56 Degrees

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the managing director of PolicyTracker, an information services company that does research and training about spectrum management.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 56 Degrees?

I hired 56 Degrees to work on our website. I was using an out-of-fashion CMS and needed to upgrade to a new one. The project was an exercise in taking all the content from one format and transferring it into another CMS.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

56 Degrees migrated content from our old CMS to WordPress. People subscribe to our website to access content, and there are multiple levels of subscription. 56 Degrees had to manage this aspect of our CMS and integrate the entire backend of our website with Salesforce.

What is the team composition? 

I think they had one person who was more customer-facing and another more technical contact. There seemed to be a split between the customer interface person doing more of the design work and the coder in the background.

How did you come to work with 56 Degrees?

I believe I did some searches.

How much have you invested with them?

The project was roughly £10,000 (approximately $13,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

This project lasted from April–September 2017, but our work with 56 Degrees is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

56 Degrees did a really good job. We were hoping to give people exactly the same experience and have them not notice that the website had changed. I think we accomplished this but managed to add a subtlety with our subscriptions that will produce financial benefits for us.

Our main goal was to transfer our CMS to a new system that won’t become obsolete as our old one did. I think we achieved that and made the site easy to use.

How did 56 Degrees perform from a project management standpoint?

When you explain a project that you understand to someone else, you realize how complex the project actually is. They dealt with that and my ever-moving goalposts quite well.

We communicated over a task management platform, which led to most tasks being done approximately on the timescale I wanted. If they were late, it was probably more my fault then theirs. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re very familiar with WordPress, which was great for us. They got it to do everything we wanted. The team was also very easy to get along with, and they did things on time, too.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing springs to mind. They’re a smaller company, so they could possibly work quicker if they had 20 more people. But they also wouldn’t be the same company if they grew.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They’re very good at listening to what you need. You should spend time explaining your requirements, and then they should be able to grasp the project quite well.

I also think they’re good designers. I didn’t use much of their design capabilities because we didn’t need it for this project. But I’d take advantage of that strength if you’re a more marketing-type website.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the Founder and Managing Director of Bad Machine. We’re an SEO and online advertising company. We also offer ancillary services like web design and development, and normally work with third parties to help deliver those.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 56 Degrees?

One of our existing clients specialized in high end and bespoke hand-blown Venetian glass from Murano. We started marketing for them and found some limitations in their CMS and site. As we audited their site performance, we found that their internal team was delaying our project’s progress. So, we talked to our out partners about bringing on 56 degrees to deliver and effective solution.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They’ve helped us move the CMS to WordPress. They also used WooCommerce to develop payment portals, so our partners can sell their art online. They established a user journey and created a roadmap at the beginning of the project so we had guidelines going forward.

What is the team composition?

Jakob is our main point of contact, and we work with two other team members.

How did you come to work with 56 Degrees?

We had an existing relationship with 56 Degrees prior to this project. We were working out of a coworking space, and our office neighbors recommended them. We had coffee and they made an introduction for us. The meeting went really well, but we slowly built our relationship. 56 Degrees worked on some smaller projects for us at first, so I would get an understanding of how we would operate and handle complicated projects. Now I’m happy to put them on larger and more important projects.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent £15,000 on this project alone.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began the project in September 2019 and it is ongoing.  

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

The project is ongoing, but based on our previous experience, we’re confident in 56 Degrees’ ability to meet our client’s requirements. They’ve earned our client’s trust, and I think they’ll be relieved when they have a fully functioning site. Our client has requested some additional features, which have delayed project completion, but they’ll have access to the platform and will be able to collaborate on improvements soon.

56 Degrees is always good about delivering a trusted CMS and will implement necessary fixes before launching. They’re preemptive and will step forward to prevent any issues. They require content ahead of time and identify snag points before they occur. Then, they address them with the client. We will be examining exactly what the client wants to upload so we know that the site can support it.

How did 56 Degrees perform from a project management standpoint?

