Senior management

Neil Clarke - director of operations

Neil is UKFast's director of operations. Within this role Neil is responsible for maximising office efficiency and leading staff development events. To achieve this Neil oversees, plans, briefs and directs day-to-day procedures and processes from sale of solutions to deployment. He also reviews and improves the UKFast training programme and is in charge of team building at the company's Snowdon outdoor activity centre.

Neil arrived at UKFast in September 2008, fresh from a nine year stint in the British Army. It was while in the Army that Neil honed his leadership, organisation and training skills. He served in various countries with both the Royal Regiment of Artillery and later the 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery before spending two years as an instructor at Sandhurst. Prior to joining the Army, Neil graduated from Nottingham Trent University in 1999 with a degree in IT and Biology.

Neil strongly agrees with UKFast MD Lawrence Jones' belief that it is the people that make a company successful. Through his time in the British Army, Neil developed a strong passion for working with people to improve their skill set and ability to excel. He has brought this passion to UKFast, and plays an integral part in helping the company to enhance even further its award-winning customer service provision.

Philosophies: 'Keep it simple' and 'Never take the easy option'.

James Crawshaw - director of Microsoft relations

James joined UKFast in January 2009 as the new director of Microsoft relations.

James liaises with Microsoft to leverage an even closer relationship with the US technology firm, in order to expedite the process of product innovation to UKFast's clients. James is also working on technology research projects and advising the UKFast sales team on IT related issues.

James comes to UKFast from JMC IT where he had a wide range of responsibilities as one of their senior systems consultants, including IT project management and bespoke network installation co-ordination. Prior to JMC, he held the position of IT manager at BSS (Broadcasting Support Services) and before that he cut his management teeth as the IT manager at Aria Technology.

James read Computer Systems Engineering at UMIST and is a Microsoft Certified IT Professional. In his personal life he is an accomplished squash player and passionate about skiing.