1xINTERNET enters the UK market: who are Paul and James?

As 1xINTERNET continues to grow across Europe, the UK market is becoming a new focus area. With a strong reputation as one of Europe’s leading Drupal agencies, 1xINTERNET is now bringing its expertise, innovation, and open-source spirit to the UK.

We sat down with Paul Johnson, Managing Director UK, and James Tillotson, Growth Director, to talk about their backgrounds, the UK market, and what’s next for 1xINTERNET on British soil.

Meet James: Building growth and partnerships

From the Lake District to Drupal

James lives in Cumbria, on the edge of the Lake District, with his wife and two boys. “Being outdoors with my family and friends is really important to me, and I feel really lucky to have access to all of this on my doorstep”, says James.

As an experienced marketer with over 16 years of experience in sales and business development, he’s spent the last eight years in integrated digital agencies, including Ideas+Outcomes, McCann, and CTI Digital.

“Whilst I’ve worked with a number of different technology platforms, I’ve been working in the Drupal world since 2018,” James says. “My first experience was with Drupal 7, and the platform has developed and come a long way since then”.

Why 1xINTERNET?

“What drew me to 1xINTERNET was their reputation as one of Europe’s top Drupal agencies, their commitment to open source, and the incredible clients they work with, from Nestlé and Sharp to the University of Edinburgh, Jägermeister, and the Union for International Cancer Control,” James explains.

“1xINTERNET is also a founding member of the Drupal AI Initiative, with our Co-founder, Baddy, serving as Chair of the Drupal Association. That kind of leadership shows the company’s dedication to being at the forefront of Drupal innovation.”

Shaping 1xINTERNET’s UK growth

As Growth Director, James is focused on establishing 1xINTERNET in the UK. “We already have such a strong reputation across Europe,” he says. “The timing is right to bring that experience here. I’m particularly looking forward to working with organisations I know well; membership bodies, charities, manufacturing, retail, and education.”

Meet Paul: Leading the UK operation

A career at the cutting edge of digital

Paul began working in digital in the late 1990s, with his first big web project for Beggars Banquet, one of the world’s leading independent record labels.

“I’ve always worked at the leading edge of the web,” he says. “I live in Macclesfield near the Peak District, where I love cycling, especially climbing hills! I’m also a leader and trustee for our local Scout group, which brings together over 100 young people every week.”

Paul has specialised in Drupal for more than 16 years and is well-known in the community for his photography at DrupalCons and DrupalCamps.

The secret to success is clear

“After more than a decade in a fast paced Manchester agency where growth and revenue were everything, I wanted to join a company that truly lived its open-source values,” Paul explains.

“I’d been following 1xINTERNET for years and knew Baddy and Christoph through Drupal community events. I was impressed by how a relatively small company managed to work with incredible clients and deliver complex projects so effectively.”

Now, after more than a year with 1xINTERNET, Paul says the secret to success is clear: “It’s the people. The talent, the drive, and the leadership, all focused on building sustainable digital solutions that deliver long term value.”

Paul´s role in the UK

As Managing Director UK, Paul draws on his experience in business development, sales, and key account management. “My role is to connect clients with our delivery teams to ensure we create value where it matters. I’m also focused on growing our UK partner network and representing 1xINTERNET at industry events.”

The UK Drupal market: challenges and opportunities

Clients are under pressure to deliver more with less

“The UK market is competitive and changing,” James says. “Drupal remains a powerhouse for businesses that need an open-source platform capable of scaling securely and giving content teams the freedom to create. But now, with AI at the forefront of so many business strategies, Drupal is positioned to solve real-world challenges in smarter ways.”

Paul adds, “Despite the economic climate, demand is strong. Clients are under pressure to deliver more with less, and they need capable partners who can guide them through both economic and technical challenges. Agencies that have invested in AI and generative technologies early are already seeing healthy pipelines.”

Why the UK is an exciting market for 1xINTERNET

1xINTERNET is a Diamond Drupal certified partner, ranked among the top 20 Drupal firms globally, with more than 250 projects successfully delivered across Europe.

“What sets us apart,” Paul says, “is that our entire team is full-time and highly skilled, not a network of contractors. That means deep, lasting client knowledge and a real commitment to long term success to our clients.”

The company’s preconfigured Drupal CMS offers advanced functionality while maintaining the freedom and flexibility of open source. 1xINTERNET also plays a leading role in the Drupal AI Initiative, helping shape the platform’s direction to ensure clients benefit from future ready solutions.

“And thanks to our distributed setup, we’re perfectly placed to serve clients anywhere in the UK, from London to the North West and beyond,” Paul adds.

Already making an impact

1xINTERNET has already made strides in the UK. “We’ve secured new business with a major UK client,” Paul says. “And our work with Sharp Electronics continues to grow, as we deliver both public-facing and B2B portals on Drupal.”

On the community side, Paul is also part of the organising team for DrupalCamp England, which will take place in Salford in February 2026. “It’s great to help strengthen the local Drupal community, this embodies the spirit of 1xINTERNET by contributing to Drupal at grassroots level” he adds.

Looking ahead: strategy and vision

“Our goal,” Paul explains, “is to blend 1xINTERNET’s European strengths with our deep understanding of the UK market.”

He sees particular opportunities in government and public services, higher education, research, membership organisations, charities, and financial services, all sectors where Drupal already has strong adoption.

The team is planning a series of events with strategic partners to showcase solutions tailored to these industries. Participation in London Tech Week has already sparked strong interest, especially from charities drawn to 1xINTERNET’s low total cost of ownership and scalability.

“For us,” James adds, “growth means building lasting partnerships. We’re not focused on short-term wins, we want to be trusted digital partners for UK organisations ready to innovate with open source.”

Backed by best Drupal developers in the world

While the UK team currently consists of two people, Paul is quick to clarify: “Yes, we’re small locally, but we’re backed by more than 85 colleagues across Europe, including some of the best Drupal developers in the world. We already have the scale, expertise, and infrastructure to deliver complex projects successfully.”

Building awareness and connection

1xINTERNET has already made its UK debut at London Tech Week’s AI Summit, and more events are in the pipeline for 2025.

“These will focus on AI, digital innovation, and cost efficient transformation,” Paul says. James adds, “We’ll also be sharing thought leadership, particularly around membership organisations and charities, areas where Drupal and 1xINTERNET can make a real difference.”

For both Paul and James, success in the first year isn’t just about numbers. “We want to build a sustainable UK business focused on long-term partnerships,” Paul says. “Our clients’ success is our success. It’s about trust, innovation, and measurable impact.”

James agrees: “If we can establish strong relationships with a select group of clients who value what we do, we’ll have built the foundation for lasting growth.”

Looking forward

“The UK has an incredibly strong Drupal community, open, collaborative, and ambitious,” Paul says. “We’re proud to be part of it and excited for what’s ahead.”

James adds, “We’re here to bring 1xINTERNET’s European expertise to UK organisations ready to embrace open source and lead digital change. It’s a great time to be part of this journey.”