25+ years of real-world .NET & SQL experience

Bespoke Web & AI Solutions for SMEs in London, Hertfordshire & Essex

Modernising legacy systems and building lean, intelligent web applications using .NET, SQL Server and practical AI – so your business runs faster, smoother and more reliably.

What I help clients achieve
  • Build tailor-made job, CRM & booking systems for SMEs
  • Upgrade legacy ASP.NET & WebForms to modern .NET 8/9
  • Fix slow SQL Server databases and long-running pages
  • Add AI assistants and chatbots to existing systems
Alastair Brown, New Media Aid
Alastair Brown
Senior Software Developer & Consultant
New Media Aid
I’ve been building, modernising and supporting bespoke web and database systems since 2000. I specialise in .NET and SQL Server for SMEs, with a particular focus on rescuing ageing WebForms apps, improving performance, and adding new capabilities like mobile access and AI assistants – without disrupting day-to-day operations. As well as developing bespoke web applications, I also specialise in the development of enterprise Android apps.
Most of my work is with owner-managed businesses and organisations in London, Hertfordshire and Essex, where a reliable, well-understood system matters more than the latest buzzword framework.

Why Work With New Media Aid?

In a market suddenly full of “AI-assisted developers”, real value comes from experience. Modern tools can help write code — but only deep, hands-on knowledge keeps a live business system fast, stable and evolving safely. That’s what I bring to SMEs across London, Hertfordshire and Essex.

25+ Years of Delivering Real Business Software

It’s one thing to build a toy demo; it’s another to keep a mission-critical system running for years. I’ve spent 25+ years designing, rebuilding and rescuing applications that companies rely on every day — not just proof-of-concept projects.

Work Directly With a Senior Engineer

Many providers hand your project to a rotating cast of juniors using Copilot. With New Media Aid you work directly with a senior engineer — architecture, database design, code, optimisation and deployment — so nothing gets lost in handovers and quality stays consistently high.

Specialist in Complex & Legacy Systems

Anyone can start a fresh project; far fewer can untangle an existing one. I’m experienced with WebForms, mixed-age SQL databases, older server setups and business-critical workflows — exactly the kind of systems most developers (and AI tools) avoid because they’re not straightforward.

Practical AI That Solves Actual Problems

I integrate AI where it reduces workload, speeds up operations or improves decision-making — not just because it’s fashionable. From internal knowledge assistants to domain-specific RAG systems, your AI features are built on solid engineering rather than hype.

What I Help SMEs With

Focused on practical, revenue-generating improvements rather than shiny tech experiments — especially for SMEs across London, Hertfordshire and Essex.

Modernising Legacy Web Apps

Upgrade old ASP.NET WebForms / .NET 4.x applications to clean, maintainable .NET 8/9 solutions without disrupting daily operations.

  • Replace fragile code-behind with modern architecture
  • Improve security, reliability and observability
  • Plan phased migrations instead of risky big-bang rewrites
Database & Performance Tuning

Optimise SQL Server queries, indexes and schema to cut CPU, speed up reports and fix “mystery” slowness in production systems.

  • Analyse and tune heavy SQL queries and reports
  • Reduce page load times and timeouts
  • Design schemas for SaaS and multi-tenant apps
Practical AI & LLM Integration

Integrate AI assistants and LLMs into your existing systems – from internal knowledge bots to legislation and policy Q&A tools.

  • RAG over your documents and databases
  • On-prem or private cloud models (DeepSeek, OpenAI-compatible)
  • Cost-controlled, auditable AI features

Who I Work Best With

I mainly work with owners, operations managers and IT leads in SMEs who rely on custom software to run day-to-day operations and can’t afford downtime or risky rewrites — particularly across London, Hertfordshire and Essex.

  • Scaffolding & construction firms needing job and H&S tooling
  • Colleges and training providers handling admissions or enrolment
  • Service businesses with home-grown WebForms apps that now need upgrading
  • SMEs exploring AI to support staff, not replace them
Typical signs you need help
  • Your key system is an old ASP.NET or classic SQL app nobody wants to touch
  • Reports time out or the server CPU spikes at busy times
  • Staff copy and paste the same information between multiple systems
  • You want AI-style search or assistants but don’t know where to start

Typical Projects I Deliver

Every engagement is tailored, but many projects fall into a few common patterns.

  • Migrating a core WebForms app to a modern .NET Core / Razor Pages solution
  • Re-architecting heavy SQL queries and reports to scale with growth
  • Adding an internal AI assistant over policies, manuals or legislation
  • Building job, quote & invoice management tools for field services
  • Integrating payment, document signing, mapping or credit-check APIs
Based in the South East, Working Remotely

I regularly work with businesses in London, Hertfordshire and Essex, but most projects run smoothly via remote collaboration – email, Teams/Zoom and shared project boards.

On-site visits are always possible for kick-off workshops, system reviews or key milestones where sitting around a table makes sense.

Let’s talk about your system

If you have an ageing web application, a slow SQL database, require a custom-built system or an idea for a new AI-enhanced tool, we can usually see in 20–30 minutes whether I’m a good fit to help.

Email

Prefer to schedule something? Drop me a quick email with a short summary of your current system and what you’d like to improve.

Contact Me
I normally reply within one working day.