Britain's Data Hospital
R3 Data Recovery is a UK data recovery company based in Sheffield, founded in 2004. Led by Andy Butler with 20+ years expertise, we specialise in recovering data from drives declared "unrecoverable" by other labs. Trusted by NHS, government, and enterprises. All work performed in-house in our ISO 3 cleanroom.
Who is R3 Data Recovery?
R3 Data Recovery was incorporated on February 4, 2004, emerging from the union of trusted data recovery experts who shared a commitment to customer-centric service and technical excellence.
Our main facility at Security House, Sheffield — established in 2007 as the UK's first high-capacity data recovery operation — is one of the best-equipped laboratories in the country. A team of 10 specialist engineers work on-site, handling everything from mechanical hard drive repairs to complex ransomware recovery.
What sets us apart is our willingness to tackle the cases others won't. We've built our reputation on recovering data from drives that competitors — including ISO-certified labs — have declared impossible. We also develop proprietary software tools and maintain an extensive library of thousands of catalogued donor parts.
Who trusts R3 Data Recovery?
From NHS Trusts to law enforcement, R3 is the trusted data recovery partner for organisations that can't afford to lose critical data. We helped NHS sites during the 2017 WannaCry ransomware attack.
NHS & Healthcare
Recognised as a trusted data recovery rescue supplier by NHS Trust infrastructure managers.
Government & Public Sector
Serving government agencies with UK-sovereign operations under UK data protection laws.
Law Enforcement
National Trading Standards forensics rely on R3 for difficult recovery cases.
Financial & Enterprise
Financial institutions and large manufacturers trust R3 for mission-critical recoveries.
Universities & Education
Recovering research data, thesis work, and institutional records. Student discounts available.
International Clients
Serving clients across UK, Ireland, Europe, US, and worldwide who need specialist expertise.
What can R3 recover data from?
We recover data from virtually all storage media — from single hard drives to multi-terabyte enterprise RAID arrays, ransomware-encrypted systems to legacy tape backups.
What does R3's data recovery lab look like?
Every photograph shows our actual Sheffield facility. No stock images, no staged sets — just the equipment, cleanrooms, and team that recover your data.
Why choose R3 Data Recovery?
When comparing data recovery services, be sure you're dealing with a genuine team of specialists. Here's what sets R3 apart from competitors.
Recovering the Unrecoverable
We've successfully recovered data from 100+ drives that other labs — including ISO-certified competitors — had declared unrecoverable. When others give up, we get to work.
Real Lab, Not a Reseller
All work is performed in-house at our Sheffield facility. You'll speak directly with the engineers working on your case — not a call centre or broker who ships your drive elsewhere.
ISO 3 Cleanroom Facilities
Class-leading ISO 3 cleanroom environment — critical for successful physical hard drive repairs. Many competitors don't have genuine cleanroom facilities.
24/7 Emergency Response
Emergency collection within 60 minutes. We've responded to disasters at midnight, on bank holidays, and everything in between. 300TB daily imaging capacity for large-scale incidents.
Proprietary Tools & Techniques
R3 File List Viewer lets you preview recoverable files before payment. Our in-house tools like R3CoverCHK solve problems commercial software can't handle.
Thousands of Donor Parts
Extensive catalogued library of spare hard drive parts with a dedicated testing department. No waiting for overseas shipments — faster recoveries for you.
How does R3 protect customers?
Transparency isn't just a buzzword for us. We let you verify your recovered data before payment, provide detailed integrity reports, and offer free secure disposal.
See Before You Pay
Our R3 File List Viewer lets you preview all recoverable files before finalising payment. Verify your critical data has been recovered.
Integrity Reports
Receive detailed reports on recovered file condition, helping you identify which files are ready to use and which may need reconstruction.
Free Secure Disposal
After recovery, we offer free secure data wiping and hardware recycling — responsibly disposing of old or damaged drives.
For many recovery types, you only pay if we successfully recover your data. Every case starts with a free consultation and diagnosis. Complex RAID situations may be quoted differently depending on scale.
