he takes the time to listen, share his knowledge, and challenge you in ways that help you grow. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn from him and to work alongside someone with such a passion for what he does.”
REFLECTIONS ON CHANGE
“The most significant change in myself has been moving beyond the imposter syndrome that so many engineers experience in the early and middle stages of their careers. I’ve come to understand that we are all learning every day - nobody has all the answers. Each of us carries strengths and weaknesses; while the weaknesses fade with experience, there’s no such thing as a ‘finished article’ .”
Thanks For Reading
DAVIES PARTNERSHIP
ENERGISING ENVIRONMENTS
CHESTER | LIVERPOOL | CONWY