Sunday Times' Best Business to Work For

10 March 2009

Back to UKFast in the media

UKFast

• Internet hosting
• Number 31
• Annual sales: £4.2m
• Staff numbers: 57
• Male/female ratio: 78:22
• Average age: 28
• Staff turnover: 8%
• Earning £35,000+: 5%
• Typical job: Technical support

There's a host of happy staff at UKFast, an internet service provider based in Manchester that offers web hosting services for large and small businesses.

The owners of the Donington Park motorsports circuit, for example, asked the company to host its website so that fans can keep track of events, journalists can check press releases and people can buy tickets, all without crashing the system.

The company, which has won five industry awards in five years, has grown from 37 to 57 employees over the past year. More than a third joined in the past six months, but they already feel strongly about UKFast. Staff feel they can make a difference in the firm (an 88% positive score) and are excited about where it is going (90%).

Lawrence Jones, managing director, believes that people are more important than machines, and makes sure that the company invests in them. Staff say the job is good for personal growth (87%) and offers valuable experience for their future (88%). A website, UKFast.tv, keeps employees up to date, while the head of sales runs daily "life lessons" in how to achieve personal and company goals.

UKFast owns a centre in Snowdonia used for staff training and as a holiday retreat for some employees. People have fun with their teams (92%) and haven't suffered work-related stress in the past 12 months (86%). Newlyweds get an extra five days of holiday and, after five years' service, employees get a £1,000 bonus and join the five-year club, gaining access to other benefits.

Staff aren't bored with their jobs (84%) and, to keep things lively, there is a £60,000 social budget.

Back to UKFast in the media