Wayne
29th April 2025. Ten years to the day since Twilo was incorporated, here I am writing my end-of-month blog entry for our marketing team to share to our followers. This one will be a little different because of ten years; two lots of five, either side of a global pandemic that changed the world we live in.
It’s difficult to compare today to 2015 because so much has changed. I don’t always think it’s for the better, either, since I’ve found the last five years much more challenging than the first. This may be common for businesses during any period due to the growth pains they suffer, or it may be the current climate that we find ourselves in; soaring costs, economic uncertainty, and the change in how we work that the pandemic brought with it.
Either way, it’s been a rollercoaster, a journey I’m grateful for, and my determination to keep moving forward regardless of what’s going on around me remains intact.
Coming off the back of a successful 10th anniversary party on Friday night, I’m finally starting to feel a sense of achievement for where we find ourselves today. Looking around the room and seeing our clients, suppliers, and employees both old and new having a great time together, was a proud moment. I was able to take a second and say to myself ‘you did this’.
I was asked many times on the night if I’d change anything, and the answer is yes, I’d change a hell of a lot! But that’s hindsight and I much prefer to focus on now and tomorrow, than waste time worrying about what happened yesterday. Learn quickly, and move forward.
You’ll never hear me say that luck got us here, because it didn’t. It’s been sheer grit and determination, not just from me but from others who have shared in our success over the years. We’ve been ecstatic and we’ve been exhausted, we’ve been pleased and we’ve been disappointed, and we’ve also formed some great relationships over the years. On that note I’d like to mention a few people who have been incredibly kind to me, and a pleasure to work with.
- Peter from Cablenet – the perfect client does exist. An incredibly kind person who is so receptive of our ideas and experience, and a pleasure to work with. Peter even made a four hour round trip just to have an hour with us at our 10th anniversary party on Friday night. Inspirational.
- Andrew from FD Hospitality – a massive supporter and a big reason why that first five years was so enjoyable. Andrew always pushed us, and the work we did together allowed us to grow and take on more people.
- Andrew Billington – Andrew joined us an apprentice four years ago and has earned his way up to Senior Developer in that time. I’ve always said – right from the very beginning – that I’ll do what I can to reward people who do their best for Twilo, and Andrew epitomises that.
Having launched over 250 websites, many brands and dozens of marketing campaigns, there are obviously many more people that I need to thank, and I’m grateful for those clients that have trusted my business to deliver for them.
Making that leap from the comfort of a well-paid job at an established agency, without any form of business plan or any financial safety net in case things went wrong, turned out alright.
Here’s to the next year. And the year after that. And the year after that…
Andrew
April has been an eventful month with lots of celebrations. We had Twilo’s 10th anniversary party. It was great being able to meet with colleagues and clients outside of work. There definitely were more than enough drinks to go around and see the night through.
One project that we have been working hard on in April is coming to its end. We have built a finance application for loan management, and it has been shaping up to be a project to be proud of. I’m happy with the frameworks we have decided to switch to, and I think it works really well for us.
It’s not just the frameworks we have been updating. We have also updated our tools and the way we work as we strive to improve every part of the project journey.
At home, I met up with some good friends for a BBQ and hot tub night over the Easter weekend. I always enjoy the catchup, and it was a much needed relaxation.
It was also the silver wedding anniversary for my parents the following weekend. We celebrated this with a dinner at Estabulo. It’s only the second time I have been but it’s a great meal if you are a big meat eater.
In the same day, we went to go see the new Until Dawn movie. For me, this was definitely one of those horror films that are more gross than they are scary, but it was still a good time.
It has been a great April and there is plenty to look forward to in May. We have new and exciting projects coming up which will be a great challenge!
Vadym
Exploring New Projects, WordPress Development, and Spring Inspiration
Spring Updates: WordPress Projects, Teamwork, and Tulip Adventures
As the days get longer and spring is in full bloom, I wanted to share a few exciting updates from my work and personal life. From diving deeper into WordPress development to enjoying quality time with my family at the tulip festival – this season brings lots of inspiration.
Working with WordPress: Clear and Familiar Workflow
Recently, I’ve been working more with WordPress, and I’m happy to say that the process feels much clearer now. For those familiar with Drupal 7, you might find the structure and logic in WordPress quite similar. The learning curve feels smoother thanks to that shared experience. Working with custom templates, actions, and filters in WordPress reminds me of the flexibility I enjoyed in Drupal, making the transition enjoyable and efficient.
Exciting Projects with Twilo Creative
I’m thrilled to collaborate on great projects with the talented team at Twilo Creative, where we focus on using the latest standards and technologies. Together, we bring innovative ideas to life – from smooth user experiences to robust web solutions.
Spring Joy: Farmer Copley’s Tulip Festival
Outside of work, I recently visited the Farmer Copley’s Tulip Festival with my family. It was a beautiful day filled with colour, fresh air, and laughter. Spending time surrounded by stunning tulip fields was both relaxing and inspiring. Here’s a photo from our visit:
Looking Ahead: Charity Walkathon and New Projects
I’m also excited about what’s coming next. In the following month, I’m looking forward to participating in the Twilo Walkathon – a charity walk aimed at supporting good causes and making a positive impact together as a team. It’s a great opportunity to stay active, connect with colleagues, and contribute to meaningful initiatives. Alongside this, new projects are on the horizon, and I can’t wait to bring fresh ideas to life and continue growing my skills.
