# 18a Productions > A UK-based web design, development, and digital strategy agency with decades of experience delivering secure, fast, and user-friendly websites and web systems for businesses, charities, educational establishments, and digital product teams. 18a Productions is a platform-agnostic web agency whose in-house team builds everything from brochure sites and e-commerce platforms to fully bespoke custom web applications and CRM systems. The agency is led by Directors Lisa and Tom, who are also co-founders of the not-for-profit organisation The Web Guild. 18a was named Web Design Agency of the Year – UK at the 2024 Netty Awards. ## Services - [Web Design & Development](https://www.18aproductions.co.uk/services/web-development/): Bespoke websites and web systems at any scale — brochure sites, e-commerce platforms, membership sites, CRM systems, and fully custom development. Primary technologies include PHP, JavaScript, WordPress, WooCommerce, Laravel, ReactJS, and Alpine.js. - [Digital Strategy](https://www.18aproductions.co.uk/): Strategic technical consultancy to help organisations find the right digital direction — from MVP launches and SEO strategy to choosing and integrating off-the-shelf solutions. - [Hosting & Support](https://www.18aproductions.co.uk/approach/): Tailored hosting solutions optimised for speed, reliability, and security. Ongoing maintenance, support, and Service Level Agreements (SLAs). Many clients have been supported for over a decade. - [SEO & Content](https://www.18aproductions.co.uk/): Search engine optimisation, structured data, content strategy, and the weekly "Talking Web" newsletter sharing guides and advice. - [Affiliate Marketing Consultancy](https://www.18aproductions.co.uk/): Guidance on entering the affiliate marketing space and avoiding common pitfalls. ## In-House Products & Tools - [Activibees](https://www.activibees.com/): A "things to do" discovery platform covering events, activities, and days out for all ages. Includes a free ticket-selling service for charities — 100% of ticket sale proceeds go directly to the charity. - [AvailabilityCal](https://www.18aproductions.co.uk/approach/): A scheduling tool for comparing calendars and finding when everyone is available. - [SiteVitals](https://www.sitevitals.co.uk/): A website health monitoring tool tracking SEO, security, uptime, and page speed. Includes an MCP server so AI models can access site health data directly. - Community engagement and content collation tools for gathering content from teams and audiences. ## About & Approach - [About / Approach](https://www.18aproductions.co.uk/approach/): 18a Productions works with organisations whose teams are genuinely invested in their success. The agency values long-term relationships, trust, and integrity — many client relationships span decades. - Platform agnostic: tools and technologies are chosen based on what is right for each individual project, not a preferred stack. - Environmentally conscious: the agency has long championed hosting powered by renewable energy. - The Web Guild: Lisa and Tom co-founded this not-for-profit to help organisations of all sizes get the best from the web industry. - Inhouse project HallsHire spun out into its own company. An agricultural inhouse project won a prize at Agri Innovation Den 2019, and Tom Freeman was shortlisted for the British Farming Awards' Agri-tech Innovator of the Year. ## Articles & Knowledge Base - [Website Rules for 2026](https://www.18aproductions.co.uk/2026/01/06/website-rules-for-2026/): Guidance on SEO, AI discoverability, structured data, EEAT, and growing an audience in the era of AI search. - [API vs MCP](https://www.18aproductions.co.uk/2026/03/30/api-vs-mcp-whats-the-difference-and-when-would-you-use-each/): Plain-English explanation of the difference between APIs and Model Context Protocol, and when to use each. - [Google Search Console Guide](https://www.18aproductions.co.uk/2026/04/13/5-seriously-useful-things-you-can-do-with-google-search-console-data/): Five practical ways to use Search Console data to improve rankings and fix site issues. - [Technically Speaking](https://www.18aproductions.co.uk/category/web-gossip/): Technical articles covering AI tools, coding assistants, web standards, and emerging technologies such as NLWeb and MCP. ## Contact - Website: https://www.18aproductions.co.uk - Phone: +44 (0)1179 680989 - Contact page: https://www.18aproductions.co.uk/contact/ ## Optional - [Talking Web Newsletter](https://www.18aproductions.co.uk/): Weekly email sharing one small website improvement per issue. Sign-up available on the website. - [Web Gossip & Reviews](https://www.18aproductions.co.uk/category/web-gossip/): Archive of commentary on web development trends, software reviews, and hosting news dating back to 2009. - [Our News](https://www.18aproductions.co.uk/): Agency announcements, project highlights, and award updates. - [A Beginner's Guide to Affiliate Marketing](https://www.18aproductions.co.uk/2009/04/14/a-beginner-affiliates-guide-to-affiliate-marketing/): Introduction to affiliate marketing concepts, terminology, and common pitfalls. - [Case Studies](https://www.18aproductions.co.uk/case-studies/): Detailed write-ups of client projects, including technical approaches and outcomes (e.g. Gingerbread — ReactJS front end, Laravel CMS, WordPress/WooCommerce membership build).