Company updates Archives

27/12/2021

22Group’s 2021 Highlights

With 2022 a few days away, we couldn’t end this year without taking a look back at our highlights.

For many, 2021 was not the year expected. There were some aspects of life returning to normality and then some that weren’t. After we spent the last festive period strictly over Zoom, we weren’t sure when we’d be back in the office, be able to meet our colleagues or have in person meetings with clients.

Despite not knowing, we’ve managed to achieve a lot and hope 2022 will be the year we do even more.

22Group highlights:

We returned to the office

After lots of preparation, painting and cleaning, we were able to go back to the office. With several of us joining through lockdowns, it was nice for our team to get into the office and work alongside other colleagues for the first time.

We had an in person social event

It’s not easy getting to know your colleagues through a screen and we were all overdue a team building exercise. We all had a lot of competitive fun at Flight Club back in October.

Got to do a face-to-face workshop

Zoom is great and we’re so thankful that we can still work with our fantastic clients remotely but, it’s always nice to be able to actually spend time with them in person. In September a few of our team members got to carry out a workshop and hear ideas and thoughts in person.

Launched some websites

We got to work on some amazing projects and launch websites this year. We’re proud to say they’re user-friendly and visually attractive websites and if you are looking for a refresh or would like a website done from scratch, we’d be glad to be part of the process. Find out more about our approach to previous projects in our case studies.

Working with new clients

Keep an eye out for our work coming 2022. We’re proud to be working with some amazing clients on some extraordinary projects.

Work with 22Group in 2022

We’re looking forward to 2022 and can’t wait to see what’s in store. If you’re thinking about a project, whether branding, website or marketing, we’d love to be a part of your journey.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or would like to know more about our services - get in touch.

From the whole team at 22group, we’d like to wish everyone all the best and every success for 2022.

Published by twentytwo in Company updates

Tags: company news, company update, highlights

18/03/2021

Spring clean your website, branding and marketing

Time to give your online presence a fresh look?

With the thought of spring cleaning right around the corner, it might not just be your home that needs freshening up.

Is your website outdated? Branding old fashioned? Do you struggle with planning and creating regular campaigns that suit the season and cyclical trends within your industry? 22Group can help.

Seasonal changes can often bring changes in general. We’ve put together a list of points to think about when you are going for a business change (all applicable whether it’s for a website, brand or your marketing):

Business goals and vision

Any changes made to your business should align with your business goals and visions. It should be part of the process not hinder it.

Budget

What you’ll be able to change may depend on your budget. If what you’re changing is beneficial to your business in the long run, it’s an investment to be taken seriously and the expected return on this should show.

Current functionality

Does your current website, brand or marketing do what you want it to? Does the website have enough CTAs, is the brand able to be easily incorporated into marketing materials, are you able to produce the marketing materials you want?

Current pain points

Are you finding it hard to solve your customers’ problems? Is it directly linked to either your website, branding or marketing? Then it’s about time to do something about that. You don’t want there to be a setback to providing the best service or product to your customers.

Competitors

How are your competitors performing? If they’re better, why? If you’re on par with them, how can you stand out? Your competitors most likely influence your decisions and the way you operate, so you configure out how to differentiate yourself but maybe this can only be achieved with a refreshed approach.

Inspirations

What inspires your business? Look and find those inspirations and explore what you like. Gathering up what appeals to you and what you aspire to be like will help come to a conclusion of what or how changes need to be made.

laptop, phone and pen ready to make notes for making some business changes

Had a thought about all of the above? Ready to crack on with spring cleaning? Get in touch to see how we can help with websites, branding or marketing.

Published by twentytwo in Company updates

Tags: customerengagement, marketing, springcleaning

04/03/2021

Recognising International Women’s Day: Women who influenced branding, marketing and the web.

In recognition of International Women’s Day we’re exploring the women who have influenced and shaped the branding, marketing and web industry.

There’s no doubt future generations will influence and change the way we market products and services, use the web or create brands. Here are only a handful of influential women who have made a major impact:

Ada Lovelace

"Ada Lovelace, 1838" by Nefi is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Back in the middle of the 1800s Ada invented computer programming when she wrote the algorithm for the first computer machine. Her contribution has made the internet and today’s web possible, thanks Ada!

