Cloud product launch boosts UKFast’s growth
UKFAST, the ambitious Manchester technology company, says sales of its cloud product, Public eCloud, have topped £5m since launch a year ago.
Founder and chief executive Lawrence Jones said the success of the product, launched in July 2013, had exceeded his expectations and would drive 2014 turnover to a record £29.5m.
He told TheBusinessDesk: “The cloud revenue growth has been really extraordinary given the timescale, and it’s still performing really well due to recommendations and our ability to deliver it really quickly.
“I believe we are genuinely offering an innovative alternative to the market -there aren’t many British hosting providers doing this. We’re offering an alternative to using the big US corporate providers.”
Mr Jones said UK Fast’s move to The Archway development in Hulme last year from the city centre to a new £3m headquarters, had been a “significant step” for the business, and allowed it to not only grow but to be more creative.
“City Tower was a great location for us, when we moved there first we were like free range chickens, at the end it we felt a bit like we were in a battery farm.
“We’re now back to being free-range again, which is great. We have 220 people now and are still hiring.”
As well as new hires – several significant appointments are in the pipeline – he believes UK Fast’s commitment to training and retaining its staff is another key to its success.
“Ultimately the goal is to get from being a £30m company to a £100m company, but we are an independent, private company and want to grow in a natural way and I’ve still got my feet on the ground.”
