WordPress rescue from a failed agency: a senior developer checklist
Rescuing a WordPress site from a failed agency starts before any code is touched. This is the checklist a senior developer works through to take over an inherited site cleanly.
Reliable WordPress support for businesses that depend on their website. Problem diagnosis, performance fixes, security updates, and ongoing maintenance.
Find the root cause of issues rather than treating symptoms. Understand why something broke before deciding how to fix it.
Optimise database queries, reduce plugin overhead, configure caching. Measurable improvements, not promises.
Apply updates safely, remove vulnerabilities, configure backups. Reduce the attack surface without breaking functionality.
Audit existing plugins, remove unnecessary ones, find better alternatives. Fewer moving parts means fewer problems.
Repair broken layouts, fix mobile issues, improve accessibility. Work with what you have rather than starting over.
Regular updates, monitoring, and maintenance. Someone to call when something goes wrong.
WordPress works well for many sites, but not every problem is a WordPress problem. Sometimes the right answer is a different platform, a simpler solution, or a rebuild. I will tell you if I think WordPress is not the right choice for your situation.
Complex custom applications with heavy data requirements
Sites where security requirements exceed what WordPress can provide
Projects where the plugin ecosystem creates more problems than it solves
You describe the problem. I ask questions to understand the context, history, and what success looks like.
I examine the site, identify issues, and assess the overall health. You get a clear picture of what needs attention.
A fixed scope for specific work, or a retainer for ongoing support. Clear pricing, no surprises.
Changes tested in staging, deployed deliberately, documented for handover. You can see progress as work happens.
WooCommerce sites need more attention than standard WordPress installations. Payment gateways, shipping integrations, and product catalogues add complexity. When something breaks, revenue stops.
I help businesses keep WooCommerce stores running reliably. Common areas I work on.
Payment gateway issues and checkout problems
Performance optimisation for large product catalogues
Plugin conflicts affecting orders or inventory
Extension updates and compatibility testing
Migration from other e-commerce platforms
A recent example is the TMKEd WooCommerce project, where performance improvements reduced page load time to under 1 second and contributed to a 24% increase in sales.
Occasionally, but my focus is improving and maintaining existing sites. If you need a new build, I can recommend specialists or discuss whether WordPress is the right choice.
Yes. I will audit the site, document what I find, and establish a baseline before making changes. This reduces risk and creates clarity.
Retainer clients get priority response. For others, I offer emergency support at a higher rate when available. Most emergencies can be prevented with proper maintenance.
Yes. I work with WP Engine, Kinsta, Flywheel, and similar platforms. I can also recommend hosting appropriate to your needs.
I am based in Leicester and work remotely with businesses across the UK. Most WordPress projects do not require being on-site.
Yes. I work with agencies as a white-label resource, delivering WordPress projects under their brand. The client relationship stays with the agency throughout. See the for agencies page for more detail.
I work with WordPress clients across the UK, including businesses in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds and Bristol.
For WooCommerce-specific work, including checkout debugging, payment gateway fixes and store performance, see the WooCommerce developer UK page.
Describe what is going wrong and I will tell you if I can help.
Rescuing a WordPress site from a failed agency starts before any code is touched. This is the checklist a senior developer works through to take over an inherited site cleanly.
WordPress hosting reviews date fast. The principles do not. Here is what separates good hosting from bad, regardless of which vendor is fashionable this year.
WordPress maintenance pricing in the UK ranges from £15 a month to £2,000 a month for the same described service. The difference is what is actually being done.
Loughborough College needed an interactive tool to help students explore career options at open days and events. A quiz-based WordPress site was built for tablet use, guiding students through questions to suggest suitable career paths.
Loughborough College · Education
An educational worksheets e-commerce site had been unmaintained for years, with pages timing out and sales declining in a competitive market. After data cleanup, plugin audit, and redesign, the site achieved 90+ Lighthouse scores and a 24% increase in sales.
TMKEd · Education