Carolyn Davidson

What brand do you associate a tick with? Carolyn Davidson, graphic designer, created the all so famous Nike Swoosh logo and originally contracted it for just $35 back then.

Ann Handley

"Ann Handley - Keynote" by TopRankMarketing is licensed under CC BY 2.0

A digital marketing pioneer, she’s an inspiration to create better marketing that delivers results. ClickZ, her previous company, is one of the first sources of digital marketing information in the world and IBM named her as one of the 7 people shaping modern marketing with a mention by Forbes as being a top thought leader.

Susan Kare

Susan Kare is a very influential computer iconographer, she has designed thousands of software icons which are recognisible to anyone who uses a computer. Her most notable icons are Apple, Microsoft and PayPal.

Kim Krause Berg

In 1998 Kim founded Cre8siteForums.org which is a forum for SEO, UX and web design. It’s a great place for advice and talking with other SEOs on different topics. Kim, from the start of SEO, provided guidance on balancing usability with SEO.

Carol H. Williams

Creator of many famous advertising campaigns, Carol has worked with several big companies and one of the most memorable is The Walt Disney Company where she created the groundbreaking “Imagination” campaign.

Here at 22 Group, we’re really pleased to have welcomed a number of women to our team over the last 6 months, and we couldn’t be more proud to have a balanced, talented team.

But let’s be clear, when recruiting we of course search for the best person for the job, irrespective of gender. Running a small to medium-sized agency with a wide range of clients and industries, we find real value in having a balanced team to work on branding, design, web-build and marketing.

Published by twentytwo in Company updates

Tags: branding, inspirational women, marketing, websitebuild

11/02/2021

A heartfelt thank you

Love it or loath it, it’s time for some Valentine love. This year more than ever we need love all around but as the coronavirus pandemic has already resulted in a global outpouring of love, we hardly need reminding.

February has become a month synonymous with showing love and kindness and we felt it was timely so share some heartfelt words in this week’s blog.

Short and sweet, in two words - THANK YOU.

Thank you to our existing client.

For being supportive, encouraging and accepting of seeing our faces only over Zoom. We love face to face contact with clients and know this is really valuable for all parties, but have remained firmly devoted to the government’s recommendation to work from home since the first lock-down in March 2020. Many of us are Manchester based, so we’ve pretty much seen a continuous lockdown or strict covid tier systems in place throughout.

Thank you for accepting the odd interruption of home-schooling, pets barking, delivery people at the door and DIY home-improvements happening in the background. Thank you for your patience and good sense of humour as, the thankfully rare, internet connections suffered hic-ups resulting in hilarious robotic, delayed voices and unflattering frozen screens.

With the exception these common home-working incidents, thankfully, our productivity and ability to deliver the highest levels of customer service that 22 Group clients should expect, has not suffered at all. Indeed our systems, platforms and processes were already fully integrated and digital making online-only and remote working a seamless transition.

22 group team member on Zoom speaking to clients on a laptop.

Thank you to our new clients.

We have reported previously that the whirlwind of 2020 and the beginning of 2021 has been one of the busiest periods for website design and website build, branding and design projects as well as digital marketing support since 22 Group was formed in 2012. One of the reasons for an increase in the number of website, branding and marketing projects we’re working on in Manchester, London and across the country, has been as a result of the need for businesses across all sectors to ensure their digital profile is optimum.

Many businesses who had to close shop-fronts, branches and offices in line with lockdown guidelines realised over-night that the only way for customers and the general public to see and engage with them was online - and predominantly their website which is most often the first point of contact.

This has resulted in welcoming a number of new clients to 22 Group - thank you for choosing to work with us. Our values at 22 Group include being friendly, committed, confident and straight-talking, and we are very lucky to work with people and companies who echo these. It makes working together so much easier, more productive and more fun and for this, we say thank you.

Thank you to our colleagues, suppliers and partners.

We desperately want to be working together again from our Manchester office and London office, we long to visit our website, branding and marketing clients across the country or meet partners and suppliers for seminars, training or strategy workshops.

