Decades of designing for good

Web design has changed a lot since we first opened our (virtual) doors, but our purpose hasn’t: we use our digital skills to help organisations do more good, more effectively.

How it all began

Fat Beehive was founded by Tom Moreton with a simple goal: to bring creative, accessible and affordable web design to charities and ethical businesses. 

Our first client, Cafédirect, was at the forefront of the fair trade movement, supporting small-scale coffee growers and ensuring a fair wage for local communities.

Back then, most agencies were focused on the commercial sector. We weren’t. We wanted to do things differently, and we’ve stuck to that principle ever since: make the web work for people doing good in the world.

Not quite our first website, but our second. This website had a ‘style switcher’, trendy at the time, which allowed users to choose between 2 designs of the website. This design was called Rancid Butter.

The journey so far

Over the years, we’ve evolved alongside the digital landscape, learning new technologies, growing our team, and expanding our services. But we’ve always remained true to our roots: working with organisations that share our values.

We’ve built everything from bold campaign microsites to complex membership platforms. We’ve helped charities navigate rebrands, GDPR, accessibility updates and ever-changing user needs. And we’ve celebrated plenty of sector wins along the way.

This version of our website, the third version, focused on our in-house Content Management System called Beekeeper. All of our clients had Beekeeper and we kept a running total of the number of pages that had been created with Beekeeper.

What makes us different

It’s not just our experience that sets us apart. It’s our approach. We’re collaborative, curious and committed to getting things right – not just at launch, but long after. We stick around. We ask questions. We care about outcomes.

We also understand the sector like few others do. We know the pressures charities face, and we tailor our processes to suit real-world constraints. That means working flexibly, making tech choices that last, and always designing with users in mind.

Still buzzing

These days, our hive is bigger, bolder and busier than ever. We’re proud to be one of the UK’s leading charity web design agencies – and even prouder of the long-standing relationships we’ve built with our clients. But that’s not all. We’re currently ranked in the top 20 of BCorps in the world, and are the only UK digital agency in the top 10 – reassuring customers that they’re partnering with an organisation that aligns with their values.

Whether you’re a grassroots organisation or a household name, we bring the same energy, care and commitment to every project we take on.

Here’s to what’s next.

The fourth version of our website celebrated being in Shoreditch, with a picture from the roof of the office showing now departed staff Danny (designer), Scott (lead developer) and Rachel (CEO)