We don't just build systems. We own, rescue, and engineer them for scale.
For 29 years, Standfirst has engineered the digital infrastructure behind some of Britain's most demanding, high-traffic brands. We aren't a traditional agency. We are a senior task force of software engineers and technologists who step in when off-the-shelf SaaS fails, when low-code limits your growth, or when a failing codebase needs an urgent rescue. We believe in tech independence. We build systems without the "SaaS tax," giving growth businesses total ownership of their platforms. We even own and operate our own national magazine (Design Week) just to stress-test our solutions in the real world. When you work with us, you aren't handed off to a junior account manager - you work directly with the veterans who write your code.
The people and brands we’ve work with
Our work
Meet the team
David Coveney
David Coveney
Before establishing Standfirst, David specialised in complex software development for enterprise HR and finance systems. With thirty years in the industry, he is the strategic architect who helps growing businesses map their escape from restrictive tech stacks. As your first point of contact, he brings a fiercely no-nonsense approach to technical audits, system rescues, and business strategy.
Andrea Piccart
Andrea Piccart
As a senior product engineer, Andrea transforms complex backend architecture into seamless, high-performance platforms. He leads the continuous evolution of our proprietary and open source technologies, ensuring that when we build or rescue a system, the end-user experience remains flawless, secure, and blazing fast.
Laurie Chandler
Laurie Chandler
Laurie is our Mission Control. In an industry notorious for chaotic project management, Laurie oversees the operational, financial, and compliance backbone of Standfirst. She ensures that our engineering team operates with total efficiency, allowing them to focus 100% on solving your technical challenges. When she's not keeping the agency running like clockwork, she’s running long-distance.
Barry Getty
Barry Getty
A formidable full-stack engineer, Barry specialises in architecting enterprise-grade, high-traffic systems. He is the engineer you want on your side when a platform is buckling under scale, having built robust systems for everything from university lab sensor integrations through to high scale newspaper websites. A true technologist at heart, Barry even builds underwater robots in his spare time.
Chris Wright
Chris Wright
The youngest member of our veteran squad, Chris is a fiercely capable frontend and UX specialist. With a unique background in 3D animation, he brings a highly creative, modern edge to complex platform builds. He excels at taking heavy, data-rich backend architecture and translating it into lightning-fast, intuitive user experiences. Personable and technically brilliant, Chris ensures that when we rescue a failing system, the frontend feels as flawless as the robust engineering beneath it. When he's unplugged, you'll find him playing guitar in a local band.
James Whitehead
James Whitehead
James is the technical backbone of Standfirst. His mastery of every layer of the software stack - from server infrastructure to complex frontend frameworks - makes him our chief problem-solver. No disaster fazes him. He engineered the award winning platform the help get Centaur to £70m worth of exits.