October 2024 – What We’ve Been Up To

Wayne

Supporting Businesses, New Website Launches, and Autumn Adventures

As October comes to a close, it’s been another busy month for us at Twilo. We’re thrilled to be helping businesses across South and West Yorkshire take advantage of a fantastic opportunity: the chance to secure 50% funding for digital projects, from website development to custom applications. With the submission deadline set for the end of 2024, we’re here to guide applicants through the process and help make the most of this support.

This month, we’re also celebrating the launch of several new websites, each designed to give our clients a head start in their Christmas marketing campaigns. From e-commerce platforms to content-driven sites, these projects are ready to shine in time for the festive season.

Outside of agency life, I had the chance to visit Old Trafford and explore the autumn-colored villages around Yorkshire, including a picturesque trip to Haworth. There’s nothing quite like seeing our local landscapes in full autumn glory.

At the time of writing, I’m also digesting the latest UK budget announcement, which includes additional taxes that will impact small businesses. It’s a pivotal time for us to assess our growth plans and ensure we continue to deliver value for clients, whatever challenges lie ahead.

Here’s to a productive November!

Andrew

From Code to Cosplay: A Month of Web Development Challenges and Weekend Adventures

During work, I’ve pushed multiple websites live this month and have had the great opportunity to try something different with OpenCart. Normally, OpenCart will calculate prices by adding the product price with the fixed prices of each option. A new project required us to dynamically change the price of options depending on what is selected on another option. The user will enter a product journey whereby they first pick a size. Depending on what size they pick, the price of the other options will change. As the user clicks through each step of the journey, the running total is updated live on screen and a summary is provided at the end of the journey. This was a great challenge that gave me the opportunity to dive into how the cart works in OpenCart; It allowed me to better understand the checkout process from a back-end perspective.

The month outside of work has been mostly unexciting with the weekends consisting of staying home to watch YouTube videos, playing video games and making my weekly visits to my parents for Sunday dinner.

The weekend before Halloween, I had an eye appointment in Wakefield. I woke up early to catch the train from Cross Gates where I got squeezed into the train with everyone else like sardines. After finally getting away from that hot and uncomfortable mess, I got a comfortable ride into Wakefield.

During this weekend, Wakefield was running an event which was all about movie characters and cosplaying; This was all for a local charity. As I was early for my appointment I sat outside with a coffee and just watched the busy streets and occasionally watched as a giant Stich goes by or a man on a Speeder Bike from Star Wars whizzes past. It was a fun atmosphere to be around. Finally, after getting through my appointment, I headed back into Leeds where I met up with some old friends over a few pints. We were there for a few hours and then ended the day going for some noodles. They were from a local place, and they were really good.

Sayem

A Month in the Life of a Developer: Juggling OpenCart, WordPress, and a New Client Project

This past month has been a whirlwind of activity, and I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the journey. As a developer, I thrive on challenges, and this month certainly delivered.

Diving into OpenCart Plugin Development

One of the major highlights was working on several OpenCart plugins. OpenCart is a powerful e-commerce platform, and developing plugins for it is always an exciting challenge. Each plugin had its unique requirements, pushing me to think creatively and solve problems efficiently. From enhancing user experience to adding new functionalities, these plugins are set to make a significant impact on the stores they’ll be integrated into.

Tackling WordPress Debugging

In addition to OpenCart, I spent a considerable amount of time debugging WordPress sites. WordPress, with its vast ecosystem of themes and plugins, can sometimes be a puzzle. This month, I encountered a variety of issues, from plugin conflicts to theme customisation problems. Each issue was a learning opportunity, and there’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of seeing a site run smoothly after a thorough debugging session.

Building a New Client Website

Perhaps the most rewarding project was helping my team develop both the frontend and backend of a new client website. This project was a comprehensive one, involving everything from initial design concepts to final deployment. On the frontend, we focused on creating a user-friendly and visually appealing interface. On the backend, we ensured the site was robust, secure, and scalable. Collaborating with my team, we brought the client’s vision to life, and the positive feedback we received was the perfect end to a busy month.

Reflecting on the Journey

Looking back, this month was a testament to the diverse and dynamic nature of web development. Each project, whether it was an OpenCart plugin, a WordPress debug, or a full-scale website build, contributed to my growth as a developer. I’m excited to see what the next month brings and ready to tackle new challenges head-on.