With the growth we have experienced over the last 12 months, we have had the opportunity to expand our team too with several colleagues actually joining 22 Group remotely. We have cemented new relationships with suppliers and providers of relevant products and services linked to our website development work and long to meet our new-comers face to face as soon as we’re allowed.

Thank you to everyone for being patient and for doing what we can to help make our new colleagues and partners to feel welcome to the team, over Zoom!

So from our home to yours, we offer a heartfelt thank you.

Let’s share the love and be kind this Valentine’s Day, throughout February and beyond. And don’t forget, random acts of kindness should never be overlooked.

Published by twentytwo in Company updates

Tags: pandemic, valentine

13/01/2021

Manchester web design and marketing services are growing.

We are growing our Manchester web design and marketing service. The digital world didn’t stop in 2020. In fact it grew and so did our team, specifically the marketing side of the business. And that’s not only with people, we’re working on something really exciting so keep your eyes peeled!

Being a digital agency, we strongly believe that web design goes hand in hand with the branding and marketing. If you’re having a website created or refreshed, why leave the other aspects behind?

Have a think about your current brand and marketing tactics, are they going to fit in with the new look you’re about to get? Is it up to your new standards or does it seem a bit out of place now? You should be thinking about your business as a whole so everything is on the same page.

22 Group employee chatting about Manchester web design services while sitting at a desk.

That similar idea applied to us, we wanted to offer our clients more and encourage the expansion of 22 Group. This means we had to think about the valuable resources we wanted to update or have in the business.

Diversifying what we can offer clients has always been something we wanted to tap into and with growing projects, it was a great opportunity to delve deeper into this.

Here at 22 Group we gained a new valuable member in the second half of 2020: Pernilla Tweddle, our Marketing Director. She brings extensive knowledge and experience in brand strategy, marketing, copywriting and PR as well as an abundance of estate agency marketing experience, making her a great asset to our team.

Alongside Pernilla, Monica Fong also joined 22 Group in December as the Marketing and Copywriting Executive. Working closely together with Pernilla, Monica is at hand to help and execute day to day tasks. Copywriting and social media management is part of Monica’s many talents and she brings great energy to the team.

With an increasing number of projects coming our way, we also invested in our project management with the addition of Paula Greenwood in 2020, Senior Project Manager. She’s here to keep us all on track and make sure projects run smoothly. Paula joined us with a wealth of digital project management behind her, having worked in many sectors on large digital deliverables. Communication and organisational skills are key, and that’s exactly what Paula has.

Digital marketing services growth chart on a tablet

We don’t plan to stop there. 2021 is looking bright and we’re currently recruiting for two other roles: Digital Project Manager and a WordPress Developer.

It’s really exciting for us and for our clients to be expanding. The benefits are reaped by all. Our ambition is to continue to grow and progress to always improve the work we produce for our clients

If you want to have a chat about your website, branding, marketing or all three. We’d love to hear from you.

Get in touch.

Published by twentytwo in Company updates

Tags: growth, jobopportunity

12/01/2021

WordPress Developer Role at 22 Group

Job Description:

We are looking to hire a skilled WordPress Developer to design and implement attractive and functional websites for our clients. You will be responsible for both back-end and front-end development including the implementation of WordPress themes and plugins as well as site integration and security updates.

To ensure success as a WordPress Developer, you should have in-depth knowledge of front-end programming languages, a good eye for aesthetics, and strong content management skills. Ultimately, a top-class WordPress Developer can create attractive, user-friendly websites that perfectly meet the design and functionality specifications of the client.

Responsibilities:

Meeting with clients to discuss website design and function.
Designing and building the website front-end.
Creating the website architecture.
Designing and managing the website back-end including database and server integration.
Generating WordPress themes and plugins.
Conducting website performance tests.
Troubleshooting content issues.
Conducting WordPress training with the client.
Monitoring the performance of the live website.

Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a similar field.
Proven work experience as a WordPress Developer.
Knowledge of front-end technologies including CSS3, JavaScript, HTML5, and jQuery.
Knowledge of code versioning tools including Git, Mercurial, and SVN.
Experience working with debugging tools such as Chrome Inspector and Firebug.
Good understanding of website architecture and aesthetics.
Ability to project manage.
Good communication skills.

