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.

25 yrsshipping PHP in production
0114 706 2526Call for a free consultation
Sheffield, UK
A steady technical partner

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.

1
Secure — the Platform Audit
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
2
Modernise — legacy PHP to Laravel
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
3
Maintain — the ongoing retainer
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.

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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.

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.

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Kirsty Maynard

Commercial Director, THSP

LinkedIn

Is your PHP or Laravel platform slowing you down?

Let's have a straightforward conversation about what you're dealing with. No jargon, no pressure.

Do you work on a fixed price or day rate?
Both, depending on what makes sense for the work. For well-defined projects with a clear scope, I'll quote a fixed price so you know exactly what you're committing to. For ongoing work, exploratory projects, or situations where the scope is likely to evolve, I work at a day rate. I'll always be upfront about which approach I'm recommending and why. There are no hidden extras so if scope changes during a fixed-price project, we'll agree any additional cost before I proceed.
How do I get started?
Get in touch via the contact form or email glen@bright.limited with a brief description of what you need. I'll come back to you within one business day. From there, we'll have a straightforward conversation about your project with no jargon, no sales pitch. If it looks like a good fit, I'll put together a clear proposal with scope, timeline, and cost before anything is agreed.
How do you price projects?
Pricing depends on the nature of the work. For well-defined projects with a clear scope, I'll quote a fixed price upfront so you know exactly what you're committing to. For ongoing work, retainers, or projects where the scope is likely to evolve, I work at a day rate. There are no hidden extras. If scope changes on a fixed-price project, we agree the additional cost before I proceed. Get in touch with a description of what you need and I'll come back with a clear, honest estimate.