# Cogworks > London-based digital consultancy and build studio helping professional services firms, charities, and enterprise organisations design, build, and grow digital products that last, scale, and perform. An Umbraco Gold Partner with 20 years of delivery experience. Cogworks operates two complementary practices: a **Consultancy** arm (strategy, audits, and the continuous-improvement Momentum Framework) and a **Build Studio** (design, development, and enterprise platform delivery). The firm specialises in Umbraco CMS, enterprise web platforms, accessibility, performance, and AI/agentic automation, primarily for financial services, legal, charity, and professional services organisations. ## Consultancy - [Consultancy](https://www.wearecogworks.com/consultancy): Cogworks' consultancy practice provides strategy, delivery, and ongoing optimisation for enterprise clients. Rather than one-off engagements, it is built around the Momentum Framework — a continuous-improvement system that combines discovery, roadmapping, and a delivery engine to drive sustained outcomes. - [Momentum Framework](https://www.wearecogworks.com/consultancy/momentum-framework): A continuous improvement system structured in four phases: Spark (audits and discovery), Ignite (building foundations), Catalyst (accelerating growth), and Momentum (ongoing support and optimisation). Designed for long-term partnership rather than fixed-scope project completion. - [Digital Strategy](https://www.wearecogworks.com/consultancy/digital-strategy): Strategic planning and roadmapping for organisations investing in long-term digital products and platforms — aligning technology decisions with business outcomes. - [Process & AI Automations](https://www.wearecogworks.com/consultancy/process-ai-automations): Process automation and AI-driven workflows to reduce manual effort, cut operational cost, and improve efficiency across teams. ## Audits Cogworks offers a suite of fixed-scope audits, most of which serve as the "Spark" entry point into the Momentum Framework. - [Immersion Session](https://www.wearecogworks.com/consultancy/audits/immersion-session): A discovery workshop that aligns stakeholders and surfaces goals, risks, and opportunities before committing to a larger engagement. - [Umbraco Health Check](https://www.wearecogworks.com/consultancy/audits/umbraco-health-check): A technical review of an existing Umbraco implementation covering performance, security, code quality, and upgrade readiness, with prioritised remediation recommendations. - [Backoffice Streamline Audit](https://www.wearecogworks.com/consultancy/audits/backoffice-streamline-audit-umbraco): Reviews the Umbraco editor and back-office experience to streamline content workflows and improve editor productivity. - [User Personas & Journey Mapping](https://www.wearecogworks.com/consultancy/audits/user-personas-journey-mapping): Defines target user personas and maps their journeys to inform product, content, and design decisions. - [Accessibility Audit](https://www.wearecogworks.com/consultancy/audits/accessibility-audit): Evaluates a website against WCAG accessibility standards and identifies prioritised remediation steps to meet compliance and inclusion goals. - [SEO & GEO Audit](https://www.wearecogworks.com/consultancy/audits/seo-geo-audit): Assesses both traditional search visibility and Generative Engine Optimisation (visibility in AI-powered search such as ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews), with recommended actions. - [Sustainability & Performance Audit](https://www.wearecogworks.com/consultancy/audits/sustainability-performance-audit): Measures page performance and carbon/energy impact, providing optimisation recommendations to reduce emissions and improve load times. - [Usability Snapshot](https://www.wearecogworks.com/consultancy/audits/usability-snapshot): A rapid usability review highlighting key friction points in user journeys and quick-win improvements. ## Build Studio - [Build Studio](https://www.wearecogworks.com/build-studio): Cogworks' delivery practice, covering web design, development, and enterprise platform builds with post-launch support and continuous improvement. Emphasises scalable, secure products built for long-term growth rather than one-off launches. - [Web Design](https://www.wearecogworks.com/build-studio/web-design): UX and visual design services producing scalable, accessible, and brand-aligned digital products. - [Web Development](https://www.wearecogworks.com/build-studio/web-development): Front-end and back-end development for performant, secure, standards-compliant web platforms. - [Umbraco for Enterprise](https://www.wearecogworks.com/build-studio/umbraco-for-enterprise): As a 20-year Umbraco Gold Partner, Cogworks delivers complex enterprise CMS deployments accelerated by Orama Studio — their proprietary Umbraco starter kit of pre-built content types, workflows, and components paired with fully custom front-end design. This typically cuts development time by around six months and roughly £175,000 versus building from scratch, while meeting enterprise standards for accessibility, security, and performance and avoiding vendor lock-in. - [Cloud & DevOps](https://www.wearecogworks.com/build-studio/cloud-devops): Cloud infrastructure (notably Microsoft Azure), CI/CD pipelines, and DevOps practices for reliable deployment, autoscaling, and cost-efficient operation. - [Agentic Builds](https://www.wearecogworks.com/build-studio/agentic-builds): Development of AI agents and automation integrated into client products and workflows, extending Cogworks' digital product delivery into applied AI. - [Platform Assurance](https://www.wearecogworks.com/build-studio/platform-assurance): Ongoing support, monitoring, and maintenance to keep platforms secure, performant, and continuously improving after launch. ## Sectors - [Financial Services](https://www.wearecogworks.com/sectors/financial-services): Digital products for banks, wealth managers, and financial firms, built to meet compliance, security, and regulatory requirements. Clients include Bestinvest and Shawbrook Bank. - [Legal](https://www.wearecogworks.com/sectors/legal): Web