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As we celebrate Digital Learning Day 2025, I wanted to share my journey in web development and design – a path that's taken me from university halls to running my own digital businesses here in Pembrokeshire. It's great to look back and see how each step has shaped my career and the skills I use today, which will hopefully inspire other people interested in the digital world.
Starting Out: University Days
Back in 2013, I headed off to Cardiff University to study Business Information Systems. While the course gave me a solid foundation in computer science, I actually didn't do much web design there. A lot of my interest in web-design came from my hobbies and interests. When I was younger I was quite introverted and used to visit a lot of blogs and forums to discuss things I enjoyed with others (my niche interests made this hard in person) and I developed a curiosity for how these websites were set-up and functioned.
First Steps into Web Design
My real web journey began at Radio Pembrokeshire as a "digital designer" in 2016. When I joined I felt like a bit of an imposter but I soon got my hands dirty with WordPress, working with templated themes and learning to customise them. Those two years gave me my first taste of CSS and PHP – essential building blocks for any web developer. While we mainly worked with templates, it was the perfect starting point to understand web design principles and basic coding concepts.
Levelling Up at Writemedia
Moving to Writemedia was a game-changer. This fantastic local company gave me the opportunity to evolve from purely front-end work into full-stack development. I learned to build websites from scratch, work with Windows servers (rather than Linux), and dive into C# programming. It was here that I really got to grips with MVC architecture and database management. These years were invaluable in building my confidence across both front-end and back-end development.
Taking the Leap: Metcalf Media
With a solid skill set under my belt, I took the entrepreneurial plunge and started Metcalf Media. Since then, I've had the privilege of building websites for numerous clients across Pembrokeshire and beyond. But what's really exciting is how this has evolved into a perfect partnership with my other venture, Connect: Pembrokeshire.
The Perfect Blend: Development Meets Marketing
Today, Metcalf Media and Connect: Pembrokeshire work in harmony to offer clients a complete digital package. We not only create their websites but also provide ongoing marketing support, essential in today's digital age.
Looking to the Future
Being one of the few full-stack developers in Pembrokeshire has made me realise how important it is to nurture digital skills in our community. I feel incredibly fortunate to have built a career that gives me such a diverse range of skills, and I'm passionate about sharing this knowledge with others.
If you're interested in web development or digital design, I'm always happy to chat and share my experiences. Whether you're a young person looking to start your journey or someone considering a career change, feel free to reach out with questions. Pembrokeshire needs more digital talent, and I'm committed to helping build that future.
Want to learn more about web development or have questions about starting your digital journey? Get in touch – I'm always happy to help guide the next generation of Pembrokeshire's digital talent.