We use InVision to visually see what we’re working on. We also use Google Docs for collaborative road mapping and checklists, and typically communicate via Google Hangouts. They’re also responsive over email, text, and WhatsApp. Of course, more in-depth conversations are done in-person.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re very detailed. When I work with them, I know I don’t have to stress about the little things, because they’ve got it covered. We have an established history so they know what I’m going to pick up on. They also have a lot of experience, so they know what to look for. This makes communication much easier.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing comes to mind.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would encourage people to look into how they can enhance their site’s performance. Web design and development is a continual investment, and 56 Degrees can make a big difference on a budget.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a graphic designer at a branding and design agency. We specialize in interior architecture design and branding and brand identities.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 56 Degrees?

We had a previous website that was quite content and copy heavy, so we wanted to simplify the site with a clean and sleek user journey.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They advised and guided in ways we couldn’t have provided ourselves. They redesigned the web structure and transferred our data onto the new site. We created a new design in-house and they developed it.

What is the team composition?

Jacob (Founder/CEO, 56 Degrees) was our main point of contact. We’ve worked with two additional employees as well.  

How did you come to work with 56 Degrees?

They were recommended by a previous employee and passed his name on after he worked with them at a previous company. I met them and they seemed to be able to advise us in ways we needed. They also seemed they be hands-on, which I wanted. I’d never done a project like this before.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together on the website from July–November 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

We’ve seen a rise in statistics of where we’re getting traffic from. The website has definitely had a positive impact. The feedback we’ve been getting in the design industry has been positive, focusing on the customer journey and UX. They say it’s quite easy to navigate.

How did 56 Degrees perform from a project management standpoint?

We had constant communication through Jacob. He managed communication with other people. They always updated us on what they were working on, so we knew what was happening.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were very flexible and saw it as a collaborative project. They wanted to be part of the process as we do. It’s one of the main reasons I enjoy them. They can see my vision and advise us in the right way. Sometimes you need an outside company’s advice to be able to realize the things you see in your mind. They take creative license as a designer by suggesting good looking options and more slick functionalities.

Finally, they were very reliable. They’ve become our go-to company for web design. We’ve also used them on projects with some of our clients. We trust them to get the job done well and to our standards.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We wouldn’t keep going back if we weren’t happy. We’re happy with everything.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the primary owner and CEO of a glass processes company. We do manufacturing and retail. Basically, anybody in the UK who wants a mirror or a table of a certain size, we’ll produce it and deliver it to them.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 56 Degrees?

We wanted a good online presence to sell products through the web. Our product’s unique because it’s not several products but one product that changes size.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We developed a straightforward, e-commerce website. We took a straightforward WordPress package and built the platform. I wanted a simple site with two or three pages maximum to create an immediate UX, which 56 Degrees was able to produce. Jakub, another designer, and I came up with a lot of designs but 56 Degrees produced all the functionalities.

With my new company, I’ve put Jakub in charge of the web operations and he’s going to have insight into the old company as well. He’s my go-to resource for Internet, Stripe, and PayPal features.

What is the team composition?

I’ve worked with Jakub (CEO and Founder, 56 Degrees).

How did you come to work with 56 Degrees?

A colleague recommended Jakub and it’s been a good relationship ever since. I like to change service providers every five or six years to work with teams that have different ideas and capabilities. When I work with anyone, I explain that preference.

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve spent about £5,000 (approximately $6,500 USD) per year.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in early 2012 and I’ll be working with them in some capacity until the day I drop.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

His websites have generated about half a million pounds a year, so 56 Degrees has provided good value. The work Jakub has done has had an enormous impact. He produced the website, which is the main focus of the company; off that, everything else is spun.

He has been a part of the most important component of the business by far. Also, he suggests ideas, establishing an ongoing conversation. From that, we develop web components. If I phone him at seven o’clock on a Sunday morning, he’ll pick up the phone and make a change.

He’s always got a backup somewhere ready to go live almost instantly. The amount of downtime I’ve lost because of the product’s absolutely minimal. He protects you well.  

How did 56 Degrees perform from a project management standpoint?

