Most ExpressionEngine sites behind an Aberdeen enquiry have been left alone for a while, an old version, nobody quite sure what the add-ons are doing, and no one on staff who set the thing up in the first place.
Karl's the one who sorts that out. Expression 37 has never worked in anything but ExpressionEngine and Craft CMS, going back to when Karl started the company in 2007, and every job stays with him personally.
He reviews what's actually there before quoting anything. Depending on what turns up, that's a one-off fix, a version upgrade, or an ongoing retainer.
Where this tends to matter:
Energy sector supply chain firms whose site holds technical documentation, certifications, or compliance content that has to be accurate and easy to find. Businesses whose previous agency stopped supporting ExpressionEngine and pivoted elsewhere, leaving the site unmanaged in practice. Sites with Stripe, Salesforce, or HubSpot integrations wired in years ago by someone no longer around to explain them. And installs several major EE versions old, where an upgrade means checking every add-on for compatibility first.
How this tends to start:
Karl won't quote anything until he's gone through the templates and add-ons directly, since Aberdeen handovers rarely come with documentation worth relying on. Most people get in touch after something specific: a compliance document that's proved impossible to find quickly, a security notice about an outdated add-on, or a decision the site can't keep running unsupported. From there it's a defined project or a retainer, agreed before anything begins.
Common questions Aberdeen clients ask:
Does it matter that you're not based in Aberdeen?
Not for the work. Everything runs remotely, code review through deployment, and it's reliable. Aberdeen isn't out of reach if an in-person conversation genuinely helps at some point.
Our site holds technical or compliance documentation, is that a common requirement here?
Very common given the energy sector. It needs a content structure that keeps things properly categorised and searchable, not a flat archive that grows faster than anyone can navigate.
Can you take over a site the previous developer's walked away from?
Yes, this is routine. Establishing what's genuinely custom versus a modified add-on is always the first step, and that takes an actual read of the code.
Is an old ExpressionEngine version something we should worry about?
Less than most assume. The core software rarely causes issues by itself. The real exposure is in whatever add-ons have been left unmaintained alongside it.
What does an ongoing retainer actually include?
Priority response when something breaks, proactive checks rather than radio silence between problems, and a developer who already knows your site instead of relearning it each time.
What's the likely cost?
Depends on scope. A defined piece of work is a fixed price. Ongoing support runs monthly. Either way, you'll know the number before anything's agreed.
Ready to get started?
If your website is business-critical and needs a specialist who will take proper long-term ownership of it, get in touch. Karl will respond personally and give you an honest view of how we can help.
