Senior engineers shipping software your team uses

Software that makes business better

New products, web apps, and the systems nobody trusts — Laravel, WordPress, Magento and Shopify. We map the work, ship it, and stay on it.

Where are you starting from?

Take on what you inherited

Someone else built it. Now it is yours.

A free systems review tells you what is solid, what is risky, and what to leave alone.

No lipstick

Most agencies put lipstick on the pig

Glossy pitch on top. Underneath: corners cut, fragile systems, and a mess someone else has to live with.

The pitch
What’s underneath
What we do instead
“We’ll have it live in six weeks.”
Transparent, fair estimates — and we tell you when they move.
“Here’s our strategy deck.”
A free systems review before anyone quotes.
“Best-in-class rebuild, guaranteed.”
The same senior engineers, years from now.

Ways we help

Reviews, builds, rescues and care — the same team shows up for all of it.

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Start here · FreeFree systems reviewWe tell you what’s solid, what’s risky, and what to leave alone — before anyone quotes.Book my review

We stay on the product

Same senior engineers, from the first build through whatever comes next.

All case studies →

In their own words

“Mobtag needed someone who would stay on the product, not pitch a rebuild and vanish. Half Shell learned how the field work actually ran, told us what not to build, and shipped something the team still uses. Clear, senior, and still here after go-live.”
Chris BirrellMobtag
“Working with Stuart and Half Shell Studios on the development of Podium Energy Consultancy's operational planning tool was an excellent experience from start to finish. Stuart demonstrated a rare combination of technical expertise, professionalism, and genuine commitment to our success. He took the time to fully understand our business requirements and translated them into a solution that met our needs precisely. Throughout the project, he was consistently hardworking, responsive, and focused on delivering a high-quality product that would provide real operational value. What stood out most was the customer-focused approach that Stuart and Half Shell Studios brought to the project. They were flexible, collaborative, and always willing to go the extra mile to ensure the final solution aligned with our objectives. Every requirement was carefully considered and implemented with attention to detail, making the entire development process smooth and efficient. Beyond the outstanding work delivered, Stuart is a pleasure to work with. His positive attitude, clear communication, and ability to solve problems effectively made him a trusted partner throughout the project. I would have no hesitation in recommending Stuart and Half Shell Studios to any organisation looking for a reliable, skilled, and professional software development partner. Their commitment to quality and customer satisfaction is evident in everything they do.”
Joe WaltonPodium Energy Consultancy
“We'd been stuck commissioning school websites one at a time, and every build drifted. Half Shell gave One IT templates our own team can run, bulk rollouts that don't need a senior on every site, and handover that actually sticks. It felt like a partner who understood the operation, not another agency selling a theme.”
Cheryl GarveyOne IT Services & Solutions

Pick a pace

Monthly packages, same senior engineers. Move up or down as the work changes.

Compare packages →
BronzePace

Continuity

From£950/mo
~£11k/yr

The safety net every in-house team wishes they had before someone leaves.

  • Monthly health checks — backups, certs, dependencies
  • Bug fixes and config tweaks, batched sensibly
  • A named senior line when production wobbles
Request Bronze
GoldPace

Embedded Department

From£5,500/mo
~£66k/yr

Best when software is central to revenue and you need an engineering function.

  • Everything in Silver
  • Sprint planning and a delivery rhythm
  • Architecture and vendor triage
Request Gold
PlatinumPace

Full Department

From£11,500/mo
~£138k/yr

Best when you’re done juggling freelancers and want one accountable senior team.

  • Everything in Gold
  • One senior team accountable for outcomes
Request Platinum

Not sure which? Start with a free systems review and we’ll tell you honestly.

Free · No obligation

Start with a free systems review

We look under the hood and tell you what’s solid, what’s risky, and what to leave alone. No deck, no hard sell.

  1. 1Tell us what’s hurting
  2. 2A senior engineer reviews your systems
  3. 3You get a clear next step — yours to keep

18 seconds on how it works