;transform: ;msFilter:;'%3E%3Cpath d='m20.487 17.14-4.065-3.696a1.001 1.001 0 0 0-1.391.043l-2.393 2.461c-.576-.11-1.734-.471-2.926-1.66-1.192-1.193-1.553-2.354-1.66-2.926l2.459-2.394a1 1 0 0 0 .043-1.391L6.859 3.513a1 1 0 0 0-1.391-.087l-2.17 1.861a1 1 0 0 0-.29.649c-.015.25-.301 6.172 4.291 10.766C11.305 20.707 16.323 21 17.705 21c.202 0 .326-.006.359-.008a.992.992 0 0 0 .648-.291l1.86-2.171a.997.997 0 0 0-.085-1.39z'%3E%3C/path%3E%3C/svg%3E)
While it’s easy to make grand promises on a website, our commitment lies in consistently delivering on those promises for our clients, day in and day out. But don’t just take our word for it.
We are a team of strategists, web specialists and senior developers.
Customer service, attention to detail and technical expertise are and always have been our core business values. This stability and continuity is why we’ve worked with some of our clients since 18a began, way back in 2007.
We’re pragmatists and understand business – we don’t just do what you tell us to, we suggest alternatives that could save you money, weighing up budget vs. various technical approaches.
How we work
Our Process
We’ve honed our processes over the past couple of decades to make sure all our projects go smoothly and as stress free as possible.
One thing all our projects have in common is a collaborative approach, with responsive quick iterations, full transparency throughout and adherence to budgets and timeframes. With clearly defined goals and deliverables, everyone knows what to expect, when to expect it and what it’ll cost.
Take a look at our services pages to learn more about the specific processes.
The full solution
All the Pieces of the Puzzle
At 18a, the ideas, the planning, design and build all happen under the same roof (figuratively speaking, since we work remotely post-pandemic).
We don’t outsource your projects, so with us you can be sure you’re talking with the people actually doing the work.
Our team works seamlessly together to create a cohesive solution, with designs tailored to suit functionality, and user experience prioritised throughout the technical build.
Plain speaking
Jargon Free Communication
Whilst we’re a technology company we don’t baffle you with jargon.
Communication is vital in a web project, no matter what size, and we work hard to make sure everyone is in the loop and understanding each other every step of the way.
Everyone you speak to at 18a can explain things clearly and make sure you understand everything being discussed.
I couldn’t think of a better web design and development partner; they’ve become like an extended part of our team and I couldn’t do without them!
45 Sec
Directors
Leadership
18a is led by our highly experienced founders, Lisa and Tom, who have helped 18a gain a global reputation for delivering outstanding, high performance digital projects.
2024 marks Lisa’s 22nd year of working in the digital sector, during which time she has planned and designed easy to use sites, apps and systems for clients such as the BBC, Sainsbury’s and countless tech start ups.
Lisa started her career in Brighton working for an online PR company meaning that websites we produce convey exactly what you need them to – and grab attention whilst doing so.
Tom has a BSc(Hons) in Computing and Information Systems and over 23 years commercial coding experience building websites, applications and tools for government departments and businesses all over the world.
Tom leads our team of talented web developers and engineers, bringing a depth of knowledge and extensive experience of a wide range of backend and frontend technologies to every project we work on.
Our Roots
18a started life back in 2007, in a tiny studio on the bustling Gloucester Road, in Bristol. 18a to be precise – hence the name. Young and full of energy we worked our socks off, all hours of the day and night, building up a long list of both direct and agency clients.
We’re not at 18a anymore – we wouldn’t all fit. But we still maintain the same passion for what we do, constantly looking to learn new skills so we can do the best possible job for our clients.
Sustainability
Being aware of the environment and our footprint has always been a key part of how we operate.
One of our first inhouse websites was designed to raise money for environmental projects around the world, whilst we’ve always championed hosting powered by renewable energy. Efficient code also means an efficient use of energy when you’re working on resource heavy websites with lots of traffic.
We have (personally) planted hundreds of trees to go towards offsetting, including 1 tree for every website we made in our first year, and an orchard for our 10th Birthday!
Charity work
As well offering charities reduced rates on our services, we have designed and built the only place on the Internet where charities can sell tickets for fundraising events completely for free.
As part of our “things to do” discovery platform, Activibees.com, charities can list their events, sell tickets, collect key information they need, and retrieve a list of delegates for absolutely no charges whatsoever. This means 100% of the funds raised from ticket sales goes into their pocket.
Please get in touch with us via Activibees if you’d like to utilise this tool for your charity.
Not-for-profit
Our Directors, Lisa and Tom, are the founders of the not-for-profit organisation The Web Guild, aimed at helping organisations of all sizes get the best from our industry.
Over the past few years their own on the Guild has included workshops with small businesses to help them understand their websites better, sourcing developers who are passionate about what they do and professional in their conduct, and speaking at events about subjects such as GDPR.
The Web Guild also, as the voice of our industry, penned a response to a privacy law review being carried out by the EU.
Who do we work with?
Transcending sectors globally
Based just outside Bristol, UK, we’re called on by organisations of all sizes across the world.
We work with businesses, charities, educational establishments, and digital products whose teams are truly passionate about their organisations’ success.
The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read or write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.
INNOVATION
Our Products
We love to innovate and create new tools and services when we see a need.
Building our own in house tools is also a great way to stay up to speed and experiment with the latest technologies.
Activibees
Find things to do; out and about or from your sofa. Events, activities and days out for all ages and interests.
Iszy.ai
Get Content from your team and audience quickly and easily with our range of community engagement and content collation tools.
Availability Cal
The ridiculously easy way to check people’s availability. Compare your calendar with other people’s to see when everyone’s available.
After the dust has settled…
On-going Support
Our care and attention doesn’t just stop once we’ve handed over your project. We go into every project with the view that we’ll hopefully be working on it with you for a long time ahead.
We offer continuous support, maintenance services, and Service Level Agreements (SLA). Many of our clients have benefited from our support for well over a decade, navigating and thriving in the ever-evolving business landscape.
We hope to be your technical partner for many years to come, helping your business grow and adapt to the world around us.
1:11