Meet the Team

At WellData, our team is central to how we deliver reliable and effective database management. Since 1999, we’ve built a team of highly skilled database and development specialists trusted by organisations across the UK to keep their data secure, resilient and performing at its best.

Our team brings together decades of DBA and development experience, supported by recognised industry accreditations, to deliver a service that’s both expert and people-first. Clients benefit from direct access to senior-level specialists with deep technical knowledge across all major database platforms, including Oracle, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MariaDB, MongoDB, and MySQL.

Founder & Managing Director

Phill Clayton

Head of Operations

James Newton-Brady

Database & Systems Manager

Philip Howe

Data Services Manager

Annette Allen

Business Development Manager

Stephen Brown

Founder & Managing Director

Phill Clayton

Phill founded WellData in 1999, at a time when businesses were facing a serious shortage of skilled database administrators during the Y2K transition. Recognising how critical proactive database management is to keeping systems running smoothly, Phill set out to build a service that paired deep technical expertise with a more flexible and cost-effective way of working.

As Managing Director, Phill continues to play an active role in shaping WellData’s direction, from overall strategy and service design to maintaining high standards of quality and assurance. With decades of experience in database management and infrastructure support, he has guided the company’s growth across multiple platforms and sectors. Throughout that growth, his focus has remained firmly on people, building trusted relationships with clients and supporting a team of specialists who take pride in delivering reliable, secure services.

Head of Operations

James Newton-Brady

As Head of Operations, James oversees the delivery of WellData’s services, ensuring our clients receive comprehensive and proactive support. He works closely with our teams across the business to keep operations running smoothly, coordinating service delivery and focused on continuous improvement.

James brings a strong technical background to the role, having built his career in database administration and operational support. His experience spans hands-on technical work, consultancy, and managing business-critical systems, giving him a practical understanding of what clients need from their data environments. Focused on clear communication and long-term relationships, James plays a key role in maintaining WellData’s reputation for reliability, transparency, and trusted support.

Database & Systems Manager

Philip Howe

Philip leads WellData’s database and systems capability, with a focus on ensuring the reliability, performance, and long-term stability of mission-critical data environments. He works across a wide range of database platforms and operating systems, supporting both on-premise and cloud-based estates.

Philip’s background centres on helping organisations bring structure and predictability to complex database environments. At WellData, he works closely with customers to strengthen database operations through a combination of deep technical expertise and a service-first approach, supporting organisations that need consistent, proactive care.

His role focuses on improving stability and resilience through activities such as performance optimisation, high-availability design, and backup and recovery planning. With experience in modern, cloud-ready architectures, Philip also helps clients plan confidently for the future of their data platforms.

Data Services Manager

Annette Allen

Annette is Data Services Manager at WellData, leading our team specialising in SQL Server development and performance optimisation. With over 25 years’ experience working as both a DBA and developer, Annette is highly skilled in helping organisations improve the efficiency and responsiveness of their database-driven applications.

Annette works closely with our customers to understand how their systems are used in practice, identifying performance issues and opportunities for improvement. Her work ranges from tuning slow-running queries to supporting the delivery of new SQL Server solutions, including requirements gathering, database migrations, and the development of new production environments. She is particularly focused on helping clients move from a state of frustration and delays to systems that perform reliably and predictably.

Business Development Manager

Stephen Brown

Stephen is Business Development Manager at WellData, working closely with organisations to understand their data and operational challenges and identify where WellData’s services can add the greatest value. He plays a key role in building long-term relationships, helping clients explore support models that improve reliability, performance, and operational confidence.

Stephen brings a strong commercial and operational background to the role, with experience spanning business development, technical sales, and operational leadership. This allows him to bridge the gap between technical teams and business stakeholders, ensuring conversations stay practical, clear, and focused on outcomes rather than jargon.

Here's what other people think

Tom Hocking

Google

WellData have supported Troy for 7 years and have consistently delivered a great level of service throughout this time.

Their flexibility, desire to get stuff done and lack of red tape, make them stand out from their competition. We have talked to the person who can fix the problem immediately rather than going through layers of support.

