Webfooted Designs

Emily Tarrant first came across IT and web development during her UCL MA Archivist course. Having studied one IT related module, Emily began experimenting with web development and design in her spare time. ‘Working on websites became a complete passion of mine’ Emily explains, ‘I found myself spending so much of my time outside of work trying out different techniques, playing with new designs, reading up on web development and taking additional classes and courses, that I began to think perhaps I could do it for a living.’

After trial runs designing friends and family member’s websites, Emily set up her company in 2004. Her partner Michael, a senior library assistant who had always been ‘into computers’, learned the trade as IT filtered into the libraries. He says ‘Working with online library catalogues acted as fantastic basis for coding websites’.

For a while Emily and Michael ran the business while also holding down full time jobs. But as the business got off the ground and the work load grew, they began to discuss whether they could leave their jobs and move the business to Cornwall.

‘Michael is originally from Cornwall, and I had spent a year in the county as well and just loved it. We were both becoming increasingly tired of working for large organisations, and we were so pleased to see how our business was taking off that we began discussing the pros and cons of relocating. The positives were overwhelming!’

In March 2006 both Emily and Michael resigned, bought a house in St. Just and made the move. The business became an incorporated company with Emily and Michael as Directors and Michael came up with the name ‘Webfooted Designs’. Michael explains ‘The company's name is a play on sure footed. Not only does it highlight we are a web company, but we also thought of the webbed feet of seagulls, which reflects our move to Cornwall!’

Since making the move, Webfooted Designs has been incredibly busy – so busy in fact that, after four year working from a home office, they recently made the decision to take on office space at Trereife, just outside Penzance. The location is ideal. Their office is bright and airy and has plenty of parking space for clients.

They are also located across the hall from Carta Graphic Design. Carta and Webfooted have collaborated on projects in the past and, now that they are based in the same space, they hope to have further opportunities to work together.

Emily says ‘Moving to Cornwall has brought us a complete lifestyle change. We are working crazy hours, so always relish the opportunity when we can take a stroll in the countryside or to the sea. But we certainly have no regrets making the move - there couldn't be a better place for us to work from.’

Support
When they first arrived in the county, Webfooted Designs received business advice from Creative Skills who helped them develop a marketing plan. They also received general information and advice from Business Link and InvestinCornwall. Emily says ‘We have been really impressed by the business support that is available to us.’

Workforce
Webfooted Designs has taken on a freelance member of staff to assist with administration and some web design work.

Clients
Clients include The Lyme Regis Museum, The Lafrowda Festival, the Bodleian Library, Oxford, Porthcurno Telegraph Museum, Fat Willy’s Surf Shack, St Just and Land’s End Chamber and St Just Town Council.

Technology
The business uses industry standard packages such as Photoshop. However, it takes a different approach with its web building, and builds each site from scratch using a plain text editor, providing clients with a site that is tailored for their needs. The company also works extensively with open source software such as Joomla, WordPress and Zen Cart, providing cost-effective solutions for clients.