About Me
Senior frontend developer from Newcastle. I build accessible systems and tools that make public sector websites easier to use and easier to maintain.
Who I Am
Alright, I’m Andy. Senior frontend developer at Northumberland County Council, currently doing a Masters in Strategic Leadership at the University of Sunderland as part of a Level 7 Senior Leader programme.
I lead on design systems, accessibility, and frontend patterns across Drupal and static sites. Outside work, I’m dad to three kids, a solo traveller, grassroots football manager, and goalkeeping coach. I also write fiction and tinker with personal projects when my brain allows it.
My Journey
For years I juggled a full time job, two part time ones, and a degree just to keep the family afloat. The kids are older now, life’s a bit calmer, and I finally get to focus on what I love: building things that genuinely make people’s lives easier.
How It Started
I’ve been hooked on code since the late 90s. We couldn’t afford a computer at home, so I’d grab extra time on the school machines and pore over “view source” to work out how websites were built.
At 22, while working at a bank, I wrote a simple VBA tool that turned a 20 minute admin task into about 30 seconds. It ended up saving the company over £3 million a year. That was the moment I realised: fix something properly and you only have to fix it once.
What I Do Now
At Northumberland County Council I’m the only dedicated frontend specialist, so I set the standards: accessible patterns, reusable components, clean structured code, and making sure it works properly for the people who actually need it.
A big part of the role is mentoring other developers, writing guidance, and pushing for sustainable systems over quick one off fixes. I try to leave things better than I found them.
What I’ve Built
Practical tools I needed for my own job in 2025:
- EmilyCSS — A lightweight CSS toolkit for accessible public sector sites. Works with plain HTML, Drupal, Astro, no bloat, no frameworks required.
- CSS Audit Tool — Scans projects for unused and duplicate CSS, respects load order, and spits out a cleaner file. Great for reducing bloat and debugging fast.
- Content Clarity Checker — Offline tool that checks reading age, flags jargon, and helps teams write content real people can understand. No logins, no subscriptions.
Longbenton95
I’m slowly building Longbenton95, a narrative point and click adventure game set in the North East in the mid 90s.
It’s a solo passion project where I handle writing, systems design, UI, and tooling. It scratches the same itch as good frontend work: clear structure, thoughtful pacing, and making something complex feel simple and human.
My Approach
I’m not chasing pretty. I’m chasing simple, frictionless, and accessible. People should be able to get what they need quickly and easily, no matter their device, connection, or ability.
Semantic HTML, keyboard support, proper contrast, predictable layouts. These aren’t nice to haves, they’re the foundation. Get that right first, then layer on style if there’s room.
What I Can’t Stand
Messy codebases. It’s like walking into a house where every previous owner slapped new wallpaper over the old stuff and painted on top. Layers of cruft because nobody took the time to strip it back properly.
I enjoy the stripping back part. Getting to the bare brick and building something clean that stays maintainable.
Looking Ahead
Public sector work has shown me how much good accessibility and UX can help real people. I’m interested in the practical side of AI too, the stuff that reduces admin and friction instead of creating more noise.
I’ve got ADHD, so I do best when the work feels useful and there’s a clear point to it. If it’s not interesting or meaningful, I struggle to pretend otherwise.
Dream job? Building tools, products, or services that solve proper problems and feel worth the time invested.
Life Outside Code
I manage a grassroots football team in Newcastle and coach goalkeepers. It’s taught me a ton about mentoring: spotting strengths, building confidence, and helping people improve without talking down to them.
Solo travel is my reset. Backpack, cheap flights, minimal plans. It clears my head and I always come back sharper and more patient.
My Drive
Parenting. I want my kids to see what effort looks like, and that you can keep growing and building a better life, no matter when you start.
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