Who leads R3 Data Recovery?
Andy Butler is a UK data recovery expert with 20+ years of hands-on laboratory experience and the founder of R3 Data Recovery. He leads a team of specialist engineers in Sheffield, focusing on complex and so-called "unrecoverable" cases.
Andy founded R3 Data Recovery in 2004 with a mission to bring transparency and ethical practices to an industry that often operates in the shadows. His insights on cleanroom technology have been published in industry publications.
He is known for his dedication to customer satisfaction and technical excellence, frequently working late nights and weekends to reunite clients with their critical data.
Under his leadership, R3 has become known for "policing the data recovery industry" — helping customers who've been misled by competitors, assisting with refunds from failed recovery attempts elsewhere, and setting higher standards for the sector.
Our Engineering Team
10 specialists
10 specialist engineers and technicians work at our Sheffield facility, bringing decades of combined experience in data recovery, electronics, and computer forensics.
Unlike many competitors, you'll speak directly with the engineers working on your case — not a call centre or sales team. Our team takes a collaborative approach, pooling expertise on complex cases.
What do people ask about R3 Data Recovery?
Quick answers to frequently asked questions about our company, services, and how to get help.
What is R3 Data Recovery?
R3 Data Recovery is a UK-based data recovery company founded in 2004 and headquartered in Sheffield. We specialise in recovering data from hard drives, SSDs, RAID arrays, servers, mobile phones, tapes, and other storage devices — including cases declared "unrecoverable" by other labs. All work is performed in-house in our ISO 3 cleanroom facility.
Who founded R3 Data Recovery?
R3 Data Recovery was founded by Andy Butler, a recognised UK data recovery expert with over 20 years of hands-on laboratory experience. Andy leads a team of 10 specialist engineers and is known for championing ethical practices and transparency in the data recovery industry.
Where is R3 Data Recovery located?
Our main laboratory is at Security House, Windsor Street, Sheffield, S4 7WB. Established in 2007 as the UK's first high-capacity data recovery operation, it features ISO 3 cleanroom facilities and 24-hour on-site security. We serve customers across the UK, Ireland, Europe, and internationally.
What makes R3 different from other data recovery companies?
R3 specialises in recovering data from drives that other labs have given up on. We've recovered 100+ drives declared "unrecoverable" by competitors. Unlike resellers, all work is done in-house by our engineers in ISO 3 cleanroom facilities, with 300TB daily imaging capacity. We also develop proprietary tools and maintain thousands of catalogued donor parts for faster repairs.
Who trusts R3 Data Recovery?
R3 is trusted by NHS Trusts, government agencies, law enforcement (National Trading Standards forensics), financial institutions, universities, and large manufacturers. We helped NHS sites during the 2017 WannaCry ransomware attack. Our UK-sovereign operations, ICO registration, and Hiscox insurance vetting make us suitable for sensitive public and private sector work.
What devices can R3 recover data from?
R3 recovers data from virtually all storage media: hard drives (HDDs), solid-state drives (SSDs), RAID arrays, NAS/SAN systems, servers, USB flash drives, memory cards, mobile phones, tape backups (including LTO), floppy disks, and virtual machines (VMware, ESXi, Hyper-V). We also specialise in database recovery (SQL, Oracle, Exchange) and ransomware-encrypted systems.
How do I contact R3 Data Recovery?
Freephone: 0800 999 3282 (main line)
Emergency: 07511 051360 (24/7 for urgent cases)
Email: enquiries@r3datarecovery.com
We welcome visitors for free assessments at our Sheffield lab — always call ahead as we're on a secure site.
Does R3 offer a no data, no fee policy?
Yes — for many recovery types, clients only pay if data is successfully recovered. Every case begins with a free consultation and diagnosis. Before payment, you can use our R3 File List Viewer to preview all recoverable files and verify your critical data has been retrieved. Complex RAID situations may be quoted differently depending on scale.
How do I contact R3 Data Recovery?
Call our freephone number for a free assessment. We're based in Sheffield and welcome visitors — always call first as we're on a secure site.