Over 25 years designing, building and running systems on the Microsoft stack, from hands-on development and database administration to owning the architecture of business-critical platforms.
Independent Solutions Architect
Ashdown Systems Ltd · 2026
Set up and ran an independent Solutions Architecture consultancy for UK startups and SMBs, providing architecture reviews and technical advice to help businesses modernise, scale and grow.
Solutions Architect
Accurate UK (formerly Vero Screening), Brighton · 2022 to 2026
Owned the architecture of Accurate UK’s bespoke background screening platform: more than 90 applications and services. Worked closely with leaders across business, product, engineering, security and infrastructure, and with the global business on integrating the UK platform into global systems.
Designed and implemented a new fulfilment system enabling Accurate’s global business to process UK criminal record checks through DBS and Disclosure Scotland. Stayed hands-on throughout, supporting engineering and database administration.
Senior Software Engineer
Accurate UK (formerly Vero Screening), Brighton · 2018 to 2022
Designed and evolved Accurate UK’s bespoke background screening platform, working across the Microsoft .NET stack (C#, .NET Framework, .NET Core and modern .NET) and Azure. Primary database administrator for the platform, on Azure SQL Managed Instance with around 20 production databases.
Owned the end-to-end migration of the platform’s data backend from on-premises SQL Server to Azure SQL Managed Instance, with only a few hours of downtime. More than 40 database-dependent applications and services moved across to the new database platform.
Lead Software Engineer
HireRight Ltd, Brighton · 2017 to 2018
Moved into people leadership at the CTO’s request, to guide the team and the business through significant projects, including GDPR implementation.
Led a distributed engineering team of 12, with 5 in the UK and 7 in Estonia, while staying hands-on in architecture, engineering and database administration. Combined people leadership with technical oversight of business-critical systems and integrations.
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. Stayed hands-on in engineering, and remained primary database administrator for the platform’s 10 or so production databases.
Senior Software Engineer
HireRight Ltd, Brighton · 2007 to 2014
Senior engineer and technical lead with full-stack .NET and SQL Server responsibility for business-critical screening platforms. Primary database administrator for the bespoke background screening platform’s 10 or so production databases.
Earlier career
Systems Developer
John Hall Associates Ltd, Horsham · 2005 to 2007
Full-stack .NET development and SQL Server 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 2001
Founding member of the software development and management information (MI) reporting team in the National Fault Centre.