Underwood IT

Fractional IT Director, project delivery, and practical IT support for small UK businesses.

Senior technology leadership without the full-time hire. Clear decisions, clean delivery, stable operations.

Start with an IT Health Check View Services

About

Confident technology decisions for growing businesses

Underwood IT is my consultancy, led by Paul Underwood, supported by a trusted network of specialist suppliers and consultants built over 25+ years working across the UK, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the USA.

I help small businesses make confident technology decisions, deliver change cleanly, and keep operations stable. My background covers digital delivery, software development, broadcast and OTT streaming, and enterprise IT, including both cloud and traditional infrastructure.

25+ Years Experience
5 Continents
Broadcast Media Sports HR Travel Banking Press Insurance Construction Facilities

Core Offer

Small Business IT Health Check

The quickest way to get control of IT. A fixed-scope assessment that identifies risks, wasted cost, and quick wins. You receive a short, prioritised action plan you can use immediately.

  • Accounts and access control — admin accounts, MFA, leavers, shared accounts, password standards
  • Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace — ownership, security basics, mail protection, external sharing
  • Devices — inventory, patching, encryption, endpoint protection, device management
  • Backups and recovery — retention, restore testing, ransomware resilience
  • Network and Wi-Fi — firewall, firmware, guest separation, remote access
  • Data and file storage — permissions, sharing links, sensitive data locations
  • Suppliers and renewals — domains, hosting, licences, contracts, renewal dates
  • Minimum viable policies — onboarding/offboarding, acceptable use, incident steps

What you receive

  • One-page summary: top risks, quick wins, and cost drivers
  • Prioritised actions: Fix now, fix next, improve later
  • Ownership and next steps, with sensible budget ranges
Book a Health Check
IT Health Check illustration

Services

Three ways I can help

01

Fractional IT Director

Senior technology leadership without the full-time hire. Best for owner-managed businesses that have outgrown ad hoc IT, or teams who need a confident technical lead.

  • Technology strategy and roadmap aligned to goals and budget
  • Architecture and platform decisions for websites, portals, data, and workflows
  • Vendor selection, tendering support, and supplier management
  • Cyber security basics, resilience, and recovery planning
  • Modern workplace improvements — Microsoft 365, Teams, SharePoint
  • Building and coaching internal teams, or managing outsourced delivery
02

Project Management & Delivery

Delivery leadership for IT, digital, and operational change. Best when you need outcomes, clear ownership, and tight control of scope, cost, and risk.

  • End-to-end project delivery, from discovery to launch and handover
  • Plans, RAID, reporting, stakeholder management, and budget control
  • Governance across multiple suppliers and workstreams
  • Turnaround support when projects are stuck, drifting, or over budget
  • Release management, documentation, and delivery processes
03

IT Support for Small Business

Practical support that focuses on prevention, stability, and quick resolution. Best for businesses that want a single accountable contact who can also improve the underlying setup.

  • Microsoft 365 support and admin
  • Device setup and standardisation for Windows and Mac
  • Backup monitoring, patching, and account hygiene
  • Supplier escalation and coordination — broadband, telephony, hosting
  • Small improvements and automation to reduce repetitive admin

Specialist Areas

Deep experience where it matters

🌐

Digital Projects

Websites and mobile apps, with strong experience in video streaming and high-traffic environments. Delivery across iOS, Android, and web, managed across multiple regions and suppliers.

📡

Broadcast TV & OTT Streaming

Design and delivery of studio and outside broadcast for traditional and digital TV. Content acquisition and distribution across satellite, fibre, IPTV, and OTT with CDN partners.

🖥️

Audio-Visual & Workplace Tech

AV integration, meeting rooms, video conferencing, digital signage, video walls, and touch-screen control systems. Delivery leadership and operational handover.

🏗️

Enterprise IT Management

IT procurement, installation, and management across networks, servers, storage, security, and hosting. Cloud and hybrid environments. Office and remote working setups.

🔍

Technical & Digital Audits

A structured review of your current estate and suppliers. Clarity and a practical plan, not a long report. Useful before a rebuild, migration, or supplier change.

📊

SEO, Analytics & Paid Media

Technical foundations that help marketing perform. Site performance, tracking setup, consent and GDPR basics, and practical measurement aligned with acquisition goals.

🚀

Emerging Technology

Evaluating VR/AR, automation, or AI-enabled workflows? I help you test what is real, what is useful, and what is not worth the spend yet. Focus on commercial value and feasibility.

How I Work

Clear process, practical outcomes

📋

Project Management

Clear scope, clear ownership, simple reporting. You will know what is happening, what has changed, and what is blocked. Agile or waterfall based on what suits the work.

🤝

Consultancy

I work closely with directors and teams to understand goals, constraints, and risk. Clear communication with trade-offs written down. This prevents rework and makes supplier management easier.

📄

Procurement & Tendering

Define requirements, run a light tender, assess proposals, and manage delivery. You keep control of ownership, access, and contracts.

⚙️

Operations & Reliability

Stabilise operations with checklists, documentation, incident steps, and supplier alignment. Set up small operational teams if needed.

🔥

Crisis & Turnaround

Step in quickly to assess, stabilise, and agree a recovery plan. Reduce noise, regain control, and protect the business.

Who This Is For

Is this right for your business?

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Engagement Options

Flexible ways to work together