We've been lucky to work on many interesting, engaging, and downright clever projects with our clients this year. As well as supporting our lovely bunch of clients, we've also spent time on activities that make a positive impact on our own team, our local Oxfordshire community, and the wider tech world.
This year, we've focused on supporting the Drupal community, empowering future talent, and fostering team and community engagement. Here's a short round-up of what we've been up to in 2024.
Taking an active part in the Drupal community
When it comes to creating websites, one platform stands out for its reliability, adaptability, and dynamic community – Drupal. We've been building websites with Drupal since the very early days of Versantus (15 years ago, no less!), and so we're thrilled to have become a Drupal Certified Partner agency.
The Drupal community awards this recognition to agencies that go above and beyond by contributing to the Drupal Project, sharing vetted case studies, and actively supporting the platform's development. Achieving Certified Partner status marks a significant milestone for us and reflects our long-standing commitment to the Drupal ecosystem.
As a Drupal web development agency, we believe in not only harnessing Drupal’s power for our clients but also giving back by actively contributing to its development. Attending DrupalCon Barcelona was a great opportunity to connect with the people we have been collaborating with on the future of Drupal, as well as immerse ourselves in the latest developments.
Supporting the next generation of local talent
This year, we also launched the Versantus Academy, a programme that gives young people hands-on experience in web design and development. From school students to pre-university interns, we’ve enjoyed helping the next generation explore careers in tech.
Our summer intern, Jermaine, joined us for two months, bringing fresh energy and ideas. During his placement, he worked on a competitor analysis report and even created a custom GPT campaign builder. Reflecting on his time with us, Jermaine mentioned that he:
Gained a lot of experience and ability from this internship and I highly recommend working with this brilliant set of people
We loved having you with us too, Jermaine!
We also welcomed four secondary school students – Connor, Ben, Hazel, and Oscar – for a week of hands-on work experience. In just five days, they planned, built, and tested a complete website for the Academy. Their creativity and skills left us seriously impressed – and perhaps just a little nervous for our jobs!
Investing in our team
Our team is at the heart of everything we do, so it's important to us that they are supported and encouraged to grow. This year, three colleagues completed modern apprenticeships in data analysis, sales and marketing, and business transformation. These are significant achievements, and we're incredibly proud of their hard work.
We were also thrilled to be recognised as a Great Place to Work for the second year running. This certification is based on employee feedback and reflects the trust, collaboration, and support that defines our workplace. Managing Director Matt Gilbert said,
Maintaining a Great Place to Work takes dedication from everyone. I'm proud of how our team supports each other, takes pride in their work, and continues to build a positive and collaborative culture at Versantus
Based on feedback from last year’s certification survey, we have introduced several initiatives, including private healthcare cover and expanded training and development opportunities.
Giving back to the community
This year, we've continued to support our local community, particularly through our partnership with the Oxford Homeless Movement (OHM). Our CEO, Nik Roberts, took on two big challenges to raise money and awareness for homelessness. In the summer, he completed the 100km Race to the Stones, and in October, he participated in the CEO Sleepout, spending a frosty night outdoors with other Oxfordshire business leaders. These efforts raised nearly £2,000 for OHM. Meanwhile, our marketing team created OHM’s first Google Ads campaigns, boosting their visibility and unlocking a $10,000 monthly advertising grant for them.
We also launched an employee volunteering policy, offering each member of the team a paid day off to support a charity of their choice. It's been great to see our colleagues using this opportunity to give back to causes that matter to them.
Looking ahead to 2025
From DrupalCon to Versantus Academy, from apprenticeships to community support, 2024 has been a year of growth, learning, and collaboration.
We're looking forward to continuing these efforts in 2025, building on the connections we've made and making a positive difference.
If you'd like to know more about what we do or how you can get involved, we'd love to hear from you!