I build digital platforms. And I fix the ones that are already in trouble.
I'm Alex Bennett, a hands-on technical lead. I spend my working life inside enterprise Strapi implementations (the ones going well and the ones that aren't) after a decade building platforms agency-side and at the British Library. You get that experience directly: no account manager, no juniors learning on your budget.
- Writing — “What actually breaks in the first 90 days”
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portfolioSpec: record the ordering fix rather than deferring it -
weddingrsvp: bring deadline forward to 31 December 2026
Front End Developer in 2015. Technical Lead and Head of Web Development from 2020. Implementation Manager at Strapi since 2024. Agencies, a national institution, now the vendor.
Led web development at 43 Clicks North, then covered the Head of Web Development role at the British Library for a year during the postholder's parental leave.
My full-time role is at Strapi, inside enterprise implementations. The independent work on this site is separate from that role and cleared with my employer.
Led the web development team's interim service response in the hours after the 2023 British Library cyber attack, in collaboration with the Digital Engagement team.
What I do
Ways I plug in as an independent, hands-on technical lead. Scoped per engagement.
| code | service | description | format | typical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S/01 | Performance & Architecture Rescue | Your Strapi build is slow, fragile, or about to launch and you're not confident. I find out why, and fix it. | Fixed scope | 1–3 weeks |
| S/02 | Headless Build & Replatform | End-to-end delivery. Content model, migration, integration, launch, handover. Legacy CMS to headless, or a greenfield build done properly the first time. | Project | 8–16 weeks |
| S/03 | Interim Technical Lead | Stepping into the chair when you need a senior technical lead and don't have one. Direction, architecture decisions, code review, mentoring — and a team in better shape than I found it. | Retained | 3–6 months |
| S/04 | Public Sector & Accessible Delivery | Digital services built to GOV.UK standards and WCAG, by someone who's delivered inside a national institution and knows what procurement, accessibility audits and FOI-able decisions actually require. | Project or interim |
How I work
The operating principles behind every engagement.
No agency overhead
You talk to the person building it. No discovery phase that produces a slide deck, no chain of people between your question and an answer.
AI-accelerated
The work that used to need a team of three is compressed. That's how one person delivers at agency pace, and why the economics are different.
You keep the knowledge
I'd rather leave your team able to run and extend the thing than leave you dependent on me. Handover isn't a phase at the end, it's how the work gets done.
Selected work
Case studies, abridged where confidentiality requires.
The British Library
A year covering Head of Web Development. When the 2023 ransomware attack took core systems offline, I led the web team's interim response in the hours and days that followed.
Building High-Performance Strapi Apps: Common Pitfalls and Best Practices
Where Strapi performance problems actually come from, why populate=deep is a trap, and how to design schemas that don't get expensive as they grow.
What people say
Colleagues, clients, and the person whose role I covered. Marked quotes are public recommendations you can read in full on LinkedIn.
Alex is an exceptional developer, a skilled technical lead, and an inspiring development mentor.
I had the privilege of having Alex cover my role as Head of Web Development at the British Library for a year while I was on parental leave. Throughout this period, I felt completely at ease, knowing that the department was in such capable hands. Alex is an exceptional developer, a skilled technical lead, and an inspiring development mentor.
From the outset, Alex seamlessly stepped into the role, quickly establishing a strong rapport with internal stakeholders, which proved invaluable throughout the year. Upon my return, I received an abundance of positive feedback from stakeholders who commended his outstanding communication skills and proactive approach to problem-solving. Alex’s ability to engage and collaborate effectively with various teams significantly contributed to maintaining the smooth operation and progress of our projects.
Furthermore, I personally observed Alex’s mentoring abilities. He provided guidance and support to our developers, resulting in notable improvements in their skills and performance. His mentorship was met with extremely positive feedback, underscoring his talent for leadership and development.
During his tenure at the library, Alex also demonstrated his adeptness in crisis management. He managed a major incident with remarkable composure and decisiveness, showing initiative in a situation where many others might have faltered. His ability to remain calm under pressure and effectively navigate complex challenges speaks volumes about his capabilities as a leader.
I highly recommend Alex to any organization seeking a forward-thinking developer, technical lead, or development manager. His technical expertise, leadership skills, and unwavering commitment to excellence make him an invaluable asset to any team.
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06 · Get in touch
Planning a Strapi rollout? Let's talk.
I take a small number of engagements each year, deliberately. Best fit: teams with their own frontend engineers (whatever the framework) bringing Strapi in to replace a legacy CMS or stand up a new headless platform. Discovery calls are always free.