Benefits:

Competitive salary to match your experience
Performance-related annual bonus
Flexible working hours
25 days annual leave

Sounds interesting? Please forward your CV and covering letter to robin@22group.co.uk

Published by twentytwo in Company updates

Tags: developer, hiring, job

12/01/2021

Digital project manager role at 22 Group

Are you friendly, straight-talking, confident, and committed?

Due to growth, we are looking for a talented Digital Project Manager to join our team. You will have day-to-day responsibility for the smooth and effective running of digital projects with a focus on great delivery.

Responsibilities:

Supporting the team to deliver the client's needs across specific projects
Actively building strong relationships with the client
Liaising with clients and the agency personnel to ensure projects move on properly
Managing client expectations and taking responsibility for all deliverables produced for them
Managing all day to day operational aspects of your projects, including writing creative and technical briefs, drafting proposals, managing finances for the projects, scoping and sticking to project schedules, and checking standards, copy and amends
Using internal project management tools to plan, allocate resources and track issues and feedback from project stakeholders
Ensuring the company deliver projects commissioned by their clients on time and on budget
Managing the finances and ensuring that optimum profits are delivered on the job
Being the gatekeeper of the finer details of the projects; delivery expectations, key dates, latest presentation, production processes.
Proactively being a part of the studio scheduling process; ensuring work is planned before it is promised
Business development - organically growing the business by developing strong, professional relationships

Requirements:

2+ years' commercial experience, either agency or client-side
Demonstrable track record of successful, cutting edge, website delivery, with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and prioritise own workload and request resources accordingly
Enthusiasm for project management methodology and continuous improvement
Solid estimating and planning skills
Ability to capture and communicate technical requirements
Rounded knowledge of best practice in design, development, usability, social media and SEO
Knowledge of how website hosting, domains and servers work
Experience of using project management systems
Experience with WordPress
Good awareness of digital marketing tools and tactics
UK-based and a strong English speaker

About you:

Good presentation, relationship-building and networking skills
Proactive, confident and diplomatic
Persuasive contributor to new business pitches and proposals
Meticulous with excellent attention to detail
Able to flag up pinch points that the agency needs to be aware of
Easy to work with and thrive in a team environment: genuine and sincere
Interested in branding in terms of visual and strategic
Obsessed with delivery
Obsessed with making the clients happy but within what is reasonable for the project and our agency
Passionate about good work
Keen to learn, grow and succeed
Good written communication and social / interpersonal skills
Excellent organisational skills

Benefits:

Competitive salary to match your experience
Performance-related annual bonus
Flexible working hours
25 days annual leave
An opportunity to work on some high profile projects for some fantastic organisations

Sounds interesting? Please forward your CV and covering letter to robin@22group.co.uk

Published by twentytwo in Company updates

21/12/2020

Merry Digital Christmas

Has your business managed to adapt in 2020?

With Christmas and the end of 2020 fast approaching it’s time to slow down and reflect.

This was the year of Zoom quizzes, home workouts (or not!) and lots of online shopping.

It’s been a year of change in so many ways. Suddenly, the need for excellent online profiling and fast, efficient tech platforms for businesses got pushed to the top of the priority list. The jobs and issues that previously sat idle on the ‘pending’ list.

We’ve seen so many products and services become online friendly, even just mobile friendly, and new businesses forming to meet new demands.

We saw delivery services go through the roof with demand, due to lockdown, and more apps were discovered to help us keep in touch. Whether it be with your team or family and friends.

Additionally, if you relied on traditional marketing, 2020 forced many businesses to take the necessary and right steps into online marketing.

Let’s not forget the HR side of a business. Myself and a few others were lucky to join 22 Group this year. The twist being that the whole process was digital.

Since the entire recruitment process was over Zoom, it was a new experience for sure. Definitely none of your traditional face-to-face interview with a handshake.

From meeting the team to training, it’s all been done online. However, this is not to be seen as a negative. Having the right technology and software has made it as easy as learning in person. Arguably, there are several efficiency savings and many of us feel we are working even more productively from our homes.

From starting a new job, to leaving, here at 22 Group, we said farewell to our team member Jess, who is relocating to Holland with a leaving do over Zoom.

