We believe great websites don’t just come from good tools, they come from people who care about their craft.
Over the past two years, one of our junior web developers has quietly (and very impressively) taken himself to the next level. Not through shortcuts or surface-level tutorials, but through structured learning, consistency, and applying those skills directly to real client work.
This blog isn’t just about personal achievement. It’s about why investing in our team is one of the most important things we can do.
from junior developer to front end engineer
Our developer, Will, completed his Front-End Engineer Career Path with Codecademy, a comprehensive, exam-based programme designed to mirror the skills expected of professional front-end engineers. It involved:
- 10 formal exams, all passed to achieve certification
- Hundreds of interactive coding challenges
- Multiple real-world projects
- Quizzes and assessments required to progress
The focus wasn’t just “learning code”, but understanding how modern websites are built, tested, maintained and scaled.
what Will studied (and why it matetrs)
The course covered a wide range of front-end development disciplines, including:
core website foundations:
- HTML & CSS fundamentals
- Responsive web design
- Improved styling, layouts and animations
OUTCOME:
Cleaner, faster-loading websites that work properly across mobile, tablet and desktop, essential for modern website design and UX.
javascript and interactivity
- JavaScript syntax
- Asynchronous JavaScript & HTTP requests
- JavaScript testing
OUTCOME:
More interactive websites, smoother user journeys, fewer bugs, and better performance, especially important for conversion-focused website design.
modern frameworks (react and redux)
- React.js
- State management with Redux
OUTCOME:
The ability to build scalable, dynamic websites and web apps, opening the door to more complex functionality as your business grows.
accessibility, structure and best practice
- Website accessibility
- Git & GitHub version control
- Structured data thinking
- Web design principles
OUTCOME:
Websites that are easier to maintain, more inclusive, and built to professional standards, not quick fixes.
data structures and algorithms
- Linear and complex data structures
- Algorithms
- Search and graph search algorithms
OUTCOME:
More efficient, robust code under the hood, especially valuable for larger, data-driven or future-facing projects.
learning by doing (not just watching)
One of the strongest parts of this programme was its hands-on approach. Each lesson combined:
- Short theory explanations
- In-browser coding with instant feedback
- Guided mini-projects
- Knowledge checks before progressing
Projects included:
- A personal portfolio website (HTML & CSS)
- Interactive React apps like:
1. A Weather App
2. A Random User Generator
This approach mirrors how we work as a digital marketing agency with our current and future clients: build, test, refine, improve.
balancing real client work with long-term learning
This wasn’t done in isolation.
The course was completed alongside Will’s full-time work here at TIG, often in evenings and weekends, across a two-year period. That meant new skills could be applied immediately to live projects, therefore improving outcomes for clients in real time, as well as future clients. Key milestones included:
- A 51-week learning streak
- Regular review and revisiting of modules
- Continuous application to day-to-day website builds
the wider impact
This progression has had a tangible impact on our services.
stronger website builds
Our web design and website development projects now benefit from:
- Better front-end structure
- Cleaner, more maintainable code
- Improved responsiveness and performance
This pairs perfectly with our SEO services, where technical foundations play a key role in search visibility.
greater capacity for complex projects
With React and modern JavaScript skills in-house, we can now:
- Support larger, more complex website builds
- Develop interactive components
- Scale websites as businesses grow
a message from Will
“Once I’d completed the course, I felt I had grown massively in my role as a developer and felt I could provide more to my role. I am looking forward to the prospect of working on larger, more complex projects that will challenge me and further improve my knowledge and confidence as a developer. I am very grateful for TIG for providing the tools and resources to complete this course, supporting and encouraging my career growth.”
well done, Will!
Since completing the course Will has continued building React projects, refining skills, and pushing towards more technically advanced work. That ambition directly benefits our clients and strengthens our development team and offerings. Will now has a stronger technical foundation he can assist our senior developers more effectively, troubleshoot issues faster, and contribute more to complex builds.
We are looking forward to seeing what Will achieves next.
If you have a project in mind, let’s chat.
