About SJ

Hello and welcome to my website. My name is Stephen, but most people call me SJ. I’m a digital consultant based on the south coast of England in lovely seaside town called Southsea, Portsmouth. Do you know it?

The CEO of wondering how things work.

For the past 15 years, whether freelancing, working in big agencies or in-house, I’ve always been driven by curiosity. Almost everything I’ve built has come from asking “how does this work?” or spotting a problem without a solution and being unable to sit still until I’ve figured it out.

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15

years in web development.

7k

Happy  clients & customers

100k+

websites using my software

Freelance Digital Transformation Consultant & Web Developer.

My career has taken me from making games and trolling athletes to helping veterans, teaching courses, building software and managing websites across the UK and internationally. I’ve spoken to thousands of people on stages from London to Las Vegas about AI and automation, software development, social media marketing and more.

Stephen James Digital Consultant Square

Why I Went Freelance

I realised early on that I do my best work when I’m involved in projects I’m passionate about. I thrive in creative environments and start-up culture, where there’s energy, variety and a real sense of building something from the ground up.

With young children and a brain that prefers being busy and active, I’ve shaped my career with a work-life-balance I just couldn’t find in-house. That way, when I’m working with clients, they get the very best of me: focused, curious and fully invested in helping them succeed.

Who I Work Best With

I’m the right fit for start-ups, creative industries, and businesses with exciting products or services that need a digital partner to help them reach more people. I love helping the David’s of the world compete with the Goliaths.

We’ll work well together if you are:

Open to new ideas

You’ll get the best out of me if you’re excited about trying fresh approaches and aren’t afraid to be different.

Looking for a partner

I'm good at what I do, but what I do requires partnership. Things go much better when we work together.

Small but mighty

You're a start-up or an SME who's hungry for a bigger piece of the pie. I've already got my knife and fork ready!

Making a difference

Charities & non-profits. Love them! Let's work together to make the world a better place.

Artwork
HubSpot Academy
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Image of Stephen James Digital Transformation Consultant at Festival of Marketing

Working Style

Everyone’s different, and I think it’s important to be upfront about how I work.

'At my desk' hours

I usually work early mornings (6am – 3pm) and evenings, to accommodate the afternoon school-run and allow for dad duties.

Communication preferences

WhatsApp works best for quick updates, but I prefer email for feedback — ideally clear, bulleted, and in one message rather than lots of small ones.

Structured check-ins

I'm easily distracted so appointments are my friend. I like to set specific times to catch up, instead of being interrupted throughout the day.

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