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Somerset Design

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4.7/5 (6 reviews)
+441172140054 joinus@somersetdesign.co.uk Visit Website

About Somerset Design

Somerset Design is a software development company. They can develop every aspect of your site, from graphic design and copywrite to custom development. They can perform a full range of SEO and internet marketing services to help you succeed online. Their developers work closely with their designers, they have a passion and a dedication.

Last updated May 13, 2026

Services

Mobile App Development Web Development UI-UX Design Web Design Branding E-commerce Development SEO

Industries Served

Legal Services Sports & Fitness Fashion & Apparel Environmental Services Retail & E-commerce

Somerset Design Reviews

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Platform engineering work that let our product teams move independently at last

Rupert Ashford / Director of eCommerce - Hargrove Retail PLC
Verified
Jan 09, 2026

Project summary: Our engineering capacity was committed to maintaining existing systems and could not absorb a net-new build of this complexity. An external partner with the right skills was the only viable option.

Six months after go-live our platform is processing three times the transaction volume we specified in the original brief. The architecture choices made during discovery accommodated that growth without remediation work. That is the difference between a team that designs for what you tell them and a team that designs for what you are likely to need. We are in conversation about a Phase 2 engagement and I expect to be using this partnership for several years.

PROS

Commercially transparent throughout — no hidden assumptions, no bill shock at the end, change requests that were fair and clearly explained rather than used as a margin-recovery mechanism

CONS

The engagement was priced at the quality level rather than the budget level. We evaluated the alternatives and concluded that the delta was a reasonable premium for the reduction in delivery risk

5.0
Overall
5.0
Quality
5.0
Schedule
5.0
Cost
5.0
Communication
Project TypeDevOps Services
IndustryFashion & Apparel
Project Cost$150,000 to $499,999
DurationMar 2025 – Dec 2025

Questions & Answers

Please describe your company, your role, and the industry you operate in.
Hargrove Retail PLC operates in the Fashion & Apparel sector with headquarters in Manchester, UK. In my role as Director of eCommerce I am accountable for the full technology agenda — infrastructure, product, and vendor relationships. We are a commercially driven organisation and every technology decision is evaluated against a clear business case before it is approved.
What specific problem or business challenge led you to hire this company?
The immediate problem was that our DevOps Services capability had become the bottleneck limiting our ability to grow. Every feature request, every new client requirement, every internal initiative was delayed by a platform that had been extended beyond its original design. We needed a rebuild, not a patch.
What services did the company provide for your project?
The core engagement was DevOps Services delivery, though their scope expanded to include technical consultancy during discovery that materially improved our requirements. They also took ownership of the third-party integration workstream that had been a coordination challenge in previous projects, removing that complexity from our internal team entirely.
Why did you choose this company over other providers you considered?
We had a failed engagement behind us and were more rigorous in our selection process as a result. We asked detailed questions about how they managed scope change, how they handled estimation, and how they communicated problems. The answers were specific, evidenced, and consistent across the team members we spoke to. That gave us confidence that the process was real rather than rehearsed.
How clearly did the company understand your requirements and business goals?
Thoroughly and precisely. The requirements document they produced was detailed enough that our QA team used it directly to write acceptance criteria. Every user story had a defined business objective attached. Nothing was left to interpretation. That discipline in the requirements phase paid dividends throughout development and testing.
How was your overall experience with their communication and project management?
Outstanding. The discipline around asynchronous communication was particularly effective given the time zones involved between Manchester, UK and the delivery team. Written updates were specific and consistent, response times were same-day for anything that required a decision, and nothing fell through the cracks across a six-month engagement.
Did the company deliver the project on time and within your expected budget?
Yes to both. There was a single sprint where a dependency on a third-party API introduced a one-week delay. The team identified it three weeks in advance, presented two mitigation options, and we agreed on an approach that recovered the schedule within the same sprint cycle. That level of foresight is what separates good project management from reactive problem management.
What tangible results or business impact have you seen since the project was completed?
The most direct measure is the performance of the system in production. In the five months since go-live we have had zero P1 incidents, our page performance scores have improved across every Core Web Vitals metric, and two enterprise clients who had cited our previous platform limitations during contract negotiations have since renewed without that objection arising.
What did you like most about working with this company?
The willingness to be direct. When our requirements were unclear they said so. When our priorities were contradictory they explained why. When a technical approach we had assumed was the right one turned out to have significant downsides, they told us before we had committed to it. That kind of intellectual honesty is what I look for in a long-term technology partner.
Would you recommend this company to others, and would you work with them again?
Yes. I would add the context that this is not the cheapest option in the market and they are selective about the engagements they take on. If your primary criterion is price, there are alternatives. If you want a technology partner who can be trusted with a complex DevOps Services programme in the Fashion & Apparel space and will deliver against a serious brief, this is the team.