Who would have thought that saying good-bye over Zoom could become a thing, and most will agree that socially interacting in person is something we can’t wait for once again.

At 22 Group, more than ever we’ve seen a growth in website projects and the need for businesses to become digitally friendly, which resulted in an increased number of projects for ourselves. Anything from refreshing and updating a current site or brand to creating a new, more efficient and stand-out website. The need to make your business seen and heard online has never been greater.

However, we understand this wasn’t the case for so many this year.

There’s been loss and hardship for many organisations but with that came a sense of community. Everyone is chipping in and helping the best they can. There’s been an increase in shouting about favourite local eateries and independent shops.

It’s going to be a very different Christmas this year, for the majority of us it’s going to be a digital one or a gathering that is a lot smaller than usual. Maybe you even had your Christmas work do online this year? We did, and the festive outfits certainly brightened up our screens and made for a welcome change.

So, whether you’re celebrating over Zoom or in person, at a distance, we would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

It can be hard, but change is good. Don’t get stuck and left behind.

If you feel like it’s time to do this, don’t hesitate to get in touch for a chat. If you’re just thinking about it, check out more information on what we do by clicking here.

Published by twentytwo in Company updates

Tags: company update, workfromhome

02/12/2020

22 days of Christmas

Welcome to our digital A-Z jargon-buster as we count down the days to Christmas. 22 is our take on 25 in our Advent Calendar 2020.

Check in every day on our website or across our social media to learn a new word or refresh your vocabulary for websites, branding and marketing - in alphabetical order.

‘Tis the season to share, learn and be merry and we would love you get involved in our Advent Calendar so please share, like and comment!

If your business needs help in unravelling the constantly changing digital world, let us know. Our expert team can help to future-proof your online presence and make a splash through awesome websites, branding and marketing campaign.

We hope you enjoy following our #22daysofchristmas countdown.

Let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start.

A is for Algorithm: Complex programs used by search engines (e.g. Google) to find, rank and return the most relevant pages for search queries.

B is for Breadcrumb: A text path featured at the top of a web page showing where you are on a site. Thanks to Hansel & Gretel for helping us back home.

C is for Canonical tag: Way of telling search engines that a specific URL (Uniform Resource Locator) represents the master copy of a page. Prevents problems caused by duplicate content appearing on multiple URL’s.

D is for Domain: Name used to identify a website’s unique online space e.g. 22group.co.uk Domains are purchased and registered.

E is for Email marketing: Don’t just email your clients – capture, nurture, convert, retain. Do it right and it can be very powerful.

F is for Favicon: A tiny custom icon displayed to the left of your web address in your browser to help give brand or service identity. We have 22 in a circle. What’s yours?

G is for Goal: A measure of how well your web site fulfils your target objective and represents a completed activity, called a conversion. Do you have your goals set up in Google Analytics?

H is for HTML: Hyper Text Mark-up Language, widely known as the language of the web. HTML are tags or commands informing the web-browser how to present a webpage.

I is for Infographic: A graphical representation of data or information. A great way of creating and sharing interesting content in marketing campaigns and on social media.

J is for JavaScript: Scripting language used to create and control dynamic website content - anything that moves, changes or refreshes on your screen.

K is for Keywords: Specific words or phrases which describe your content. It’s what your customers or potential customers would enter into a search engine.

L is for Landing Page: A specific website page which will show up when a particular link is clicked. Just like the one in our caption!

M is for Meta Description: The small amount of text which is seen on search engines before a site is clicked on. It gives a summary of the web page content.

N is for Newsfeed: Where updates from people or brands you follow are shown. Typically on social media, it will show profile changes, new photos uploaded, etc.

O is for Organic Marketing: When your customers are coming to you naturally without using any paid advertisements to attract them.

P is for Plug-in: An add-on software which brings new functionality to a program or website. It allows customisation, enhancing its capabilities.

Q is for QR Code: A quick response (QR) code is a type of barcode that can be read by a smartphone. Once read, this leads you to a specific website or content page.

R is for Responsive Layout: This is when a website is able to adjust its screen size depending on the digital device that is accessing it.

S is for SEO: Search engine optimisation is the technique of improving your website and its content so that it appears higher in search engine rankings.

