LDC Top 50 2026
PJ Farr
Founder and Executive Chairman
UK Connect
“Growing up, money was tight, but I always wanted to follow my dad into the Army and build something of my own,” says PJ Farr. With dyslexia and ADHD, school was difficult, so he left early before later joining the armed forces.
A Falklands deployment sparked the idea for UK Connect. “I started with £1,100 and one router, building the business by day and delivering bread for Warburtons at night.” Today, UK Connect works across construction and defence, including special projects for The Shard and the Ministry of Defence. PJ also founded the Farr Foundation, helping raise young people’s aspirations through STEM.
We hadn’t built a company around one person; we’d built a strong team and culture that could stand on its own.”
Q&A
What was the lightbulb moment for UK Connect?
In the Army, we’d send letters home called “Blueys” because of the colour of the envelope. Then, while deployed to the Falkland Islands, we were given the chance to send an email instead. A friend in construction replied: “How can you get internet in the middle of the South Atlantic when I can’t get it on a building site in Guildford?” That was the lightbulb moment. I left the Army with £4.90 in my bank account, borrowed £1,100 from my wife’s Premium Bonds and bought one router. I’d lend it to a site for a month and only charge them if it worked. Before long, I could afford two routers. Then four. The business grew from there.
What makes UK Connect different?
The reason companies like Taylor Wimpey trust us isn’t because we’re the biggest; it’s because we’re prepared to solve the difficult problems. We’ve always tried to understand what a customer actually needs rather than simply sell them what already exists. That mindset runs through the business. We invest heavily in our people, give them dedicated time to learn and gain qualifications, and celebrate the technical curiosity, and geekiness, that helps us keep improving.
What’s your proudest moment?
Stepping back as CEO was one of the hardest decisions I’ve made. UK Connect had been a huge part of my life, so returning four months later and seeing the business thriving was probably the proudest moment of my career. It showed me we hadn’t built a company around one person; we’d built a strong team and culture that could stand on its own. For me, that means more than any personal challenge I’ve taken on.
