When Lewis Streak first signed up as an Engineius driver back in October 2023, he had no idea he'd soon be sharing the road with his mum. Nearly three years on, Lewis and his mother, Emma, are one of our most memorable driver partnerships, swapping jobs, swapping tips, and occasionally swapping the odd lift when it works.
We sat down with Lewis and Emma, alongside Don Daker from our Driver Services team, to talk about how it all started, what keeps them both coming back, and who really is the better driver.
How it all began
Lewis's route into Engineius came from an unexpected place. He'd originally been training to be a pilot, but after some medical complications changed his path, he was looking for something flexible that would let him earn while he figured out his next step.
"I came across Engineius and I thought, well, this looks like a great idea," Lewis says. "Get to travel all around the UK and get paid doing it, drive loads of different types of cars and vans, and go all over. It's been really helpful for me to increase my customer service skills, dealing with customers and businesses face to face."
Emma's journey started a little differently. After 17 years living in Dubai, she'd moved back to the UK to support Lewis through his pilot training, taking a full-time role in Chesterfield. When Lewis needed extra support in those early years, she stepped back from full-time work, but being fully retired wasn’t for her, so when Lewis later threw himself into driving for Engineius, his enthusiasm was contagious.
"His enthusiasm got me involved, because I thought, well, I need something because being at home doesn't suit me," Emma explains. "It's just lovely that you can get around the UK. I hadn't been around for 17 years, so to see the UK, get on trains and buses, understand where the stations are all over the country has been quite an eye-opener."
Emma has now been driving for around a year and a half, working alongside her son, who's fast approaching the three-year mark.
Keeping it in the family
Working in the same industry as a family might sound like a recipe for friendly rivalry, but for Lewis and Emma, it's about teamwork.
"We exchange jobs with each other," Lewis says. "We'll send screenshots saying 'you might like this job because you're here' or 'this one's going there.' If I don't do it, maybe mum does it, and if she doesn't, maybe I will."
Emma leans on Lewis's extra experience too. "I ring him a lot when I can't figure out how to get the cruise control on," she laughs. Lewis, who had a year and a half's head start, has become her go-to for site tips and local know-how - like the depot in Derby that's actually split across two locations half a mile apart.
Why the job works for both of them and keeps them fit!
For Lewis, the appeal is flexibility, plain and simple. "That's the main pull for me. You can work anywhere, any postcode nationally, and there's always work." It also fits neatly around his love of staying active: long walks, the gym, and a healthy obsession with his daily step count (his personal best is an eye-watering 41,000 steps in a day).
Emma feels much the same. "It's the freedom and the flexibility, and being your own boss," she says. "I like getting out and about." She's become something of a runner between jobs herself, clocking up to 20,000 steps on her favourite routes.
Both agree that the constant movement is part of the appeal. "You stay fit and healthy by walking in between jobs, getting off buses and trains, walking to customers' addresses," Lewis says. "You feel good at the end of the day." Emma agrees: "We always sleep well after a long one."
Memorable moves
Ask either of them for a favourite job and the answers come quickly. For Emma, it's a trip up to Inverness; a "key-to-key" job driving over the hills, one of her first big moves and still a standout. "It was beautiful. I'd love to do that job again."
For Lewis, it was a Jaguar F-Type soft top, picked up from a customer and delivered to a dealership in Milton Keynes. "It probably wasn't the longest journey, but it was the nicest car I've driven. I just fell in love with the car."
Productive time on the train
Emma uses the downtime on the train as a great opportunity to catch up on her personal admin and reply to messages, and they will both check the Engineius portal for new jobs. However, both Emma and Lewis are avid readers, so as well as enjoying seeing new areas of the country, they love to get stuck into a good book and those journeys fly by.
Support that makes the difference
Both Lewis and Emma point to having a consistent point of contact in Don, in his role with Driver Services as a big part of what makes the job work.
"When I first started with Engineius, my point of contact was you, Don," Lewis says. "You are, when I think of Engineius, who I want to talk to if I've got a problem."
Emma agrees: "You never have a problem getting hold of anybody, and that's what I like about it. I do think the whole team are really good and there's never a moment where I can't get hold of someone
Advice for anyone thinking of joining
For anyone considering becoming an Engineius driver, Lewis and Emma have plenty of advice to offer.
"Be flexible and understanding," says Emma. "Listen to others, especially at the beginning, and make sure you've got a point of contact who's supporting you. Don't stress about things that don't go right as someone will always help sort it out."
Lewis points new drivers toward the wider driver community for support, including the Engineius Drivers Facebook group. "There's so many different platforms where you can see information that other drivers have already shared. Don't be afraid to make a call or ask for help, there's always someone there."
Emma's final tip is all about confidence: "At first, for me it was quite daunting when I just turned up at a site, but it's actually a lot easier than you think once you've done those first few jobs. It's about feeling confident and there's a world of people out there to talk to."
And finally... who's the better driver?
No interview with a mother-and-son driving duo would be complete without settling the big question. Emma doesn't hesitate: "Obviously, me. I've been driving longer." Lewis, diplomatically, lets it slide, though he's quick to point out his greater experience with Engineius, having clocked somewhere around 400 jobs so far!
Whoever's behind the wheel, one thing's clear: for Lewis and Emma, driving for Engineius has become a genuine family affair -one they're already planning to take further, with talk of a joint trip up to Scotland on the cards.
Interested in becoming an Engineius driver? Find out more about joining our driver network.