T is for Traffic: In relation to a website this refers to the amount of visitors, also known as “sessions”. This is a great way to measure online success.

U is for UX: User experience (UX) refers to the overall experience of the user’s interaction with a product, system or service.

V if for vlog: Instead of a traditional written blog, a vlog is a video blog. Involving filming experiences, thoughts and opinions to share with a wider audience.

W is for Wireframes: Like a blueprint, a wireframe shows the plan for a web page. It is typically not coloured and more to see the layout, features and spacing.

X is for X-Post: Short for cross-post this refers to posting content on multiple platforms, expanding the audience reach.

Y is for Yak Shaving: In programming this is the need to complete a task, to be able to proceed with the next. Like pulling your Christmas cracker before eating.

Z is for Zip File: A computer file that is compressed. By reducing the size it means it takes up less space and is easier to transport.

Published by twentytwo in Brand & Strategy, Campaigns & Creative, Company updates, Marketing & Analytics, Uncategorized, Website Design & Build

27/03/2020

Weathering the storm of COVID-19.

Within the space of a week, a week that has seemed to span a year, it's already become a cliché to call these times 'unprecedented.'

COVID-19 has changed the landscape, politically, socially and economically, so dramatically that normal things like commuting to the office now seem like relics of the past.

I don’t think it’s alarmist to say real structural change is occurring during this period. Uncertainty is the new normal and change is the only constant.

What then, does this mean for business, for day-to-day survival? And, most importantly, what can we do to weather the storm?

Content and communication

If you haven't already, consider your content marketing strategy.

It may seem like a low priority task, but communication, now more than ever, will oil the wheels of commerce - or, at least, nurture those important leads for when the time is right.

Customers, prospects, leads, employees - all need clear channels of communication.

With the majority of the country now working from behind a screen, it is important to remain connected. Content marketing is a cheap, quick way to directly engage with your audience.

Communication during turbulent times is hugely important, but it may be overwhelming when you feel swamped. Maybe we can help. As our resident copywriter, I would be more than happy to create bespoke content for you (for emails, website, banners, social media) absolutely free. Email jess@22group.co.uk for more details.

Consider reinvention

It may be wise to throw away the rule-book. If your traditional ways of working are suddenly rendered meaningless, consider doing a 180.

The companies quickest off the mark have been those who recognised the necessity of changing direction, and did so swiftly.

Examples of this are LVMH, the French luxury goods company behind Louis Vuitton, making hand sanitiser free of charge for the use of French hospitals and public services.

More practical pivots include restaurants who have closed their doors, but who are still offering food via delivery.

Be mindful of your reputation

In unprecedented times, consumers will remember how companies acted. We’ve seen examples of this already.
CEO of Topshop, Philip Green, made the decision to let his workers go without pay. This provoked a social media backlash, with many calling for a boycott of all Green’s stores.

Mike Ashley, owner of Sports Direct, also faced criticism for refusing to close his stores, claiming they offer ‘essential services.’ His sudden, and already infamous, U-turn looks likely to tarnish his reputation – for how long is yet to be seen.

Reputational risk may not seem high on the list of short-term concerns, but its impacts will be long-lasting and potentially ruinous. Brand reputation can be nurtured through transparent communication and actions that are in line with company values.

For example, Marks and Spencer, the quintessentially British brand, have widespread customer loyalty spanning generations and a solid reputation. The M&S brand survived recessions and two world wars, always prioritizing their values above everything else. During World War Two they helped to patent the design for utility clothing and raise funds for the RAF. For more on the importance of brand values, read here.

Customer loyalty isn't a solution to every problem, but it can act as a reassuring life-jacket when the storm hits – and in the aftermath that follows.

Stay safe!

Jess

Jess Cawdron

Copywriting & Marketing

0161 672 7822

jess@22group.co.uk

Published by twentytwo in Brand & Strategy, Company updates, Marketing & Analytics

16/03/2020

Our company culture.

‘Culture.’

One of the stylish, corporate buzzwords that roam around, and, when overused, can be as irritating as a wasp at a picnic.

Yet, this is jargon that we can’t keep batting away, as it directly impacts our day-to-day.

Company culture is essentially the personality and character of an organisation.

