About Lawrence Jones

Currently the managing director of successful internet hosting company UKFast, Lawrence Jones' route to the top has been an exciting and terrifying one. Before he had even left school Lawrence was on his way to establishing his first successful business. Having done corporate gigs as a pianist himself, Lawrence spotted a great new underdeveloped business possibility.

He immediately set up his first business - Music Design Company - supplying corporate entertainment to Greater Manchester's business community.

The Music Design Company

The Music Design Company, grew and grew, and at its height he had about 90 musicians on his books. During this time MDC became the largest supplier of corporate entertainments in the city, trading so well that in 1998, the Granada Group came calling. Of the time Lawrence recollects: "I went to work for them as director of corporate hospitality. It was a fantastic experience, working with some corporate heavyweights. But in hindsight, I think I probably sold the business at too early a stage. I was just developing a reputation in town as a fixer."

With the money from selling the sale of the business Lawrence decided to take some time to enjoy life. However, the entrepreneur is never content to kick his heels for long. Soon Lawrence was on the lookout for his next business challenge.

Lawrence Jones' next challenge

Not only is the entrepreneur driven but they also must be prepared to take a chance and it is while struggling to set up his next business idea that Lawrence hit upon the concept that he has now made into a multi-million pound company.

Lawrence had returned to his love of the arts with the idea of setting up an online gallery. However, having failed to secure reliable hosting services, Lawrence, as all good entrepreneurs do, decided that if someone else could not provide the service he needed he would do it himself. UKFast was born.

Lawrence's success at UKFast

In 1999, Lawrence and his wife Gail established UKFast. His customer-focused approach to the internet has led to four highly regarded national awards including Best Hosting Provider for four years running, in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. In 2008 UKFast won the Manchester Evening News' Best Business Award for the £10m turnover category. The company then gained a spot in the Deloitte Fast 50 - for the fastest growing technology companies in the UK. And finally it achieved a place in the InfoWorld100 - a worldwide accolade representative of the top 100 IT solutions.

In the community UKFast proudly sponsors Sale Sharks Rugby Club and Airwaves-Yamaha, born out of Lawrence's love of sport. It has 2,500 clients on its network, including the likes of Sainsbury's, Printing.com and Marie Curie.

Lawrence's passion for success in everything he does was born of a near-death experience. Since that moment in 2001 he hasn't let anything hold him back from being the best. In 2007, Lawrence won the IOD's Young Director of the Year Award. This year Lawrence was named in Crain's Manchester '40 under 40' and he was a regional finalist in Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year award.