Legacy PHP & Laravel rescue

Your platform still runs the business. The people who built it are long gone.

I secure, modernise and maintain ageing PHP and Laravel platforms for UK SMEs, without rewrites-from-scratch, and without the drama.

Start with a Platform Audit See case studies →

25 yrsshipping PHP in production

0114 706 2526Call for a free consultation

Sheffield, UK

A steady technical partner

I partner with established SMEs to take ownership of complex web platforms, improving structure, performance and reliability over time.

My work typically involves auditing existing systems, refactoring fragile code, introducing clearer architecture, and implementing controlled improvements without disrupting day-to-day operations. When required, I also design and deliver new Laravel platforms with long-term maintainability in mind.

Clients value straightforward advice, transparent communication and friendly, authentic support. I operate as a steady technical partner, focused on practical solutions, not unnecessary complexity.

Read more about these client relationships in the case studies.

One path, three stages

I take on ageing PHP and Laravel platforms and get them back under control. It happens in three stages, in order.
You do not have to commit to the whole journey. You just have to start it.

Stage 1 of 3

Secure — the Platform Audit

The smallest safe first step. A fixed-price, fixed-scope review of your codebase, security, and server, delivered as a plain-English report with a prioritised, costed action plan. £1,950, within two weeks. Even if you never hire me again, you walk away knowing exactly what you own and what it needs.

Start with a Platform Audit

Stage 2 of 3

Modernise — legacy PHP to Laravel

Scoped from the audit, never guessed at from a distance. Using the Strangler Fig pattern, old and new run side by side, so your users see no disruption. Zero-downtime deployment with automated rollback. You end up with a modern Laravel codebase, tests, documentation, and no vendor lock-in. The result is confidence, not fear.

See Modernise

Stage 3 of 3

Maintain — the ongoing retainer

Where the journey lands. A dedicated technical partner who monitors your infrastructure and deals with issues before they become outages. Proactive monitoring, dependency and security updates, monthly reporting, and named response times. £500 a month.

See Maintain

Take a look at the latest blog

Notes from the work itself: what broke, what I found, and how I fixed it.

Read the blog

Apr 29, 2026

From broken reports to a bottle of Champagne: the FHRS platform launch

I took over a food safety compliance SaaS that was timing out on reports, leaking memory on imports, and had serious security gaps. Here's what I fixed, and how Paul marked the launch.

Apr 2, 2026

How a PHP config change and library update eliminated every PDF failure on a 27-module SaaS

Consultants on a health and safety compliance platform were hitting intermittent PDF failures in the field. The root cause was PHP memory configuration. Here's how I found it and fixed it.

Mar 31, 2026

5 things to check before your PHP platform goes down in production

Most production PHP incidents are preventable. These are the five checks I run on every platform I take over, and what I typically find.

Recent Work

A selection of projects I have delivered for clients.

THSP Website: Ongoing WordPress Maintenance

MyTHSP Application: Ongoing Support & Server Optimisation

FHRS Management System Modernisation

Glen has been a standout addition to our business. From the moment he joined as an extension of our IT team, he felt like part of the company rather than an external provider. The difference compared to a traditional agency relationship is significant. Glen is invested, proactive and genuinely cares about outcomes, not just tasks.
He consistently anticipates issues before they arise, responds at pace and brings a level of ownership that is rare. Nothing is ever too much trouble, and his approach removes friction rather than creating it.
For a small business like ours, choosing Glen has been absolutely the right decision. He offers the capability, responsiveness and trust you would expect from a much larger function, combined with the personal approach that makes working with him a pleasure. We are delighted to have him supporting us.

Kirsty Maynard

Commercial Director, THSP

FAQ

The questions people usually ask before getting started.

Can you take over a site or system that another developer built?

Yes, this is a significant part of what I do. Many clients come to me after a previous developer has moved on, or when internal capacity runs out. I'll review the existing codebase normally with a focus on security and performance, document what's there, and take over responsibility for ongoing development and support. I won't insist on rebuilding everything from scratch just to make it 'mine'. If the foundations are sound, I'll work with them. It's often helpful to work through bug logs on a weekly basis to tidy up any silent issues. If there are serious problems, I'll tell you clearly what they are and what it would take to fix them.

Do you offer ongoing maintenance and support?

Yes. Most clients move onto a Maintain retainer after their project goes live. There are three tiers: one, two, or four dedicated days each month, and every tier includes proactive monitoring, dependency and security updates, and a monthly report. For WordPress sites, all core, plugin, and theme updates are tested locally before being applied to your live site. If you need development work beyond your tier's allowance, additional days are £500 each, agreed in advance.

Do you sign NDAs and handle confidential work?

Yes. I sign NDAs as a matter of course for clients who require them, and I treat all client work as confidential regardless. If you're working on something sensitive like a new product, proprietary business logic, or data that can't leave your organisation, that's fine. I'm comfortable working within information security requirements and have experience with clients in regulated industries.