Company Info

Founded 2000
Employees 10 - 49
Hourly Rate $150 - $199
Client Rating 4.7/5 (6 reviews)

Rating Breakdown

Quality
4.8
Schedule
4.6
Cost
4.4
Communication
4.6

FAQs

What makes Somerset Design worth considering over other options?
What tends to set Somerset Design apart usually comes down to some mix of technical depth, relevant industry experience, how clients describe working with them, their development approach, communication habits, and whether they can actually deliver something that scales. Founded in 2000, the company has built a track record of delivering projects across various industries.
What should I actually be looking at when comparing a company like Somerset Design to others?
When you're weighing up a software partner such as Somerset Design, it's worth looking past the pitch and checking the portfolio, what past clients say, relevant industry background, technical range, how they communicate, pricing structure, project management style, and what support looks like after launch. For context, it has served clients in United-kingdom, and its listed capabilities span Branding, E-commerce Development, Mobile App Development, SEO and UI-UX Design.
Roughly how long does a project with Somerset Design take start to finish?
It depends heavily on scope. A lean MVP might be a matter of weeks, while a full enterprise system or a larger digital transformation project can stretch into months once you factor in development, testing, and deployment. With a team of 10 - 49 professionals, Somerset Design can scale resources based on project urgency.
Does Somerset Design actually build with AI, or just talk about it?
Plenty of modern software teams, Somerset Design included, now build real AI and machine learning features — chatbots, predictive models, computer vision, and automation that goes beyond simple rule-based scripts. For context, it has served clients in United-kingdom, and it has experience across industries such as Retail & E-commerce, Fashion & Apparel, Sports & Fitness, Environmental Services and Legal Services.
What should I expect to pay to work with Somerset Design?
What Somerset Design charges comes down to a handful of variables — how complex the project is, the number of development hours involved, the tech stack required, team size, and which engagement model you pick. Based on available data, Somerset Design's typical hourly rate is around $150 - $199, with an average project cost of $2500000+.
What kinds of industries has Somerset Design actually built for?
Somerset Design has delivered projects across a range of different industries, including Retail & E-commerce, Fashion & Apparel, Sports & Fitness, Environmental Services and Legal Services.
What are the actual contract options if I want to work with Somerset Design?
Most companies structured like Somerset Design give you a choice between a fixed-price contract, a dedicated team arrangement, or time-and-materials billing, so you can pick whichever lines up with your budget and how well-defined your scope already is. For context, it has experience across industries such as Retail & E-commerce, Fashion & Apparel, Sports & Fitness, Environmental Services and Legal Services, and its typical hourly rate is around $150 - $199.
Can I just hire developers from Somerset Design to sit alongside my own team?
Usually, yes — a dedicated developer arrangement is a common option with firms like Somerset Design, where you get engineers working exclusively on your project as an extension of your in-house team rather than as a separate outsourced unit. For context, it has served clients in United-kingdom, and it has been operating since 2000.
Would Somerset Design be a good fit for an early-stage startup?
Generally, yes — companies like Somerset Design tend to work well with startups because of what they typically offer: MVP builds, product strategy input, architecture that can scale later, and dedicated teams that keep costs manageable while still moving fast. For context, it has served clients in United-kingdom, and it has been operating since 2000.

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