platforms and digital tools for law firms, focused on clear navigation, accessibility, and thought-leadership content. Clients include Russell-Cooke. - [Charity & Not-for-Profit](https://www.wearecogworks.com/sectors/charity-not-for-profit): Accessible, cost-efficient, high-performance digital products for charities, engineered to handle campaign traffic surges. Clients include Prostate Cancer UK. - [Professional Services](https://www.wearecogworks.com/sectors/professional-services): Digital platforms for consultancies and professional services firms, including architecture practices such as Foster + Partners. ## Case Studies - [Bestinvest](https://www.wearecogworks.com/projects/bestinvest): UK online investment platform (backed by Evelyn Partners). Cogworks led a multi-agency programme to rebuild the CMS on Umbraco V10 and Azure with a React.js headless frontend, audited and strengthened all 18 business-critical integrations, built middleware between Investment Search and legacy systems, and delivered data-visualisation tools (the Grow My Money platform). Resulted in a modular architecture allowing independent service swaps without frontend rebuilds. Ongoing partnership since 2021. - [Prostate Cancer UK](https://www.wearecogworks.com/projects/prostate-cancer-uk): UK health charity whose slow, unreliable site struggled under campaign traffic. Cogworks ran an Umbraco Health Check, rebuilt the platform on Umbraco with accessible responsive design, and architected Azure infrastructure with load balancing and autoscaling (using CogFlare). Results: 29% increase in online donation income within 8 weeks of launch, 4M+ Risk Checker uses since 2020, 88% lower hosting costs, 80% reduction in infrastructure emissions, and successful handling of a major NHS England campaign. - [Shawbrook Bank](https://www.wearecogworks.com/projects/shawbrook-bank): UK specialist bank needing a scalable multi-brand foundation for rapid brand acquisitions across savings, business lending, and property finance. Cogworks built a flexible design system and multi-brand platform on Umbraco supporting fast brand onboarding with consistent security and regulatory compliance. Results: 30% faster page load, 53% more commercial enquiries, 46% growth in logged-in users, 21% rise in site visits in year one, and an A-rated security score. - [Russell-Cooke](https://www.wearecogworks.com/projects/russell-cooke): Top-100 UK law firm whose unwieldy site buried services and caused high drop-off. Cogworks ran information-architecture workshops, redesigned the brand for accessibility, and built a search-powered insights hub on Umbraco (with Orama Studio and CogFlare). Results: 19% organic traffic growth in 4 months, 125% increase in new monthly users, 90% reduction in CO2 emissions, Lighthouse scores above 90, A-rated security, and full OWASP compliance. - [Foster + Partners](https://www.wearecogworks.com/projects/foster-and-partners): Case study for the globally renowned Foster + Partners architecture practice (professional services sector). See the page for full project detail. - [S&W](https://www.wearecogworks.com/projects/s-and-w): Case study for S&W (Evelyn Partners / financial services). See the page for full project detail. - [All Projects](https://www.wearecogworks.com/projects): Full portfolio of Cogworks client case studies across financial services, legal, charity, and enterprise sectors. ## About - [About Us](https://www.wearecogworks.com/about): Cogworks was founded in 2006 by Adam Shallcross as a web design agency and has evolved into a digital consultancy and build studio. Its mission — "Keep it simple. Make it work." — reflects a focus on cutting through complexity and avoiding over-engineering. The firm emphasises outcome-focused delivery, direct client access to core team members, and long-term partnerships (averaging 7 years), with 1,000+ projects launched. - [Contact](https://www.wearecogworks.com/contact): Get in touch with Cogworks to discuss a project, audit, or ongoing engagement. - [Blog (Innerworks)](https://www.wearecogworks.com/innerworks): Cogworks' blog, publishing articles and insights on digital strategy, Umbraco, accessibility, performance, AI, and product delivery. - [Umbraco V13 to V17 Upgrade](https://www.wearecogworks.com/umbraco-v13-to-v17-upgrade): Dedicated service page covering Umbraco CMS upgrades from version 13 to 17. ## Technologies & Proprietary Tools - **Umbraco CMS** — core platform; Cogworks is a 20-year Umbraco Gold Partner. - **Orama Studio** — proprietary Umbraco starter kit (pre-built content types, workflows, and components) that accelerates enterprise builds. - **CogFlare** — Cogworks' CDN and performance/security optimisation layer. - **Microsoft Azure** — primary cloud platform, with load balancing and autoscaling. - **React.js** — headless/decoupled front-end framework used on enterprise builds. ## Key Facts - Founded in 2006 by Adam Shallcross; evolved from a web design agency into a digital consultancy and build studio. - Headquartered in London, UK. - Umbraco Gold Partner with ~20 years of CMS delivery experience. - 1,000+ projects launched; average client partnership of 7 years. - Two practices: Consultancy (strategy, audits, Momentum Framework) and Build Studio (design, development, platform delivery). - Specialisms: Umbraco CMS, enterprise web platforms, accessibility (WCAG), performance and sustainability, security (OWASP, A-rated), AI/agentic automation, and SEO/GEO. - Sectors served: financial services, legal, charity/not-for-profit, and professional services. - Notable clients: Bestinvest, Shawbrook Bank, Prostate Cancer UK, Russell-Cooke, Foster + Partners, S&W. ## Contact - Website: https://www.wearecogworks.com - Email: info@wearecogworks.com - Contact: https://www.wearecogworks.com/contact - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-cogworks ## Legal - [Privacy Policy](https://www.wearecogworks.com/legal/privacy-policy): How Cogworks collects, uses, and protects personal data. - [Equal Opportunities](https://www.wearecogworks.com/legal/equal-opportunities): Cogworks' equal opportunities and inclusion policy.