Web designer for small businesses in Surrey & South London
I build fast, hand-coded websites and WordPress sites for small businesses across Surrey, West Sussex and South London. Trades, professional services, retail, hospitality - if you need a site that loads quickly, ranks on Google, and actually generates enquiries, this is what I do. Based in Caterham, working locally in Croydon, Redhill, East Grinstead, Oxted and Felbridge - and with clients across the UK.
Services
WordPress Speed Optimisation
Slow WordPress site? I diagnose and fix performance issues for measurable speed gains.
WordPress Speed Optimisation →Hosting & Maintenance
Managed hosting with proactive monitoring and regular maintenance.
Hosting & Maintenance →Hand-coded vs page builders
Most small business websites share the same problems. Here's how a hand-coded site compares to what you get from Wix, Squarespace, or an agency using Elementor.
On Wix or Squarespace and not ranking? Find out why - and what to do about it →
Every site I build scores 95+ on Google Lighthouse
Lighthouse is Google's own website grading tool. It scores performance, accessibility, best practices, and SEO out of 100. Most Wix and Squarespace sites score 35-55. Most agency WordPress builds score 40-65. Every site I build hits 95-100 across all four categories - verified the day it goes live.
steveblackmore.dev - tested on Google PageSpeed Insights
What every site comes with
Hand-coded HTML & CSS
No page builder overhead. No unused JavaScript. Clean, minimal code that loads fast and is easy for Google to read. Written by a developer, not assembled in a drag-and-drop editor.
Mobile-first from day one
Over 60% of small business searches happen on phones. Every site I build is designed for mobile first, desktop second.
Local SEO built in
Structured data markup, location-specific content, Google Business Profile guidance, and Search Console submission - included.
Fixed price, no surprises
A written quote before anything starts. No hourly billing, no change requests that suddenly cost extra, no invoice you weren't expecting.
Industry-specific content
Not a generic template. I write and build for your sector - landscapers, solicitors, restaurants - with the right features for each.
Hosting & maintenance included
Every site comes with managed hosting and ongoing maintenance through a WordPress care plan for £45/month - updates, backups, uptime monitoring, and a direct line to me.
Built for your type of business
A roofer's website needs different things than a solicitor's. I build industry-specific sites with the right content, trust signals, and features for each sector.
Don't see yours? Get in touch - I work across all sectors.
From brief to live in two weeks
Brief & quote
Tell me about your business and what you need. I'll come back with a clear scope and a fixed price - no hourly billing, no estimates that creep.
Build
I design and build your site. You get a live preview link to review before anything goes public. Revisions are handled in this stage.
Review
You review and request changes. Two rounds of revisions are included. Most projects need only minor adjustments at this point.
Live
I handle domain setup, SSL, performance checks, and Google Search Console submission. Your site is live and indexed - usually within two weeks.
Local web design across Surrey and West Sussex
Based in Caterham, I work with businesses across Surrey, West Sussex, South London and the UK. WordPress development, web design, and ongoing care plans for every area.
Surrey
Caterham, Redhill, Reigate, Oxted, Godstone, Warlingham and across the county. WordPress development and web design.
Surrey services →West Sussex
Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill, Horsham, Crawley and across Mid Sussex. WordPress sites and care plans.
West Sussex services →Croydon
Central Croydon, South Croydon, Purley, Coulsdon and surrounding South London. Fast WordPress sites for local businesses.
Croydon services →East Grinstead
East Grinstead, Felbridge, Lingfield and the Surrey-Sussex border. WordPress development and local SEO.
East Grinstead services →Frequently asked
What types of business do you build websites for?
Small businesses across most sectors - trades, professional services, health and wellness, retail, hospitality, and more. I build industry-specific sites for landscapers, roofers, plumbers, solicitors, accountants, restaurants, hair salons, and many others. If your sector isn't listed, get in touch - the process is the same regardless.
How much does a website cost?
A complete small business website starts from £199, including design, build, mobile optimisation, and Google Search Console setup. Sites with multiple service pages, galleries, quote forms, or e-commerce are priced individually. I always provide a fixed price in writing before anything starts - no hourly billing, no surprises.
Which areas do you cover?
I'm based in Caterham, Surrey, and work with businesses locally across Croydon, Redhill, Reigate, East Grinstead, Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill, Horsham, Oxted, Warlingham, Godstone, and the surrounding area. I cover Surrey and West Sussex and also work with clients across the UK - everything is handled remotely, so location is rarely a barrier.
What makes your websites different from Wix or Squarespace?
Wix and Squarespace sites typically score 35-55 on Google Lighthouse for mobile. Mine score 90-100. The difference is hand-coded HTML and CSS versus the bloated JavaScript that page builders load by default. Faster sites rank better, lose fewer visitors to slow load times, and convert more of the traffic they do get.
Do I need to provide my own content and photos?
Photos of your actual work convert better than stock images - if you have them, use them. For copy, I can write from a brief or work with what you provide. I'll tell you exactly what I need before we start.
Steve Blackmore
20 years in digital - SEO, e-commerce, and web development across small businesses and national brands including Snow & Rock, Cotswold Outdoor, and Nestlé Nescafé Dolce Gusto. Now I work independently, building fast websites and handling local SEO and Google Business Profiles for small businesses across Surrey and the UK. One person. No handoffs.
More about me →Ready for a website that actually works?
Free initial consultation. I'll look at your current site or brief, tell you exactly what I'd do, and give you a fixed price before anything starts. No obligation.
Get a free quote