About · Birmingham, UK
About Andrew Lee Ward
Andrew founded the software company Scorchsoft, writes practical books on tech, AI and ownership, and bench-presses for Great Britain.
- Founded Scorchsoft in 2010, after a first-class degree from the University of Birmingham
- Author of three books, most recently The Control Standard (2026)
- Birmingham Young Professional of the Year 2023, Technology & Innovation
- Four-time British bench press champion and World bronze medallist 2023
The business
Every business is a tech business.
That belief has shaped Andrew’s work since he founded Scorchsoft in 2010.
Websites at 14
At 14 Andrew was building websites for his friends’ parents. He went on to study Computer Science with Business Management at the University of Birmingham and graduated with a first.
Scorchsoft
In 2010 he founded Scorchsoft, a Birmingham company that designs and builds web apps, mobile apps and AI products. Its clients range from start-ups to multinational corporations. Andrew’s aim is to help businesses of every size use technology to grow, especially the ones that don’t yet think of themselves as tech businesses. In 2024 TCN interviewed him about the company’s move to Assay Studios in the Jewellery Quarter and how AI would change the way people work.
Three books
Andrew writes down what the work teaches him. Execute Your Tech Idea (2022) walks non-technical founders and managers from an idea to a launched product. The ChatGPT Guide for Business (2023) covers using AI at work effectively. The Control Standard (2026) is a short operating standard for owning outcomes at work.
Recognition
In 2016 Andrew won Most Influential Male in Technology at the first Silicon Canal Tech Awards, and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce named him its Future Face of Entrepreneurship. In 2023 he was Birmingham Young Professional of the Year in the Technology and Innovation category. He has spoken and judged at entrepreneurship programmes across the city, including B-Startup, Global Entrepreneurship Week and the bseen awards.
On the platform
Four British titles, five times for Great Britain, one new hip.
Andrew won the British Bench Press Championships in his class in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2024, and has bench-pressed for Great Britain five times: at four IPF World Championships and the 2022 European Championships in Budapest. Two weeks after pressing 175 kg in Texas, he had his arthritic right hip replaced, at 35. He wrote up the surgery, the recovery and the maths on how much load the new joint can take. Since then he has spent more time helping the sport than competing in it: as a volunteer for British Powerlifting, he has rebuilt its email, AGM voting and Nationals registration.
- 2021Worlds · Vilnius, Lithuania6th
- 2022Worlds · Almaty, Kazakhstan4th
- 2022Europeans · Budapest, Hungary7th
- 2023Worlds · Sun City, South AfricaBronze
- 2024Worlds · Austin, Texas7th · 175 kg PB
The hip replacement
A new hip at 35, and back under the bar.
Osteoarthritis wore out Andrew’s right hip while he was still lifting for Great Britain. In June 2024, two weeks after his 175 kg personal best at the Worlds, he had a total hip replacement.
When he looked for what to expect, he found accounts from older patients and almost nothing from young, competitive athletes. So he wrote his own: a day-by-day surgery diary, a three-month Q&A, and a long piece of maths on how much load the new joint can take. It is one lifter’s record, with the numbers, not medical advice.
The comeback is in the numbers too. His bench press didn’t go backwards, and after the operation he squatted more for six reps than he ever had before it. The posts have since reached many people in the same position, often active and younger than the typical patient, who were looking for exactly this.
Surgery diary: powerlifting athlete Andrew has a total hip replacement at 35 (case study)
Andrew's day-by-day diary of a total hip replacement at 35: the surgery, his first week at home, a groin setback, the six-week check-up and heavy lifting again.
Hip replacement Q&A: my recovery journey at the three-month mark
Three months after a total hip replacement at 35, Andrew answers 32 questions on lifting, pain, a groin strain, mindset, diet and what he would do differently.
How strong is my hip bone-implant interface? Returning to powerlifting after a total hip replacement
Could heavy lifting tear a hip implant loose? Andrew models osteointegration, hip contact forces and liner wear to estimate his lifting limits after surgery.
Track record
Results, not adjectives.
Business and sport in one table. Every row links to the day it happened.
| Year | What | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | The Control StandardThird book · audiobook narrated by Graham Mack | Published |
| 2024 | IPF World Classic Bench ChampionshipsTexas, USA · personal best | 175.0 kg |
| 2024 | British Bench Press ChampionshipsFourth British title | 1st |
| 2023 | Birmingham Young Professional of the YearTechnology & Innovation category | Winner |
| 2023 | IPF World Bench ChampionshipsSouth Africa · 74 kg Open | Bronze |
| 2023 | The ChatGPT Guide for BusinessSecond book published | Published |
| 2022 | Execute Your Tech IdeaFirst book published | Published |
| 2016 | Silicon Canal Tech AwardsMost Influential Male in Technology | Winner |
| 2010 | ScorchsoftApp and AI development company, Birmingham | Founded |
Hear him talk, and see what he started outside work.
A talk on tech exporting, two podcasts on building software and start-ups, and two community projects.
Apps, portals and tech exporting opportunities
What apps and portals are, consumer and business tech trends, UK export growth, the top export opportunities by country, and how tech adds value.
Watch the talkPodcastModern CTO
Joel Beasley talks to Andrew about machine learning, tech leadership, delegation and growing Scorchsoft.
ListenPodcastBrio360
Validating a tech idea, raising capital and managing money in a start-up, with Peter Ho.
ListenAcrobatics · University of BirminghamTrick Soc
The University of Birmingham tricking society Andrew co-founded, which passed 500 members before he graduated.
Read the storyCommunity · DaventryYourGrange
A website and Facebook page Andrew set up with his mother to help their home estate tackle litter and share news.
Read the storyPress kit
Bios and photos, ready to use.
Copy a bio as it stands or shorten it. For an interview or a podcast, use the speaking enquiry and choose Podcast or media.
Short bio 53 words
Andrew Lee Ward is a Birmingham tech founder, author and powerlifter. He founded the app and AI development company Scorchsoft in 2010 and has written three books: Execute Your Tech Idea, The ChatGPT Guide for Business and The Control Standard. He is a four-time British bench press champion and a World bronze medallist.
Long bio 148 words
Andrew Lee Ward is a tech founder, author and speaker based in Birmingham, UK. He was building websites at 14, took a first-class degree in Computer Science with Business Management at the University of Birmingham, and founded Scorchsoft in 2010. Scorchsoft designs and builds apps, portals and AI products for clients from start-ups to multinationals. Andrew’s view is that every business is a tech business.
He has written three books: Execute Your Tech Idea (2022), The ChatGPT Guide for Business (2023) and The Control Standard (2026). He was named Birmingham Young Professional of the Year for Technology and Innovation in 2023.
Andrew is also a four-time British bench press champion (2020, 2021, 2022 and 2024) and won bronze at the 2023 IPF World Bench Press Championships. In 2024 he pressed a 175 kg personal best at the Worlds in Texas, then had a total hip replacement at 35.
Name: Andrew Lee Ward (Andrew Ward is fine in running text). Based in Birmingham, UK. Links: andrewleeward.com, Scorchsoft, LinkedIn.
What do you need from Andrew?
A speaker for your event
Three short steps: the event, the audience, the terms. Andrew replies within five working days.
Start a speaking enquirySoftware built
Apps, portals and AI products go through Scorchsoft’s project team, who scope and price the work.
Talk to ScorchsoftBooks: buy links for every format. Anything else: the contact page.