About New Media Aid

I’m Alastair Brown, a senior software engineer with over 25 years’ experience delivering business-critical software systems — from greenfield builds to complex legacy modernisation — for SMEs across London, Hertfordshire and Essex.

I’ve worked in environments ranging from early-stage startups to enterprise-scale systems with millions of users and strict operational requirements.

One common concern when working directly with a senior developer is long-term continuity. That’s something I plan for from day one as outlined below.

My Background

I studied Computer Science at university in the 1990s and began my IT career at the global IT services giant Fujitsu, who create large-scale enterprise software systems (and no — I didn’t work on the Post Office IT system!).

During the dot-com boom I moved into a startup environment, followed by a role at Virgin’s Leicester Square HQ, where I helped build one of their early online flight booking systems. These experiences gave me a strong grounding in complex workflows, performance-critical software and real-world production challenges.

In 2000 I founded New Media Aid, specialising in bespoke web applications for SMEs. Over the years I’ve built everything from e-commerce platforms and CRM tools to job management, booking systems and enterprise Android apps for field engineers.

Although I work hands-on as a senior engineer, I don’t work in isolation. Where a project requires additional capacity or specialist expertise (UX design, infrastructure, security review or load testing), I collaborate with a small, trusted network of long-term partners. You still deal with me directly, but you are not exposed to single-person risk.

How SME Software Has Changed

In the early 2000s, almost every SME needed a bespoke system built from scratch. But today the landscape has shifted dramatically: businesses can choose from excellent template-based solutions such as Wix, Squarespace, Shopify, and powerful SaaS platforms like Salesforce or JobLogic.

If your requirements are straightforward, not industry-specific and don’t require integration with legacy systems, then using an off-the-shelf system is usually the best approach. They’re cost-effective, reliable and quick to roll out — and I’ll happily tell you when that’s the right option.

Where I Add Real Value

The real challenges begin when a business has:

• industry-specific workflows
• complex operational processes
• legacy systems that must remain running
• databases or WebForms apps nobody wants to touch
• staff spending hours copying data between multiple systems
• a need for practical, cost-controlled AI or automation

That’s where I come in. I specialise in:

• Modernising legacy WebForms / .NET 4.x applications
• SQL Server performance tuning & schema design
• Bespoke web apps in ASP.NET Core (7/8/9)
• Android apps for field teams
• RAG and domain-specific AI integrations (DeepSeek, OpenAI-compatible)
• Maintaining long-lived SME systems with reliability and low downtime

I take on a deliberately limited number of projects at a time so I can stay closely involved in the day-to-day technical decisions. This approach gives clients senior-level attention throughout, without the cost or communication overhead of a traditional agency.

How I Work With Growing Organisations

I’m used to working with established SMEs and internal stakeholders where reliability, documentation and long-term maintainability matter. Projects are scoped clearly, delivered incrementally and built with handover, version control and supportability in mind — not throwaway code.

If You Need More Than a Template…

Whether you’re planning a new system, rescuing an existing one or exploring practical AI to support your operations, I can help design and deliver a stable, fast, future-proof solution tailored to your business.

Contact Me