No developer has ever been on time because there’s always something else I add into the mix. Simply because I trust him so much, he’s been flexible. Jakub has always been communicative by telephone and e-mail. There’s no issue on the project development front.

What did you find most impressive about them?

56 Degrees has been a good mechanic, putting products together. If something’s complicated, it’s quite often no the actual mechanics of putting it together, that’s the problem but the structure beforehand such as loops on loops within websites. They’re not really his problems but problems that we’ve created for him to solve. Give Jakub a project that’s logical and he’ll complete it.

Are there any areas they could improve?

He could have fewer clients and be quicker. I’d like a bit more of his time. I’d like tasks to be done tomorrow rather than in two weeks but that’s impractical sometimes anyways.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Listen to him on the logic side of a project. You’re in a safe pair of hands. Quite often with these projects, the logic behind a task challenges development. Generally, Jakub has solutions for most challenges. If he doesn’t, he’ll find it.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We import fine wines in to the UK from Europe & the US and sell to private clients in the UK. I am part of the sales team and manage the e-commerce platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire 56 Degrees?

We hired them to redesign our website and build our first e-commerce platform. They also had to integrate with our current internal system for stock and invoicing.

What were your goals for this project?

To expand our selling opportunities and to reach out to a new client base. We wanted to modernise our website and provide a platform for customers to learn about our producers and the regions we cover.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Having given 56 Degrees a rough idea of the kind of site we wanted, we then met with them to see their design ideas. We did the same with three other vendors. For us, a website and e-commerce site that was simple to use and a platform to display our high-quality images and wines was important to us. Two of us were involved in the process of choosing a vendor.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

56 Degrees were responsible for designing and developing the e-commerce project. They also had to integrate with our existing system. Our system developer provided documentation and guidelines on the information that they needed to ingrate with. We needed the ability to buy under different circumstances, delivery to different destinations, messaging functions and a fully functional store whereby customers could see prices based on external factors.

What was the team composition?

Jakub - led the project from the start to finish. Robert - mainly involved in the production/development. Ollie - design work. I don't believe the size of the team changed over time.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

We've been able to access another sector of the wine industry that we weren't involved in before. We are making progress as we wanted to when this project was first launched.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

56 Degrees managed the work using Asana - we found this very helpful as a central workspace and we will continue to use with them going forward. There were few issues. If any, it was us causing delays from our side.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their ability to work with our moving timeline. 56 degrees were also very reactive to any changes that we needed within a short time frame. They were able to understand our instructions and requests. We found their responsiveness very helpful especially as we are a small business ourselves.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Checking developments were correct before communicating with us. We had a few occasions where developments had been done but weren't working or displaying correctly. These would have been spotted easily if the developer had checked his work on completion.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Digital Converts converts outdated media to digital formats. We regularly work with consumers who place orders on our website. I'm one of the directors.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire 56 Degrees?

We hired 56 Degrees to build a bespoke e-commerce store, then migrate and develop the rest of the website.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed an easy-to-use webstore, which is difficult because of the number of inputs and outputs we manage. This store also needed to integrate with our order management software and perform better, with an eye to both visuals and usability, than our previous website. 

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Their quote was reasonable, and they seemed like the best company for the job.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They migrated our WordPress website to a new location and significantly improved its design. They coded custom store pages and integrated the site with our order management software. 

What was the team composition?

Four or five people worked on this job, including a project manager, frontend coders, and backend coders. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

The website launched just over a week ago, and we've already seen a 10-40% improvement in sales. The website looks fantastic and our customers definitely like it. Overall, I'm happy.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

They managed the project effectively through Asana, which helped me assign feedback to the relevant team member. This allowed us to prioritize the most necessary tasks and stay in the loop.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their most impressive quality was their accuracy. They scoped out the project effectively, so it didn't cost more than their quote. They knew how to code and overcame issues that arose. Everyone was friendly, so working with them was fun. They also addressed all our feedback quickly. That's extremely important in web design, since massive delays can occur if guidance is implemented incorrectly.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Nope, they achieved everything we asked. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m an investment analyst for a discretionary wealth manager that looks to target high net worth individuals.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire 56 Degrees?