Final Thoughts
Whether it’s tackling new development challenges, collaborating with creative teams, or finding inspiration in nature, this season has been a rewarding journey. I’m grateful for the balance of work and personal life and look forward to what the next chapter brings.
Aleena
April Reflections: Eid Joy, Family Adventures & Industry Inspiration
As April draws to a close, it’s a perfect moment to reflect on the joyful moments, professional highlights, and quality time spent with loved ones. This month was filled with warmth, celebration, and inspiring connections.
Celebrating Eid with Family & Food
April began with Eid celebrations, a time of joy, gratitude, and togetherness. The day was all about spending quality time with family and friends, sharing laughter, and enjoying delicious meals. One of the highlights was a visit to the Trafford Centre in Manchester,
Twilo’s 10th Anniversary: A Celebration of Success
Mid-month marked a special milestone with the 10th anniversary celebration of Twilo, an event that brought together industry professionals for a night of networking, fun, and appreciation.
A big shout-out and heartfelt thanks to Wayne for putting together such a fantastic event. Wishing him continued success and more milestones in the years to come!
Weekend Fun: Star Walk Adventure
The final weekend of the month was all about family bonding. I spent some meaningful time with my son, and we visited the Star Walk – a magical event for sci-fi fans and little explorers alike. It was his first time seeing Star Wars characters, and the pure excitement on his face was unforgettable. From stormtroopers to Jedi knights, the experience was full of wonder and joy.
Looking Ahead
April was a month of heartfelt celebrations, professional milestones, and joyful memories with my son. As we step into May, I’m looking forward to continuing this positive momentum, cherishing more family time, and embracing new opportunities.
Whether you spent this month celebrating or simply recharging, I hope it was meaningful in your own way.
Reece
Work:
April was a good month. I have been busy working on a finance website, which we are building completely custom in WordPress using our in-house Grilla framework. It has been fun seeing it come together, the site is looking really sharp, and it has been good getting stuck into all the styling, ACF fields, and custom layouts.
Alongside the WordPress build, I have also been working on a React portal that connects into the website. It has been great getting deeper into React, setting up the structure properly, styling it with Sass, and using Inertia.js to tie it back into Laravel. It has been a nice balance, designing clean front-end pages in WordPress while also building more interactive stuff in React. It definitely feels like my React skills are stepping up a level, especially when working across a live project like this.
Personal:
April was hectic but brilliant. It was my 30th birthday this month, which still feels weird to say, and I ended up doing a mini pub crawl around Leeds with mates. The weather was spot on for once, so we spent most of it in the beer gardens hopping between pubs. We even finished the night in an arcade bar, which was class. Playing Call of Duty Zombies on a massive screen in a public place is definitely a bit odd, but honestly it was hilarious, ended up getting into it like it was 2012 again.
It was also Twilo’s 10-year anniversary party this month, which was a brilliant night. Loads of clients came down, and it was good just meeting people and putting faces to names. It was a really good atmosphere, had some drinks, the food was unreal, and it was just good seeing everyone relaxed and having a laugh. It was a reminder of how far the company has come in 10 years and cool to be part of it.
I’m also looking forward to the Mam-Tor walk we’re doing for charity at the start of May. Hopefully the weather holds out for us, but either way it’ll be a good challenge and nice to do something a bit different for a good cause. Definitely looking forward to getting stuck into it.
Shwe Su Hlaing
April Highlights: Settling In, New Year Celebrations, and Big Milestones 🌸🎉
April has been an exciting and eventful month for me, both personally and professionally, and I’m excited to share what I’ve been up to as a new team member at Twilo Creative.
Settling In at Twilo Creative
As I continue my journey with Twilo Creative, April has been all about getting more comfortable in my role and truly feeling part of the Twilo team. It’s been fantastic to connect with my colleagues more deeply and be involved in day-to-day projects and team activities.
Celebrating Myanmar New Year in the UK
April is also a special time for me personally, as it marks the Myanmar New Year. I had the wonderful opportunity to attend a Myanmar Water Festival event hosted by the Myanmar community in Sheffield, UK. It was an incredible day filled with traditional performances, cultural celebrations, and plenty of delicious Myanmar food. Being able to celebrate my heritage here in the UK, surrounded by a welcoming community, made this New Year even more memorable.
A Spring Photoshoot Among the Cherry Blossoms
Taking advantage of the beautiful spring weather, I visited The Stray in Harrogate for a personal photoshoot among the blooming cherry blossoms. The park was stunning, and it was refreshing to step outdoors and enjoy nature at its finest, a perfect way to recharge outside of work.
Launching the Twilo Walkathon Charity Campaign
One of the proudest moments this month has been supporting our Twilo Walkathon charity campaign. As a team, we are working to raise £5,000 for five incredible local charities. Creating content for the campaign with the Twilo team has been a lot of fun, and seeing the community’s response has been truly motivating.
You can learn more about the campaign here.
Twilo’s 10-Year Anniversary Celebration
April also marked a huge milestone – Twilo’s 10-year anniversary!
Last Friday, we celebrated with a fantastic event at Canal Club, joined by colleagues, clients, ex-colleagues, and family members.
As a new addition to the Twilo team, it was the perfect opportunity to meet everyone in person, learn more about Twilo’s journey, and be part of a wonderful day filled with laughter, connection, and celebration.
Wrapping Up April at Twilo
April has been a month full of new experiences, professional growth, cultural celebrations, and unforgettable moments at Twilo Creative. I’m proud to be part of such a dynamic and welcoming team, and I’m excited for everything the coming months have in store!
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to grow, give back, and create even bigger moments together at Twilo.
