Background on Lawrence Jones, MD of UKFast

Turning his attention to corporate entertainment during his time at college in Manchester, he formed the Music Design Company after identifying an underdeveloped business opportunity.

Attracting the interest of the Granada Group in 1997, Lawrence became director of sales for Grosvenor Productions (a Granada company) and integrated the two businesses before setting his sights on a new challenge.

Channelling his vision into a different medium, Lawrence and his wife Gail established UKFast in 1999 after being dissatisfied by the hosting services available when setting up an online gallery.

With a near-death experience in an Alpine avalanche making Lawrence more determined than ever, UKFast quickly developed with a Communications arm and a Research & Development division following in 2003.

Being first recognised for their achievements nationally by the ISPA in 2005 and then again in 2006, UKFast has since established itself as the UK's Best Hosting Provider for four years running. Now supplying to the UK'S biggest names including BP, UKTV and Donington Park, it has amassed six awards in multiple categories over a five-year period and remains the benchmark for the industry. Further recognition has seen UKFast collect the Manchester Evening News' Best Business Award for the £10 million turnover category in 2008, achieve a place in the InfoWorld100 and gain a spot in the Deloitte Technology Fast50 for two years running.

Individually, Lawrence has also been named the Institute of Director's Young Director of the Year Award in 2007, a regional finalist in Ernst & Young's 2008 Entrepreneur of the Year award and in Crain's Manchester 40 under 40 of the same year. As a result, he has become an influential figure within the media, sharing his opinions on online business growth, cloud computing and business continuity in Business Insider's Essential Guide to Technology, the Manchester Evening News, EN magazine, B2B Marketing, Better Business, City Life, Crain's Manchester Business Channel Info magazine and as BBC Radio Manchester's Mr Manchester. Lawrence was also called upon by the BBC's Working Lunch to discuss the Northern Rock crisis in September 2007.

Crediting the success of UKFast to the team around him, Lawrence is a great believer in making time to keep in touch with both clients and staff, which he does with the help of UKFast's film production team through videos for newsletters and training purposes. Each member of staff is also given a training iPod which allows them to constantly improve their professional development and learn from each other as well as from senior management.

Within the community, Lawrence's love of sport has also led to UKFast becoming the proud sponsors of Sale Sharks Rugby Club and Airwaves-Yamaha.

Find out more about Lawrence Jones at his blog, www.lawrencejones.eu.