We’ve been using 56 Degrees for a number of years. They first converted our old website from Drupal to WordPress. They’ve since been involved with minor fixes and amendments. They’re now developing our new site.

What were your goals for this project?

We want to create an easy-to-use website that is both professional and informative.
 

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We looked at a number of options and analyzed their previous work projects. We ultimately selected 56 Degrees due to their professional manner and our past experience with them. 

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

56 Degrees is currently developing an entirely new website for us. They’re helping us produce a fact sheet functionality that we’ve not been able to find with any other developers. They’re also ensuring the website is built with SEO in mind.

What was the team composition?

There are a number of developers working behind the scenes. I communicate only with Jakub (Founder & CEO, 56 Degrees).

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

We’re very grateful that they’re able to implement the fact sheet functionality. This new capability will not only enhance the site but will free up much of my time otherwise spent creating fact sheets and updating figures. 

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We have regular meetings and updates as the project continues. It’s very useful from a communications perspective to have one main point of contact. We also collaborate with a designer recommended by 56 Degrees and the process could not have been smoother. 

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their efficiency and communication are most impressive. We’re kept in the loop with the project at all times. They also add their own opinions about the site. 56 Degrees isn’t afraid to challenge our views, which is helping to build a much better site.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, to my knowledge, there’s no room for improvement.

BACKGROUND

I am the Director of Treat Digital

AI advisory and commentary

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

• Website design and build

SOLUTION

Existing relationship

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost

2-5 Employees

Website design and build, including backend database and flexible frontend content. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

The website was for a new business with no existing userbase so success was measured by ease of content management and ease of use by visitors interacting with the site (including registering for reseach downloads). SEO tools also important.

Project management was efficient and timely.

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

Beyond the ability to understand a brief and deliver the project, having a consistent, single point of contact made communication throughout the project seamless.

Nothing comes to mind.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Coach of SSP Coaching

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Executive and life coaching

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire 56 Degrees to accomplish?

• Create a brand and website

SOLUTION

How did you find 56 Degrees?

Referral

Why did you select 56 Degrees over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Referred to me

How many teammates from 56 Degrees were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Design and build a webiste for my target coaching audience to convert clicks into clients.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

-A fully functional and bespoke webiste

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Yes always on time

Very responsive to additional queries and also changes that happened from my side

What was your primary form of communication with 56 Degrees?

Virtual Meeting

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

We were impressed with the design of the website and the way they creatively turned my thoughts into a slick and clean design.

Are there any areas for improvement or something 56 Degrees could have done differently?

No, they were absolutely fantastic!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Journey is a UK-based company providing office, lab, warehousing, and living accommodation to rent in the UK's key knowledge economies — Cambridge, Oxford, London, and Manchester. Our spaces are fully fitted and ready to move in, with no set-up delays.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 56 Degrees?

We needed to create a website that highlighted our offering clearly. We wanted to drive traffic to the website to facilitate direct inquiries. So, as well as looking good, we needed it to translate viewers into customers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

56 Degrees followed our agency's design instructions and made the website as functionally optimal as possible. They included online forms, downloadable PDFs, and different interactivity across desktop and mobile. The team created a Contact form and a form that was submitted to download a business gated PDF - an informative PDF offering our customers insights into what to look for as a startup lab incubator.

What is the team composition?

We worked with three teammates from 56 Degrees.

How did you come to work with 56 Degrees?

We found 56 Degrees through a business referral. They were a supplier to an agency we were already working with.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from April–July 2025.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We plan to see if the level of inquiries received directly through our website increases and to ultimately convert those inquiries into tenants.

How did 56 Degrees perform from a project management standpoint?

56 Degrees delivered on time. They were very communicative and fulfilled all our requests. We communicated via video calls and Asana, an online workspace platform.

What did you find most impressive about them?

56 Degrees was not only able to fulfil our requests, but also make helpful design recommendations when something wasn't working right.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they were quick, efficient, and very easy to work with.