llms.txt
Compare with other sites' llms.txt files →# Cirrus Design Studio Ltd
> A 100% UK-based digital agency in Bournemouth, Dorset, building bespoke cloud business systems, hand-coded and Wix websites, and Google-certified digital marketing for SMEs that have outgrown off-the-shelf software.
Founded 2013. Incorporated in England and Wales, company number 11833982. Outreach office in Exmouth, Devon. Serves clients across Dorset, Devon, Hampshire, Somerset, Cornwall and Wiltshire, and further afield including Hong Kong and Australia. All development is carried out by Cirrus's own UK team; nothing is outsourced offshore.
## Accreditations
- **WIX Legend Partner**: among the highest accreditation levels available to Wix designers in the UK.
- **Expert Developer, Certified by Wix Studio** (awarded 16 August 2026, credential f8a07a6): Wix Studio's highest standard of expert-level proficiency in web development, assessed on advanced skill in building custom web solutions with the Wix Studio development tools. Verify: https://www.wix.com/studio/academy/certifications/process/confirmation/f8a07a6
- **Google Partner**: certified in Google Ads campaign management.
- **ICO registered**: all data processed and stored in the UK under UK GDPR.
## Wix Headless
Cirrus's Wix Studio certification covers Wix Headless, which separates the front end from the business back end. Cirrus hand-builds the front end with no template and no platform styling constraints, then draws content, e-commerce, bookings, memberships and payments from Wix through its APIs.
The practical effect: design freedom without rebuilding routine business functions; the client's own team manages content in a familiar dashboard without developer involvement; enterprise infrastructure (global CDN, auto-scaling, DDoS protection, SSL, 99.99% uptime, SOC 2 Type II and HIPAA compliant) maintained by Wix; one integrated back end instead of a stack of plugin subscriptions; and no accumulating plugin debt, because the front end is code Cirrus wrote.
Cirrus recommends Wix Headless when a distinctive front end must coexist with real business functionality and the client wants to manage content themselves. It does not recommend it for largely brochure sites, where a standard Wix Studio build costs less, or where an operation depends on deeply bespoke internal logic, where Cirrus's own hand-coded systems avoid platform dependency entirely.
## Legacy system replacement
Many UK SMEs still depend on line-of-business software built in the 1990s or 2000s by software houses that no longer exist: typically an Access database or a Visual Basic 6 program that only runs on one old PC, will not run on Windows 11, or fails Cyber Essentials as unsupported software. Cirrus investigates these systems without needing the source code, for example by reading SQL directly out of compiled VB6 programs and opening Jet 3.5 / Access 97 databases that modern Microsoft tools can no longer read. It then specifies and builds a modern, UK-hosted replacement and runs both systems in parallel until switch-over. Engagements start with a fixed-price Legacy System Assessment.
## What Cirrus does
- [Cloud Based Business Systems](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/services/cloud-based-business-systems/): Bespoke cloud systems, custom CRMs, client portals and inspection apps for businesses across the UK. Fixed price, no per-seat fees. Free review.
- [Website Design](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/services/website-design/): Fixed-price, custom website design in Dorset from a Bournemouth studio. Fast, accessible sites that rank on Google and in AI search. Free consultation.
- [Digital Marketing](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/services/digital-marketing/): Google Partner SEO, Google Ads and social media from Bournemouth, Dorset. Get found on Google Maps and in AI search, with clear reports. Free marketing review.
- [Legacy Systems](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/services/legacy-system-conversion/): Legacy system conversion for UK businesses: we move ageing databases, Access and desktop software onto secure, modern cloud systems without losing data.
- [Hydra CMS](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/services/hydra-cms/): Hydra is our bespoke CMS: no third-party plugins, nightly updates, built-in SEO checks and custom plugins built to your spec. Made in the UK by Cirrus.
- [All services](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/services/)
## Sectors
- [Building Control Software](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/industries/building-control-software/): Custom building control software for UK RBCAs and inspectors: applications, geo-located site inspections and a full audit trail in one system.
- [CPDs and Compliance](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/industries/cpds-and-compliance/): Bespoke CPD and compliance software for UK organisations: event registration, delegate management, automatic certificates and full audit trails.