Amit

October Reflections: Mastering WordPress, Embracing E-Commerce, and Rediscovering Creativity Through Cooking

October has been a brilliant month for me, filled with exciting progress, learning opportunities, and a touch of relaxation as well! I wrapped up a project that I’ve been working on for some time now. A WordPress website built completely from scratch. It was a rewarding experience, not just because of the final product but because I learned so much along the way.

One of the highlights of this project was diving into the Grilla CSS Framework. Wayne himself teaching me a lot of things. It’s truly a game-changer, simplifying a lot of CSS work and making styling a website feel less daunting.

On the other hand, I’ve been exploring OpenCart, a powerful e-commerce platform that, while complex, offers a lot in terms of features and functionality. OpenCart has a bit of a learning curve, especially compared to other frameworks I’ve used, but it’s gratifying to see what’s possible with it.

Lastly, I’ve taken up exercising again after a long break. Getting back into fitness has been refreshing, and I’m aiming to make it a steady part of my routine. It’s helping with energy levels and mental clarity, which is definitely a plus point.

Aleena

A Month Filled with Laughter, Growth, and Memorable Experiences

As October wraps up, I’m taking a moment to look back on an incredible month filled with laughter, growth, and memorable experiences. This October, I had the chance to enjoy some much-needed downtime with friends and family, dive into new learning opportunities, and work on projects that truly sparked my creativity.

One of the month’s highlights was a trip to Manchester with friends for a delightful tea party. It was the perfect blend of good company, conversation, and relaxation. Each weekend seemed to bring a new opportunity to unwind, whether through casual hangouts, shopping sprees, or simply enjoying quality time with loved ones.

Professionally, October was a month of discovery and learning. I spent a significant amount of time diving into Figma, where I explored the nuances of design animation, harmony, and consistency. It’s been exciting to see how small adjustments can elevate a design’s entire look and feel. This focus on detail and cohesion taught me a lot about creating a seamless, harmonious user experience.

I also had the chance to contribute to some meaningful projects this month. It’s been fulfilling to see ideas come to life, and I’m looking forward to building on that momentum. The upcoming projects are especially exciting, and I’m ready to bring my best performance and push the boundaries of my skills even further.

Reflecting on October, it’s clear it was a month of balance a mix of relaxation, connection, and inspiration. Here’s to even more adventures, growth, and creativity in the months ahead!

Matt

SEO, the Abbey Dash & Catch Ups

This month, I’ve been working to help grow Twilo by researching and finding new business. I’ve also been assisting the developers with populating new client websites with content and products ready to be launched.

I’ve also been using my learning hour every Wednesday to expand and grow my knowledge on SEO. I’ve been working my way through the SEMRush academy. It’ll be beneficial for me and Twilo in the long run to use our weekly learning hours to the full advantage.

10k PB

Outside of work, I completed the Abbey Dash 10k in Leeds, with a new PB of 45 minutes! Which I’m very happy with, and seeing my friends and family spectating and cheering me on pushed me further. My sister also ran the 10k and got a PB herself, so I’m proud of her. We celebrated our PBs with a Sunday roast at Olive Tree Brasserie, and it was delicious, I’d highly recommend it!

Also, this month two of my friends have returned home for a few weeks from living abroad in Australia and Denmark. It was excellent to catch up and spend time with them after not seeing them all year. We had some delicious food at Chaophrya in Leeds, it’s definitely been a good month for eating out!

Roxanne

New Projects, HubSpot & Bubbles!

My first 6 weeks with Twilo

I am now six weeks into my role, it has been very hands-on, and I am really enjoying the challenge! Life at Twilo is fast paced but I love the variety of my role and working with such lovely clients and our internal team.

As we have experts employed in each role in our team, I am also soaking up as much knowledge from my peers as possible. This is helping me to hone my own skills and round off my experience in other areas.

This month I have been working on lots of great projects including Hubspot integration, social media campaigns, new product launches and updating our own new website.

At home

Outside of work, I have been as busy with my two little boys as ever! We recently went to see a Guinness World Record holder for blowing bubbles, have visited a farm and of course the trampoline park. In my (limited) spare time, I have been focusing on renovating my home and garden.

I am really looking forward to what November brings at Twilo. We have some exciting projects in the works, and I can’t wait to share the new website with you all soon!