Microsoft Access Database Rescue, Support & Modernisation - UK Specialist
Julian Baker — UK Microsoft Access specialist with 30+ years' experience
Have a problem with an existing Access database?
- 30+ years with Microsoft Access
- Established consultancy since 2003
- UK-based Access specialist
- Access • SQL Server • Azure
Access Database Rescue, Support & Takeover Services
The specialist people companies call when their Access database becomes a business risk
Many organisations rely on Microsoft Access databases that have evolved over 5, 10, or even 20 years. These systems often underpin core business operations — yet the original developer is no longer available, documentation is limited, and internal knowledge has been lost.
Do any of these sound familiar?
- Your Access database is critical to the business
- The original developer has retired / disappeared
- You don’t fully understand how the system works
- You’re afraid to change anything in case it breaks
- Rebuilding from scratch would cost a fortune
- You’ve been told to rebuild from scratch
- The database has grown over many years and is extremely complex
I specialise in taking over existing, complex Access databases and providing long-term support, troubleshooting, and enhancement — without forcing unnecessary rebuilds or migrations.
Why organisations trust me with their most critical Access systems
- I specialise in existing databases, not new builds
- Deep experience analysing undocumented, complex, inherited systems
- Safe, methodical approach — calm, risk-aware approach
- Focus on stability first, improvement second
- Honest advice: fix, extend, or when necessary plan a gradual migration
- No push to rebuild unless it’s genuinely necessary
- Clear explanations in plain English
- One experienced specialist — not a junior team
Trusted With Long-Established Business Systems
With over 30+ years experience developing and supporting Microsoft Access database solutions we have experience across a wide range of industry sectors.
Other Microsoft Access Services
Alongside Access database rescue and takeover work, I also provide a full range of Microsoft Access consultancy and development services.
We are the Microsoft Access Database Experts
We take the time to build great relationships with our clients and fully understand their business needs. Using our specialist experience we can fix and support any Microsoft Access issue, upgrade your database so it serves your business better or custom-build a solution that works optimally for you now and that can grow and adapt as your business evolves in the future.
Expert
Specialists in developing Microsoft Access database solutions, we know the software and its many different applications inside out.
Established
We have been designing with Microsoft Access since 2003, so while other Access programmers may come and go, we’re here to stay.
Experienced
As an Access database developer we have built a variety of solutions for different types of clients, from multinational corporations to local SMEs.
Custom-built
No two clients are the same so we build customised database solutions to fit your individual business requirements.
Best Practice
Creative and technically up-to-date, we build using the best possible Access database solutions currently available.
Flexible
We offer adaptable solutions according to your needs, updating existing systems and developing new ones as your company grows.
Personal
Providing a friendly, UK-based service we work with you and your business. Our support is on hand via phone, email or remotely if you need us.
Efficient
Microsoft Access will help solve your business information problems, streamlining your data and boosting your company’s efficiency.
Our Clients
Latest Case Study
Rescuing a 20-Year-Old Business-Critical Access Database After the Original Developer Left
A family-run manufacturing company relied on a Microsoft Access database that had been developed and extended over approximately 20 years. The system had become central to the operation of the business, managing customer records, quotations, order processing, stock control and operational reporting.
Migrations & Access Database Upgrades
We have the skills to enhance your existing database and upgrading it so it grows with your business.
Is your database system struggling to keep up with the demands of your business? Excel systems can be migrated successfully to Microsoft Access, while existing Access systems can be upgraded to more powerful platforms or cloud-based solutions to improve performance.
- Upgrade your database to the latest version of Access
- Migrate your data from Excel to Access
- Upgrade to SQL Server and Azure
- Add mobile functionality and enable remote access
Custom-Built Access Database Solutions
We have the experience to build a custom, easy-to-use and powerful database in line with your business needs.
Are you struggling to find a database that works for you and your business? We can build a custom-built database solution that not only streamlines your data and increases efficiency but gives your company a competitive edge by providing a better client service.
- Database solutions built to your business requirements
- Give your business a competitive advantage with operational efficiencies
- Integrations with MS office, mobiles and tablets
- Flexible solutions that grow with your business
Access Database Fixing and Support
We have the ability to to step in after your original developer has moved on, picking up where they left off.
