Fluent in code and in small talk. I specialise in reading the brief, and reading between the lines, so my clients get the best possible website, even the parts they didn't ask for.
So I build around people. The customer trying to check out without rage-quitting, the team who'll be updating the site every week, the owner squinting at the numbers on a Monday morning. They matter more to me than whichever framework I'm using, and I think about them first.
None of that means the technical side is an afterthought. I've got nigh on a decade making Shopify, WordPress and Laravel sites that clients love. A few of the bigger hits: scaling Nation.Cymru's news site from a few thousand readers to past two million a month, building WIT Training a bespoke Shopify store with a recommendations engine, and giving Woodpecker a custom Laravel trade platform with its own page builder. I could wax lyrical about the code, but I'd rather my clients did that for me.
"Alex is the reason you should use a human rather than a bot to build your website. He listens to the brief, and takes the time and trouble to understand what the client really wants — as well as what they need, but don't realise it yet."
"What makes Alex special is how he combines top-notch technical skills with a genuine talent for communication. He has this great way of explaining complex technical stuff in plain English, which the stakeholders really appreciated."
"Alex is a critical asset to me — his development skills are top-notch, and his ability to handle tight deadlines while maintaining quality is remarkable. Beyond his technical proficiency, Alex is highly commercially aware, which means the solutions he delivers are not just technically sound but also align perfectly with business goals."
"Alex is that rare type of person who is a full stack dev that can work well with clients, and bridge the gap between business function teams, UX and design teams and delivery, with ease, professionalism and attention to detail. If I was putting together an Avengers team for digital delivery, they'd be on it."
"Alex is an exceptionally reliable developer who consistently delivers. He has excellent communication skills and can talk through trade-offs and make valuable suggestions."
A lot of my work comes through boutique agencies who need someone fun to work with and trustworthy enough to put in front of a client. A fair bit also comes from brands after a personable sort to build for them, who'll give them the site they want, including the parts they didn't know to ask for. Both suit me fine. The part people value is the same either way, that I'll talk to you like a human and tell you what I actually think.
I'm in Cardiff, but happy to work remotely, or take a jaunt cross country for a good project. If you've got something coming up, or a half-formed idea you want to kick around, drop me a line. The talking-it-through part is my favourite bit of the job.
Got something coming up, or a half-formed idea you want to kick around?
Drop me a line and I'll tell you honestly whether I'm the right person for it.
Bespoke Shopify site selling clothes, shoes, accessories and a fitness lifestyle.
A bespoke Laravel trade portal for sample enquiries, ordering and order fulfilment.
Bringing a sprawling mass of transport websites under a single domain, look and feel.
