Next Meeting

THURSDAY (NOT FRIDAY !!!) April 18 2019, 7.30am – 9.30am, Chapel Golf Club:

With JEREMY FLOWERS, Manging Director of UKFast plc.

501978-cloud-as-internet-in-old-diagram You know what cloud computing is, yes? Of course you do. If you have any kind of wifi device you’re using it, though perhaps you don’t appreciate how in 2019 The Cloud is everywhere.

It’s called “The Cloud” as that’s how the internet was shown in old representations of the server system (see above), when we were all wired up – and before mobile phones got in on the act.

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak decried cloud computing in 2012: “I think it’s going to be horrendous. I think there are going to be a lot of horrible problems in the next five years.” He was thinking of whole global systems going down, and wasn’t he just right about that?

UKFast is an award-winning cloud-hosting business founded by Lawrence and Gail Jones in 1999, providing “a comprehensive portfolio of cloud services to some of the world’s best-loved brands.” With a £50 million turnover and 350 employees, it’s a star company; if you’ve ever sat in traffic heading into Manchester Airport you’ve seen their office building. That at least is made of concrete, steel and glass. But where are the servers? What about security? Or privacy? If I send them my photos, can anybody access them?

We are fortunate to have their MD Jeremy Flowers to explain.

Click here to buy tickets for this meeting.

Future Dates

Friday May 17th: Andrew Gadd, Finance Manager of Creamline. Since BBC TV’s Blue Planet II, public taste has swung away from plastic. Even the BBC uses milk bottles now. That gives traditional milkmen the edge. Creamline Dairies, who have been delivering dairy produce and groceries to Manchester and Cheshire for over 70 years, are busier than ever. Come and hear more.

Friday June 14th: The Renaissance of The Co-op. In an intensely competitive grocery world, the venerable Co-op has been investing in its corner shops and seen a substantial turnaround. How are they doing it? Tina Mitchell, Divisional Managing Director, Co-op Food, will tell us more.