It’s the environment of a workplace - how it functions, how employees communicate and how staff are managed.

Company culture can have a significant impact on your job satisfaction and productivity. It is one of the most important factors to consider when hunting for work.

Working out what sort of company culture works for you is very personal and directly relates to your habits as a worker. Are you an intrinsic team player? Do you work far more efficiently when left independently? Do you need clear targets to stay focused?

These elements are so important to establish, but can be tricky to figure out before getting stuck into a job. And, you may find out, too late, that a company's culture doesn’t align with your personal working style.

That’s why we’ve decided to be as transparent as possible!

We’re laying our cards out on the table and giving a thorough overview of our company culture so that we can attract like-minded people.

Our company culture is intrinsically linked to our values. We believe that working in a friendly environment - one of authenticity, integrity and mutual respect - is conducive to productivity and job satisfaction.

As a team, we’re a committed bunch. We’re dedicated to our work, but also to one another and we’re proud of our upbeat and supportive working environment.

We’re proud of our retention of staff and how the atmosphere we’ve created feels more like working with friends than colleagues.

Here are 8 aspects of our company culture...

1. We can wear what we want to the office. The relaxed and informal nature of our office environment means we don’t assign to the corporate world of suits and ties. We think being comfy is far more important.

2. We have quarterly activities as a team. In the past we have been Go Karting and for a night out at Flight Club. Each member of the team gets their own turn to pick an activity of their choice.

3. We have an Office Mum. Marcia, our officer manager, is the company’s unofficial, but kinda official, office mum. She looks after us superbly and brightens up our office with her sense of humour. She enjoys rating the cups of tea we make her out of 10 and offering us sage advice. We even got her a mother’s day gift last year!

4. We have flexible hours. As a company we believe that we are all far more productive when we can work at our optimum hours. We have a combination of night owls and early birds in the office and our flexibility suits both.

5. We can easily work remotely! Our jobs are usually done from behind a computer screen, allowing us that flexibility of work. We have the option of working from home a few times a week, whenever suits us.

6. Our project manager Stephen regularly keeps the office well-stocked with all manner of sweet treats. Doughnuts, biscuits, cakes - you name it.

7. We sometimes like to indulge in Fat Fridays - a day where we explore the culinary delights of the Northern Quarter. This is a day completely free from calorie-counting.

8. We have 25 days of holiday!

If you like the sound of our company culture, check out our recent PHP developer role.

Published by twentytwo in Company updates

18/02/2020

PHP Developer role

We’re looking for a talented PHP Developer to work on innovative projects for a wide range of clients at our agency based in the Northern quarter, Manchester. We’re a friendly, forward thinking team who value innovation and provide an open forum for ideas and ways to improve.

We specialise in bespoke website builds for our clients and their critical business systems. You’ll be a key member of our development team and play a crucial role in the development of our new company products.

The right candidate will care about quality, be a self-starter and have a real passion for development and progressing their skillset.

Experience:

— Object Oriented Application Design

— MVC framework experience - Laravel / Zend / CakePHP or similar

— Wordpress plugin development

— MySQL

— Caching (e.g. Redis, Nginx)

— Version control (Git)

— Property feeds

— Linux server administration (Debian / Ubuntu)

Nice to haves:

— HTML5

— XHTML

— CSS2/3

— Javascript / AJAX

— Node.js

Responsibilities:

— Development of back-end systems for a range of websites

— Development of company products

— Perform coding to written technical specifications

— Investigate, analyse and document reported bugs

— Perform maintenance development and correction of identified bugs

— Create and document test plans, implement and manage unit tests and scripts

— Communicate regularly with project managers to provide understanding of technical requirements, processes and dependencies

Benefits:

— 25 days holiday

— Friendly and supportive team

— Christmas / summer party

— As much coffee as you can handle

— Friday beers

— Flexible lunch and regular breaks

— No dress code

— Yearly appraisal and pay review

— Convenient central Manchester office location [Post the COVID-19 crisis]

What to send us

— Your contact details

— A bit about you and what you’re passionate about

— Your experience

— Examples of projects utilising the required skills

— Your reasons for wanting to work for 22 Group

Thanks and good luck!

Email us now

Published by twentytwo in Company updates