Bespoke Software & Platform Engineering

Engineering platforms that support every stage of growth

Formulate builds bespoke web platforms, modernises legacy systems and delivers enterprise software engineering for growth and enterprise organisations — with the architectural rigour, security and long-term thinking that production systems demand.

Start a conversation Our services

Web & Backend

Ruby on Rails

React & Next.js PostgreSQL

AWS

Microsoft Platform

Power Apps

Power Automate

Power BI

Azure

Low-code & Data

Airtable

Copilot Studio Dataverse SharePoint

Who we are

Engineering-led consultancy with a 15-year track record

Formulate is a bespoke software and platform engineering consultancy working with enterprise and growth-stage organisations across the UK. We help businesses design, build and modernise the technology platforms that support their operations and growth.

Our work spans custom web platform development, legacy system modernisation, Microsoft Power Platform delivery, data engineering and AI implementation — always with the long-term maintainability and governance standards that serious organisations expect.

As an ISO 27001-certified consultancy and Crown Commercial Service supplier, we operate to financial-grade engineering standards and have delivered production systems in regulated environments including financial services, insurance and the public sector.

15+

Years delivering production platforms

ISO

27001 certified, end-to-end

CCS

Crown Commercial Service supplier

4M+

Records migrated across legacy projects

How we work

Intellectual integrity

We recommend the right architectural answer, not the easiest delivery path. Our advice is independent of platform vendor relationships.

Financial-grade rigour

Decisions are verified through structured analysis. We design systems that hold up under regulatory scrutiny and operational pressure — not just in controlled conditions.

Technology sovereignty

We build systems your team can understand, support and extend. A successful engagement ends with the client in control, not dependent on us.

Long-term maintainability

We design for the system you will need in three years, not just the one you need next quarter. Clean architecture, good test coverage and documented decisions compound over time.

Embedded partnership

We work alongside your team rather than as a black-box supplier. Design decisions, architectural choices and technical reviews happen in the open.

Core Services

Engineering capabilities that support every stage of growth

We design systems that solve for scale, security and operational clarity — across the full delivery lifecycle.

Web Platform Development

We build scalable web platforms that support products, services and operational workflows — from customer-facing SaaS to internal line-of-business applications.

Legacy Modernisation

We modernise legacy systems while maintaining operational continuity and data integrity — replatforming from Access, VB, classic ASP, PHP and ageing Java stacks onto modern architectures.

Microsoft Power Platform

Power Apps, Power Automate, Power BI and Dataverse delivery for enterprise organisations — from citizen development programmes to full-scale platform migrations.

System Architecture & Technical Strategy

We help organisations define technology strategy, architecture and platform decisions with confidence — designing connected ecosystems that align data, integrations and services into a scalable structure.

Data Migration

Structured migration of legacy data with full reconciliation pipelines, validation checkpoints and zero-downtime cutovers where required. We have migrated over 4 million records across engagements.

AI & Workflow Automation

We implement governed AI and workflow automation that integrates cleanly into existing platforms — reducing manual effort without creating new operational risk.

Enterprise App Engineering

We design and build internal applications that support complex operations and integrate with wider systems — from case management and audit platforms to ERP extensions and bespoke tooling.

Data & BI Reporting

We transform operational data into structured insights — Power BI dashboards, semantic models and reporting layers that give leadership real-time visibility into performance.

Security & Compliance Engineering

ISO 27001-aligned delivery with secure-by-default architecture, access control, audit logging and processes built for regulated environments — financial services, public sector, insurance.

Who we work with

Built for enterprise and growth

Enterprise

Enterprise organisations

We work with large organisations modernising mission-critical systems, consolidating fragmented tooling and delivering platform programmes with the governance and security their environments demand.

Legacy platform modernisation and replatforming
Regulated environments: financial services, insurance, public sector
ISO 27001 and Crown Commercial Service procurement
Citizen development programmes and Power Platform governance
Enterprise data migration and reporting infrastructure

Growth

Growth-stage organisations

We work with growth companies that have outgrown early tools and need a scalable engineering foundation — building the platforms that support the next phase of their business.

Greenfield web platform development
Consolidating spreadsheets and SaaS tools into a single platform
Internal operations platforms and workflow automation
Customer-facing applications with complex business logic
Engineering practice and CI/CD foundation-building

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of projects do you take on?

We work across custom web platform development, legacy system modernisation, Microsoft Power Platform delivery, data migration, AI implementation and enterprise application engineering. Engagements range from focused rescue projects to multi-year platform programmes.

Do you work with enterprise and regulated clients?

Yes. We are ISO 27001 certified and a Crown Commercial Service supplier. We regularly deliver in regulated environments including financial services, insurance and the public sector. Our processes are designed to meet the audit, access control and governance standards these environments require.

Can you modernise our legacy system?

Yes. We regularly replatform legacy systems — Microsoft Access, Visual Basic, classic ASP, legacy PHP and ageing Java monoliths — onto modern web stacks including Ruby on Rails and PostgreSQL. We use structured discovery, incremental delivery and disciplined data migration so that the business keeps running throughout the transition.

Do you work with Microsoft Power Platform?

Yes — extensively. We deliver Power Apps, Power Automate, Power BI and Dataverse for enterprise clients, including full platform migrations (such as Appian to Power Platform), citizen development programmes and Power BI reporting estates. We are experienced working within Microsoft's governance and security model.

What does a typical engagement look like?

Most engagements begin with a discovery phase to understand the current system, define the target architecture and agree delivery milestones. We then move into iterative delivery with regular reviews. Larger programmes are structured in phases; smaller projects may be fixed-scope. We agree the model up front.

Are you technology-agnostic?

Yes. We recommend the right platform for the problem — not the one that is easiest for us to deliver. Our experience spans Ruby on Rails, React, .NET, Microsoft Power Platform, AWS, Azure and low-code platforms. We will tell you when a different tool is a better fit.

How do you handle data migration?

Carefully. Data migration is one of the areas where well-intentioned projects most often fail. We design structured migration pipelines with extraction, transformation, validation and load phases — with reconciliation reports reviewed and signed off before records are committed. We have migrated over 4 million records across client engagements.

Can you work with our in-house team?

Yes. We frequently work as an embedded partner alongside in-house engineering teams — contributing architecture, delivery capacity and engineering practice, while working toward the client team being able to own and extend the system independently.

Do you work with AI and automation?

Yes. We implement AI features and workflow automation within existing platforms — using tools including Copilot Studio, Claude and Power Automate where appropriate. We focus on implementations that are governed, testable and operationally supportable, not experimental AI that creates new risk.

Where are you based?

Formulate is based in Guildford, Surrey, and operates across the UK. We work with clients on-site, remotely and in hybrid arrangements depending on the nature of the engagement and the client's preference.