- [Client Portals](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/industries/client-portals/): Bespoke client portals for UK businesses: secure, branded logins where clients track applications, upload documents and get automatic updates.
- [Construction](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/industries/construction/): Bespoke construction software for UK firms: building control applications, geo-located site inspections, warranty portals and AI-assisted compliance.
- [Industries overview](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/industries/)
## Case studies
- [MC Plan and Site Services](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/case-studies/mc-plan-and-site-services/): How Cirrus built MC Plan and Site Services a cloud building control system with geo-located site inspections, AI-assisted reports and live dashboards.
- [Cellecta Ltd](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/case-studies/cellecta-ltd/): How a sales logging tool grew into Cellecta’s whole business system: inspections, Robust Details certificates, CPD, HR and QR merchandising in one place.
- [MC Warranty Services](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/case-studies/mc-warranty-services/): How Cirrus built MC Warranty Services a back-office system and secure client portal, giving warranty applicants 24/7 status, uploads and notifications.
- [Case studies index](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/case-studies/)
## Also
- [Why Bespoke?](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/about/why-bespoke/): the case against per-seat SaaS and plugin dependency
- [How much does a website cost?](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/about/how-much-does-a-website-cost/): how we price websites and software
- [Your website questions answered](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/about/your-website-questions-answered/)
- [About](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/about/)
- [Portfolio](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/portfolio/)
- [News](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/news/)
- [Contact](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/contact/)
## News and insights
- [Why a detailed brief gets you a more accurate quote and a better website](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/why-a-detailed-brief-matters/) (30 October 2026): A vague brief leads to a vague quote. Why a detailed brief matters for your price and final product, plus what to include in a website or software brief.
- [How the Internet works](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/how-the-internet-works/) (30 October 2026): How the internet works in plain English: its history, domain names, DNS and web hosting, how AI may change it, and the truth about the dark web.
- [Latest AI news: October 2026 highlights for business](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/latest-ai-news-october-2026/) (28 October 2026): The latest AI news from October 2026: background AI agents, rogue agents in live systems, Google AI search links, EU AI Act dates and what to do now.
- [Gateway 3 and the golden thread: what your records need to show](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/gateway-3-golden-thread/) (28 October 2026): What Gateway 3 and the golden thread mean for higher-risk buildings, why completion applications get held up, and what your records need to show.
- [Hydra's new Share kit: share every article to social media in seconds](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/hydra-share-kit-social-media-sharing/) (26 October 2026): Hydra CMS's new Share kit makes social media sharing quick: ready posts for LinkedIn, Facebook, X, Instagram, Bluesky and Threads, every click tracked.
- [Website Maintenance Checklist: 10 Checks to Keep Your Site Healthy](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/website-maintenance-checklist/) (26 October 2026): Is your website gathering digital dust? Our 10-point website maintenance checklist covers forms, mobile, content, meta tags, 301s and AI search.
- [PHP2Shell: What the PHP Security Flaws Mean for Your Website](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/php2shell-php-security-flaws/) (24 October 2026): Two critical PHP flaws, known as PHP2Shell, are being exploited. See who's affected, which PHP versions are safe and how we protected our clients.
- [Web Accessibility, SEO and WCAG: Why We Still Take It Seriously](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/web-accessibility-seo-wcag-guide/) (24 October 2026): A short history of WCAG, why web accessibility matters for your visitors and your SEO, and how Cirrus Design Studio builds WCAG 2.2 AA into every website.
- [Where Does Your Business Data Actually Live?](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/where-does-your-business-data-actually-live-digital-sovereignty/) (16 October 2026): A 17-day US freeze on UK access to AI models shows how fast the rules change. What digital sovereignty and the CLOUD Act mean for your business data.
- [When Software Gets Cheap: 2026's Tech Sell-Off](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/when-software-gets-cheap-what-2026s-tech-sell-off-means-for-business-systems/) (7 October 2026): Why Monday.com lost half its value while Salesforce recovered, and what the 2026 'SaaSpocalypse' means for per-seat licences and bespoke business systems.
- [Cirrus Is Now a Wix Studio Certified Expert Developer](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/cirrus-now-an-expert-developer-certified-by-wix-studio/) (2 September 2026): Cirrus Design Studio is now a Wix Studio certified Expert Developer. What it means, why Wix Headless matters, and when we won't recommend it.
