Robert Fisher is a Zend-certified PHP engineer with 19 years of hands-on experience. After spending 11 years as a senior developer at a Cambridge digital agency, Robert founded FWRmedia Ltd to deliver focused, high-quality back-end work.
Robert's expertise centres on back-end PHP and MySQL development — building robust custom functionality, developing with both Drupal and modern PHP frameworks, optimising databases, and providing reliable infrastructure and ongoing support. We focus exclusively on the logic and infrastructure layer; therefore, we do not undertake front-end development (HTML, CSS, or JavaScript). For projects requiring design work, we collaborate seamlessly with trusted specialist partners.

Core Services
 

1. Custom Back-end PHP Development
We design and build clean, maintainable back-end solutions, including:

Bespoke PHP applications and business logic
Custom functionality and integrations (payments, calculators, booking systems, APIs, third-party services)
MySQL database architecture, optimisation, and performance tuning
Refactoring and modernising legacy PHP codebases to PHP 8+ standards.

2. Drupal Back-end Engineering
With deep experience in the Drupal ecosystem, we deliver:

Drupal 10 and Drupal 11 architecture and development
Custom module development and entity/field API work
Content migrations and upgrades (especially Drupal 7 → 10/11)
Search integrations (Apache Solr, Elasticsearch)
Performance and caching optimisation for complex sites.

3. Modern PHP Frameworks (Symfony, Laminas, Laravel)
While our deepest expertise lies in Symfony and Laminas (formerly Zend Framework), we maintain a framework-agnostic approach to development. Modern PHP development is built on shared principles: MVC architecture, PSR standards, and robust ORMs like Doctrine.

Whether your project is built on Laravel, Symfony, or a bespoke framework, we apply the same standards to ensure the code is secure, testable, and maintainable. This architectural mindset allows FWRmedia Ltd to adapt to your existing stack rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all solution.
4. Technical Infrastructure & Managed Hosting
We provide engineered hosting environments tailored for PHP and Drupal sites:

Secure, high-availability setups (including Docker Swarm where beneficial)
Proactive monitoring and performance optimisation
Database management (MySQL 8.0+)
Security hardening, updates, and reliable backup strategies.

5. Ongoing Support & Maintenance with SLAs
Business-critical systems need consistent care. We offer structured support packages including security patching, performance monitoring, and guaranteed response times.
H2: How we Work
We specialise in the back-end layer — architecture, development, integration, optimisation, and infrastructure. This focused approach allows us to deliver senior-level expertise efficiently. For full-stack projects we work seamlessly with design and front-end teams.
This model works particularly well for:

Agencies needing reliable back-end or overflow support
Organisations with existing PHP or Drupal sites that need enhancement or modernisation
Businesses wanting senior technical input without a large agency overhead.

Why Work With Me

  • 19 years PHP experience, including Zend certification
  • Proven track record with universities, financial services, and complex systems
  • Honest, practical advice on the best technical approach
  • Clear communication and direct access to an experienced engineer

Looking for an experienced back-end PHP developer for a new project, Drupal work, framework-based development, legacy modernisation, or ongoing technical support?