We don't just build for publishers, we are publishers.

For 29 years, Standfirst has powered Britain's leading media brands. From The Spectator to Marketing Week, we understand publishing because we live it. When you work with us, you're partnering with the team that's been there, solved that, and built the platforms that prove it works.

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Why are we different?

We own Design Week so that keeps us informed about what's happening in the industry and helps us spot new trends early. This means we can build solutions for problems before they affect most companies, giving our clients software that's designed by people who truly understand their business.

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Articles published on the site

The people and brands we’ve work with

Standfirst have not only become key to development releases but are relied upon as our subject matter experts and consultants. A truly great team to work with.

Meet the team

Dave team photo

David Coveney

Director

David Coveney

Director

Before establishing Standfirst, Dave freelanced for large corporates, specialising in software development for HR and finance systems. With thirty years of experience in the software industry, combined with his no-nonsense approach, Dave primarily leads on all software development. Focusing on sales, onboarding and business strategy for customers, he's likely to be your first point of contact.

Claire team photo

Claire Larsen

Frontend Developer & UX

Claire Larsen

Frontend Developer & UX

A passionate accessibility and UX advocate, Claire oversees this area at Standfirst. Claire approaches every project with the goal of making the internet a fairer and more accessible space for everyone. With an enthusiastic approach to any project, Claire has led on a number of software projects. She likes to experiment with photography in her spare time.

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Andrea Piccart

Product & Dev Lead

Andrea Piccart

Product & Dev Lead

One of our senior developers at Standfirst. Leading on our Standfirst Publish platform, Andrea works to improve our ever evolving products for publishers. Overseeing all work on Standfirst Publish, his focus is on providing the best experience for the end user.

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Chris McInerney

Design & Project Lead

Chris McInerney

Design & Project Lead

Chris has worked in the creative sector for over 20 years, handling both the visual aspects of projects and organisation. After studying graphic design, Chris founded a design agency before joining our team. He's built project management expertise through hands-on experience, ensuring projects are delivered on time and within budget. Chris is part of our leadership team, helping guide company strategy and maintain standards. His agency experience brings a valuable perspective to leadership decisions and mentoring.

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Barry Getty

Technology Lead

Barry Getty

Technology Lead

A solid full-stack developer, experienced in WordPress at scale for large enterprise, high traffic sites. Barry’s experience at Standfirst includes developing for Centaur Media, The Spectator and Catholic Herald, to name a few. Barry is a pirate at heart, having built underwater robots as part of an environmental competition he entered and won. Really!

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Mim McNeela

Project Manager

Mim McNeela

Project Manager

Mim sits on our management team and has been with us for 10 years. Skilled in project management, she understands the wider picture, without losing sight of the finer detail. Outside work if she's not out hiking, you’ll probably find Mim in a coffee shop with an oat milk latte and Kindle.

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Laurie Chandler

Studio and Finance Manager

Laurie Chandler

Studio and Finance Manager

A member of our management team, Laurie has been at Standfirst for 10 years. As our Office Manager, she oversees accounts, HR, legal and compliance at the company. Her greatest satisfaction comes from ensuring clients are happy, and that our team feel valued and appreciated. When she’s not at work, she’s usually found on a long-distance run.

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Chris Wright

Frontend Developer & UX

Chris Wright

Frontend Developer & UX

With a background in 3D animation, Chris specialises in frontend web development, with a particular interest in user experience. His greatest job satisfaction comes from applying his UX thinking, translating flat designs into fully functional websites or applications. He is a big music fan, playing guitar in a local band.

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James Whitehead

Technical Director

James Whitehead

Technical Director

James is one of our founders. His understanding of every layer of the software stack from Apache to PHP to JavaScript, comes from his experience and watching the industry develop. No problem fazes him. He developed Centaur’s award winning Web Platform, which now powers the majority of their huge portfolio.