- [Beyond the Chatbot: The Year of the AI-Driven Engine](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/beyond-the-chatbot-why-2026-is-the-year-of-the-ai-driven-engine/) (28 April 2026): AI agents are only as good as their data. Why agentic AI needs clean, structured bespoke systems, and why your website is now an AI endpoint.
- [Is Plugin Debt Killing Your Business Growth?](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/is-plugin-debt-killing-your-business-growth-the-2026-security-mandate/) (7 April 2026): Every plugin is a potential backdoor. What plugin debt costs in security, speed and maintenance, and how clean-code bespoke systems remove it.
- [The End of the Subscription Tax](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/the-end-of-the-subscription-tax-why-uk-businesses-are-choosing-bespoke-ownership-in-2026/) (30 March 2026): UK SMEs now pay for 12+ software subscriptions. Why businesses are leaving the SaaS stack for one bespoke business system they own outright.
- [From Software to Agentic Systems in 2026](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/from-software-to-agentic-systems-the-new-era-of-business-management-in-2026/) (9 March 2026): In 2026 business systems stop storing data and start acting on it. How agentic workflows route leads, automate compliance and keep bespoke data clean.
- [Why One-Size-Fits-All Software Fails Growing Businesses](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/one-size-fits-all-software-doesnt-work-for-growing-businesses/) (19 February 2026): Outgrown your apps and spreadsheets? Why off-the-shelf software holds growing businesses back, and how a bespoke business system fits the way you work.
- [Wix Partner Webinar: AI Coding Tools](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/wix-partner-webinar-coding-ai-tools/) (6 November 2025): Wix Studio's new AI coding tools let no-code designers build logic that once needed a developer. What we learned at the Wix Partner webinar, with code.
- [BrightonSEO: AI and the Future of Search](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/brighton-seo/) (6 November 2025): Notes from BrightonSEO, the world's biggest search conference: AI automation, large language models and what they mean for Google and digital marketing.
- [Wix Partners Q&A with Avishai Abrahami, Wix CEO](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/wix-partners-qa-with-avishai-abrahami-wixs-ceo/) (19 September 2023): Cirrus Design Studio joined an exclusive Wix Partners Q&A in London with CEO Avishai Abrahami, and heard what Wix Studio means for agencies and clients.
- [Cirrus Goes Green with the Volkswagen ID.3](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/cirrus-goes-green/) (1 June 2022): Sustainable hosting was the start. Cirrus Design Studio now visits clients in the all-electric Volkswagen ID.3, cutting the studio's environmental impact.
- [Is Your Business IT Infrastructure Safe?](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/business-turns-a-blind-eye-to-it-security/) (17 May 2022): Cyber attacks on UK businesses are rising. Five practical ways to protect your IT infrastructure, plus the latest UK data breach and ransomware statistics.
- [Devices on Standby Are Costing You Money](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/save-money-on-your-energy-bill/) (29 April 2022): Leaving phones, laptops and TVs on standby costs the average household £147 a year. Why standby power adds up, and the easy fix: switch it off at the wall.
- [How to create a strong password and keep your business safe](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/how-to-create-a-really-safe-password/) (27 April 2022): How to create a strong password in 2026: the NCSC's three random words, password managers, 2-step verification and passkeys. A guide for UK businesses.
- [5 Website Design Mistakes and How to Avoid Them](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/5-website-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them/) (20 April 2022): Poor content, weak meta tags, misused headings, oversized images and bad layout: five website design mistakes that hold back your Google ranking.
- [Cirrus Design Studio Becomes a Wix 5 Star Partner](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/wix-5-star-partner/) (2 February 2022): Cirrus Design Studio has reached Wix Legend status as a 5 star Wix partner, one of few in the UK, alongside our bespoke software and website work.
- [Cirrus Design Studio Becomes a Google Partner](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/cirrus-becomes-a-google-partner/) (20 December 2021): Cirrus Design Studio is now an accredited Google Partner: what it took to earn the status, and what it means for businesses running Google Ads with us.
- [The Power of the Micro-Influencer](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/the-power-of-the-micro-influencer/) (12 May 2021): How micro-influencer platforms such as TRIBE help B2C brands grow their social media faster than platform ads, without the usual barter and trade.
