Lawrence Jones joins MBE club

Tech entrepreneur rewarded for services to the digital economy

UKFast founder Lawrence Jones has been made an MBE in the 2015 New Year's Honours List.

The Manchester-based tech boss was awarded the honour for his services to the digital economy over the past 15 years.

In a statement, he said: "As an entrepreneur you find yourself carrying on regardless, working your hardest, even when there are not many people who pat you on the back. So, it's an emotional moment to receive something like this from the government, the Queen and country.

"Britain is an amazing nation and I don't believe there's another like it on the planet. We are an extraordinary bunch of people with strength and humility. I am tremendously proud to be British and to get an honour like this makes all of the hard work worthwhile."

Jones added that SMEs were the backbone of the economy.

"We [the SMEs] are the ones that are paying the tax, not the big boys with the clever tax planning. It's UKFast and these smaller businesses that really drive the economy. So, whilst UKFast is tiny and turns over £30m at the moment, we're growing and will continue to grow. Our job is to accelerate our growth and that of our customers, whilst maintaining the great British service we supply," he said.

UKFast is an enviable place to work, with the 200-strong team provided with an onsite gym, steam room and creche, along with numerous incentives and rewards such as trips to Las Vegas, Verbier and the firm's own retreat in the Welsh mountains.

He joins ANS founder Scott Fletcher in an exclusive channel MBE club. Fletcher was made an MBE in the 2014 Queen's Birthday Honours.