Having issues with your existing Access database? Our Microsoft Access development support can help fix any problems to put your system back on track. We can also develop and enhance any existing system, adding functionality to ensure it grows with your business.
- Fix problems with your MS Access database Assistance if you’ve lost your previous developer
- Make changes and add new functionality to your database
- Troubleshoot problems and perform database health-checks
Adding Mobile Functionality to Your Database
Do you need to make your database available to a mobile workforce and home or remote workers?
There are a number of different ways in which we can offer mobile access to data, including bespoke options that work alongside existing databases.
Hybrid apps are a quick and cost-effective solution, allowing mobile access without the need to redevelop an existing database. These apps turn smartphones and other mobile devices into efficient business tools, solving problems and increasing productivity.
Please contact us to discuss your requirements so that we can explore the options available.
FAQs
Our expertise means we can tackle all sorts of data problems, from lost login details and unknown errors to scaling up from Excel to SQL and everything in between.
Here are our most frequently asked questions:
1) I’ve lost my original Microsoft Access database developer. They’ve moved on/retired/gone AWOL. Can you help?
This is a common problem. In the nearly 30 years Microsoft Access has been around developers have inevitably come and gone. Perhaps your original Access database developer has moved on and even been replaced a few times. Inevitably systems become a bit of an assortment to which each new developer has added to but now no-one knows exactly what is there. We can initially stabilise these systems before developing and providing ongoing support with a robust and user-friendly system in place.
If your current experienced Microsoft Access developer is looking to retire, why not be proactive? Working with us means we can either manage the transition with a gradual handover or step in seamlessly.
2) Our Excel system has become unmanageable. We want to combine several Excel sheets into a single, user-friendly format and for multiple users to be able to access the reports, data, invoices etc that they need. Can you help us build a database and migrate the information?
This is one of the most common issues people come to us for. So many businesses start off by using Excel for simplicity. But as business and demands grow Excel simply can’t keep up. It becomes difficult to extract the data you need and nor can Excel support multiple users. A common upgrade project for us is to take data from Excel and upgrade it to a more robust platform such as Microsoft Access or SQL. Microsoft Access can run up to around 25 concurrent users, while SQL supports thousands of users. This is what databases were designed for: to manage relationships between different types of data – customers, orders, invoices, quotes, purchases etc – which can then be easily accessed, modified, updated, controlled and organised.
3) We don’t have the login details and can’t get into the backend of our database. Can you help?
In most cases, yes. This is a more common problem than you’d think. When a database developer leaves a company, they often lock the system down. They usually leave access details but these could have been lost or perhaps the passwords have deliberately not been left if the developer’s departure was less than harmonious. We have various tools we can use to recover missing passwords and gain access.
Failing that, all is not lost. Even if the designs and coding of a database are irretrievable, then we can rebuild the database specifically for your business demands. If your current database is usable, we can use the data!
4) We have an error on our Access database that we don’t understand. Can you troubleshoot?
Yes. We can troubleshoot online, sometimes identifying the issue(s) immediately. Alternatively, if the database is a large and complex one that we haven’t developed ourselves, we can take a copy of it and work on resolving the issues remotely.
5) We already have a database but are interested in forming an ongoing partnership with a firm that has Microsoft Access/SQL database expertise. Is this you?
Yes, we have that expertise and here at The Access Man we like to build long-term relationships with our clients. We find that working collaboratively means we understand our clients’ businesses better – creating a better, more agile product that fulfils business needs more optimally as a result. It also means our work can become proactive rather than reactive, anticipating what your business will need in the future as it grows and developing the database according to those requirements as we go along.
6) We have an existing Access database but would like a mobile application for home/remote workers to be able to access our database. Can you help?
Yes. We have experience in developing mobile and tablet applications. There are a number of different options available including bespoke options and hybrid apps, which allow mobile access without the need to redevelop an existing database. We explore different options depending on requirements and, as always, prefer to work collaboratively with our clients to find the very best solution for them
Do you have any of the data issues above or need expert help to improve your existing data or database? As our expertise lies not just in developing new databases but in all aspects of data and Microsoft Access and SQL we’re confident we can help you with any of your data issues.
If you want to speak to our expert Microsoft Access database developer directly for some friendly, no-obligation advice, why not book in for a free consultation?