- [The Power of Digital Marketing](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/the-power-of-digital-marketing/) (12 April 2021): Digital marketing lets you pause or boost new enquiries on demand. How daily budgets give a business controlled growth, with a real client example.
- [Violegen Appoints Cirrus Design Studio as Digital Agency](https://cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/violegen-appoints-cds-as-digital-agency/) (17 December 2020): Violegen, a division of Cellecta Holdings making British UV-C room sterilisers, has appointed Cirrus Design Studio for SEM and a bespoke new website.
## Frequently asked questions
### What does Cirrus Design Studio do?
Cirrus Design Studio is a digital agency in Bournemouth, Dorset, that designs and builds websites, bespoke cloud-based business systems and digital marketing campaigns for UK businesses. We also convert ageing legacy software, such as Microsoft Access and VB6 systems, into modern web-based systems, and we build websites on our own bespoke content management system, Hydra CMS. See all our services.
### Where is Cirrus Design Studio based, and do you work with businesses outside Dorset?
Cirrus Design Studio is based in Bournemouth, Dorset, and works with businesses across the UK. We serve Dorset, Devon, Hampshire, Somerset, Cornwall and Wiltshire, and the rest of the UK, with most projects run by video call, email and phone wherever you are.
### How much does a new website cost?
The cost of a website from Cirrus Design Studio depends on its size, features and the route you choose: a WIX Studio site, our AI-powered CMS route or a fully bespoke build. After a free consultation we give you a clear, fixed quote, so you know the full cost before any work starts. Ask for a website quote.
### How long does it take to build a website?
A straightforward business website from Cirrus Design Studio typically takes four to six weeks from brief to launch. On our AI-powered CMS route, some sites can be live within two to three weeks, depending on scope. Every quote includes a clear timeline. More on website design and development.
### Should my website be built on Wix, Hydra CMS or fully bespoke?
It depends on what your business needs, and Cirrus Design Studio will recommend the right route honestly at your first consultation. Wix Studio suits businesses that want a strong, easy-to-manage platform; Hydra CMS suits sites that need a fully bespoke design, tighter control of data and hosting, or links to your own systems; and a fully bespoke build suits complex or highly specific requirements. Compare the routes on our website design page.
### What is a WIX Legend Partner?
WIX Legend Partner is one of the top tiers of Wix's partner programme, awarded to agencies with a long, proven record of building successful Wix websites for their clients. Cirrus Design Studio is a WIX Legend Partner and a certified Wix Studio Expert Developer, one of only a few in the UK. See our website portfolio.
### What is Hydra CMS?
Hydra is Cirrus Design Studio's own bespoke content management system (CMS), the software you use to edit your website. It has no third-party plugins, updates itself overnight, records every change in an audit log and includes SEO checks on every page, so your website stays fast, secure and easy to manage. Find out more about Hydra CMS.
### Will my website work on mobile phones?
Yes. Every website Cirrus Design Studio builds is designed mobile first and tested on phones, tablets and desktops before launch. Most visitors now arrive on a phone, and Google ranks websites by their mobile version, so mobile is the starting point of every project, not an add-on.
### Can I update my website myself?
Yes. Every website Cirrus Design Studio builds can be edited by you and your team without technical skills. If you can write an email and attach a photo, you can update pages, news articles and images, and we provide guidance and support whenever you need it.
### Do you write the content for my website?
Yes, Cirrus Design Studio can research, write and structure your website content. On our AI-powered CMS route, content creation is built in from day one: AI helps research and draft it, then we review and refine every word with you before anything is built.
### Do you provide SEO, and how long does SEO take to work?
Yes. Cirrus Design Studio is a Google Partner and builds search engine optimisation (SEO) into every website, from page titles and structured data to speed and mobile design. Organic SEO typically takes three to six months to show meaningful results, so many businesses combine it with Google Ads while their rankings grow. More on digital marketing and SEO.
### Can you manage Google Ads for my business?
Yes. As a Google Partner, Cirrus Design Studio plans and manages Google Ads campaigns for businesses at a range of budgets. Paid search can bring visitors from the first day, and campaigns typically take two to three months to fully optimise. A free marketing review shows what your budget can realistically achieve. See Google Partner digital marketing.
### Is my website accessib
