About
I'm a UK-based Solutions Architect with 25+ years' experience designing and delivering systems on the Microsoft stack. I work at the point where business goals meet technical decisions: shaping requirements, choosing the right architecture, and making sure it holds up in production.
I've worked within SMBs and corporate/enterprise organisations, and I'm now looking for a full-time architecture role.
Focus
- Solutions architecture
- .NET and C#
- SQL Server
- System integration
- Cloud architecture
- Data design
- Applied AI
Selected work
- Owned Architecture for a bespoke background screening platform Supporting 90+ applications & services, ~20 production databases. Multiple client and vendor integrations.
- Owned end-to-end migration from on-prem SQL Server to Azure SQL Managed Instance Migrating the data backend of a bespoke background screening platform to Azure, with minimal downtime. Supported migration of the platforms 90+ applications/services to the migrated data platform
- Led a geographically distributed engineering team Engineering team for an EMEA/APAC focused Background Screening Platform. 12 engineering and QA resources (5 UK, 7 Estonia). Worked as part of wider global engineering origanisation
Experience
Founder and Principal Solutions Architect, Ashdown Systems Ltd
2026 to present
Independant Solutions Architecture consultancy for UK startups and SMBs. Helping businesses modernise, scale, and grow.
Solutions Architect, Accurate UK (formerly Vero Screening), Brighton
2022 to 2026
Owned architecture of Accurate UK's bespoke Background Screening Platform (90~ applications & services). Worked closely with leaders in business, product, engineering, security, and infrastructure. Worked closely with the global business on integrating the UK platform into global systems. Retained hands-on support for engineering and database administration
Senior Software Engineer, Accurate UK (formerly Vero Screening), Brighton
2018 to 2022
Senior Software Engineer involved in designing and evolving Accurate UK's bespoke Background Screening Platform. Working in the Microsoft .NET tech stack (C#, .NET Framework, .NET Core, .NET) and Azure. Also acted as the primary Database Administrator (DBA) for the platform (Azure SQL Managed Instance, ~20 production databases)
Lead Software Engineer, HireRight Ltd, Brighton
2017 to 2018
Led a distributed engineering team of 12 (5 UK, 7 Estonia) while remaining hands-on in engineering, combining people leadership with technical oversight of business-critical systems and integrations. Remained hands-on in engineering alongside architecture responsibilities.Continued as primary DBA for the bespoke background screening platform's ~10 production databases.
Solutions Architect, HireRight Ltd, Brighton
2014 to 2017
Provided architecture leadership and technical ownership for background screening platforms supporting EMEA and APAC operations, including integration with internal enterprise systems and external partners. Remained hands-on in engineering alongside architecture responsibilities, and continued as primary DBA for the platform's ~10 production databases.
Senior Software Engineer, HireRight Ltd, Brighton
2007 to 2014
Senior engineer and technical lead with full-stack .NET and SQL Server responsibility across business-critical screening platforms. Primary DBA for the bespoke background screening platform's ~10 production databases.
Earlier Career:
Systems Developer, John Hall Associates Ltd, Horsham
2005 to 2007
Full-stack .NET development and SQL Server database administration for internal business systems, including an online energy trading and auction platform.
Database Administrator, Sussex Probation Area, Brighton
2002 to 2005
SQL Server administration and infrastructure support for around 18 probation offices across East and West Sussex.
Senior Performance Analysis Developer, NTL, Portslade
1997 to 2002
Founding member of the software development and management information (MI) reporting team within the National Fault Centre.