What we stand for
We partner with purpose-driven leaders who need digital products and services that match their ambition, and technical care that matches their values. Here’s what that means in practice:
Support at every turn
We don’t just launch and leave. Our proactive human-centred digital care is always there: structured, steady, and responsive, designed to keep stress low and site performance high.
- We stick around for the long haul
- We respond fast – real people, not robots
- We solve problems before they reach your inbox
Simplify what matters
The best digital experiences get out of the way. We solve hard problems with simple, elegant solutions, not flashy features that confuse users. Clarity beats complexity, always.
- We design for the real world and real users
- We clear clutter that slows people (and impact) down
- We untangle mess and lighten the load
Collaborate with care
Our clients do important work under pressure, with high stakes and limited time. We show up as true collaborators – tuning in, sharing the weight, and seeing the bigger picture.
- We build lasting partnerships, not one-offs
- We’re proactive and easy to work with
- We focus on outcomes, not just outputs
Share what we know
Knowledge shared is power multiplied. As a trusted Torchbox partner (the creators of Wagtail), we use our insider expertise to help our clients feel confident and capable.
- We explain things clearly – no waffle, no jargon
- We’re generous with ideas and honest with advice
- We use open source in all our projects, because it’s nice to give a little back
Champion the changemakers
We’re not just proud of what we build, we're proud of who we build it for. We platform important work, and never forget that responsibility. Our role is to amplify it – not get in the way.
- We make tools that stay true to your cause
- We get your world, your pressures, your processes
- We can help minimise your site’s carbon footprint
Create with curiosity
We bring fresh thinking to complex challenges, with imagination, intuition, and play. We’re not afraid of exploring the unfamiliar, but we don’t fix what isn’t broken.
- We test new ideas, refine them, then keep what works
- We love solving puzzles, not adding them
- We add clever details that delight without distracting
Our story
It’s 1997. The internet is dial-up and dodgy. The BBC launches its first news site, Flash 1.0 banners make browsers beg for mercy, and loading bars are basically a design feature.
Our then 15-year-old Rob (Cursive’s director – you’ll meet him in a second) is already deep in it, building the Wild Wild Web long before templates were templating. That craftsperson mindset stuck. Rob kept building heavyweight platforms for household names – the sort you can’t spin up with a WordPress theme and a freelancer.
By 2008, the world was in a financial nosedive. So, naturally, Rob did the sensible thing: he set up Cursive. A small studio of specialists, punching above its weight. But it wasn’t the glossy brand projects that shaped us – it was an online game for Barnado’s that proved how thoughtful digital craft can carry hard truths, shift perceptions, and spark real change.
That’s still our why: making the web work harder for people with something important to say.
Get to know us
Cursive’s company and culture are a lot like our platforms: supportive, carefully crafted, and – dare we say it – a joy to work with.
Rob Colley
Director
Adam Nisbet
Account manager
Martin Swarbrick
Head of development
Patrick Smith
Senior software developer
Martyn Stirk
Front-end developer
Jodie Hirst
Designer and UX specialist
What keeps us moving
We’re all about making the world a little clearer, a little fairer, a little better – and that starts with how we run our own business.
As a Good Business Charter member, we pay the real Living Wage, offer fair hours and contracts, and build systems that support wellbeing, representation, and inclusion for everyone on our team. We pay our taxes, source responsibly, pay promptly – and we’re on a path to net zero.
We hold ourselves to the same high standards we expect of the partners we work with. From charities and campaigners to coalitions and communities, every time a message lands in our inbox from someone trying to change something for the better – we get a buzz.
Because we know digital platforms. We know what matters to purpose-led organisations. And we know how to help: making the digital bit of your mission simple, clear, and built to last. So your cause doesn’t get lost in the chaos.