This is invaluable and saves a huge amount of time. I would strongly recommend working with WellData.

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Petro Bartoszyk

Google

I have worked with the WellData team for many years now and they have always delivered.

I would highly recommend them to any business looking for best-value outsourced Expert DBA’s.

Being able to offer a rolling contract on the basis that if they don’t deliver you can leave shows their confidence and commitment.

Their professionalism and knowledge is second to none.

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Kay Riley

Google

The support I receive from Well Data is extremely responsive. Richard Parsons is my contact and keeps me informed daily on the health of our SQL Databases. Whenever I ask for assistance from Well Data it is quick and professional.

Positive
Responsiveness, Quality, Professionalism, Value

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Steve Fenton

Google

“Our partnership with WellData has enabled us to resolve critical database problems. Their attitude and service makes them a natural extension to our own technology team, which extends our capability in a critical area of our business.”

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Steve Goacher

Google

“The guys at WellData really know their stuff. We wanted a quick route to doing something complex and they sorted it for us very quickly and to a high standard. Very professional, no ego, just excellent and to the point consultancy.”

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John Lynes

Google

“Having worked with the team at Welldata for approaching 17 years, my company and I have always found them professional, reliable and generally a great firm to work with.”

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Stefan Parrott

Google

“WellData provide an excellent level of support and their team are very knowledgeable and always go the extra mile. I would wholeheartedly recommend them.”

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David Sadler

Google

“We use Welldata for SQL support and are very happy with their service.”

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Andy Cole

Google

“Really know their stuff and their response times are very good. They provide us with a vital service.”

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Giulia Iannucci

Google

“A very dedicated team of extremely professional and knowledgeable experts”

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IT Team Leader, Housing Association

“WellData offered us the best overall package, used a collaborative approach and offered good value for money.”

Systems Administrator, Retail Sector

“WellData is always on hand to help, with no extra surprise costs! Their proactive approach solves problems before they happen, giving us complete peace of mind.”

Information Systems Manager, Borough Council

“We outsourced to WellData for SQL and Oracle DBA support, due to a local authority cost-saving initiative.”

ProDrive

“There’s an unflappability about Welldata and their staff which gives you, as a customer, confidence that these guys really know their onions. ‘Excellence’ is clearly their watchword and the Prodrive team have no hesitation in recommending their services.”

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Charlie Bigham’s – Azure Migration

Mike Calverley, Head of IT, Charlie Bigham’s

“Following the recent completion of our ERP migration from on-premise to Microsoft Azure using SQL MI, WellData was integral to the success of this very strategic project.

They provide my team with the technical leadership and resources for the SQL expertise we require. They are always there for us and attended all project meetings, workshops and catch-ups and would always jump on calls at a moment’s notice – Well data are like an extension to my team, and we get on so well with all of them – they can’t do enough for us.”

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University of Exeter

Development Manager, University of Exeter

“You now cover out of hours fully for us, although with your proactivity we probably don’t need it now.”

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Devon County Council

Graham May, Application Analyst, of Devon County Council

“WellData were critical in aiding a hardware refresh of our on-premise Oracle DB real estate. The hardware refresh necessitated a switch of platform, as part of DCC’s long term goals to reduce the number of platforms that we support.

WellData managed the process from cradle to grave ensuring that we stayed within our Oracle licensing agreements.

WellData were on hand to perform the migration of the Production Environment outside of our core corporate support hours”

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Rushmoor Borough Council

“The Council plans to continue with the partnership and is exploring ideas around bespoke development support and has no hesitation in recommending WellData to other clients.”
– Nick Harding Head of IT and FM services

“WellData has made the day to day running of the system and major upgrades faster, and less disruptive to the service and provides the in-house team both IT and Revenue with expert advice and peace of mind”
– Systems administrator for the system, Sarah Giles

WellData’s outsourced database administration and support service has proven “extremely successful especially around patching, release management, and incident management”.

According to the Council, their process prior to the relationship with WellData was unreliable, while now the IT, Digital and FM services enjoy 24/7 support provided on a critical system, that is in their own words “cost-effective, flexible and very responsive”.

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