Archive for the ‘Mixd’ Category

Does exactly what it says on the tin; just the posts that relate to the above...

Senior web developer job (Ruby on Rails and PHP)

Friday, February 26th, 2010

Mixd are looking for an experienced and passionate Senior Web Developer to join and lead the development team in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. Candidate should have a minimum of 4 years experience in Ruby on Rails and PHP development.

The perfect candidate will be an expert in advanced web development using PHP and MySQL, Ruby on Rails and WordPress as well as a strong command of web standards and best practices. They must demonstrate excellent customer service skills, technical wizardry, flexibility, a sense of humour, motivation and an eye for detail. Any experience with iPhone development and Facebook applications will also be highly desirable.

About working at Mixd

You’ll be working with some exciting clients, creating websites, online applications and iphone apps at the leading edge of usability, accessibility and functionality. It is an exciting time to join Mixd as we continue to grow in size and are looking for a senior developer to further expand our development team.

Benefits

In addition to being rewarded with a competitive salary and excellent career advancement opportunities, you’ll benefit from a number of perks:

  • Negotiable and competitive salary based on experience circa. £28,000 – £33,000 per annum
  • Prefer someone who will work in our Harrogate office, but would consider remote working
  • Personal training/conference budget available
  • Flexible working hours

Required skills:

Here is what you need:

  • Exceptional development skills in Ruby on Rails and PHP
  • Advanced experience in Wordpress
  • Database design, development and management
  • JavaScript, DHTML, Ajax scripting and jQuery
  • Experience with version control systems (GIT or Subversion preferred)
  • Good understanding of web technologies (HTTP, Apache) and familiarity with Unix/Linux

How to apply

Get in touch with your CV, covering letter, URL examples of recent projects and salary expectations at: info@mixd.co.uk

Strictly NO recruitment agencies – if you are a recruiter, do NOT contact us about this post.

North Yorkshire social media expert

Friday, February 19th, 2010

Extract taken from the Harrogate Chamber of Trade and Commerce’s monthly ‘Review’ magazine:

A record attendance of members and guests packed into the Old Swan Hotel on Monday 8th February to hear from North Yorkshire’s social media experts…

Tweet your way to success

Bob Tait, from Harrogate-based, full service creative agency Mixd, was next up, to help demystify the online phenomenon Twitter and in particular how businesses can embrace this powerful social networking tool as part of their own brand strategy. Whilst the room was entertained when Bob explained the basics of Twitter terminology, such as ‘Tweets’, ’Twetiquette’ and ‘Tweeple’ (no doubt soon to appear in the Oxford English Dictionary), it was clear to Chamber Members the serious impact, both good and bad, that Twitter could have on their businesses.

Twitter has experienced unprecedented growth since its conception in 2006, with latest year on year figures showing an increase of 1,928 percent in unique users from June 2008 to June 2009; propelling it into the top 5 of all social networking sites. Contrary to popular belief, the majority of Twitter users (84%) are over 25, making it an ideal audience for the business community.

This powerful online tool, with so many users, offers substantial benefits to businesses including:

  • a new and innovative way to drive new traffic to your website;
  • online protection of your brand / reputation;
  • customer support;
  • opportunities to engage with a new audience to share opinions, tools and resources and demonstrate your knowledge; and
  • the formation of networks and collaboration.

Bob went on to discuss case studies on a range of businesses who currently utilise Twitter, including Dell (international), BT (national) and Mixd (local), as well as touching on the basics for success; including:

  • what to say in the 140 character limit;
  • how to gain ‘followers’;
  • how to brand your Twitter page;
  • the basics of ‘Twetiquette’ (Twitter etiquette!); and
  • the use of add-on tools for business, such as search facilities, topic alerts and multi-users.

The informative 20 minute presentation provided a great insight into Twitter for Business, but there is so much more to benefit Chamber Members.

For further details, log on to the Mixd blog at www.mixd.co.uk, contact Bob on 01423 566043 or, of course, jump on http://twitter.com/ and send a Tweet to @mixd

————————

Nice article; go Bob!

If you want a hand with your social media strategy, or how to utilise Twitter for business, please just get in touch through whatever medium you like!

The great meltdown

Wednesday, January 13th, 2010

And no, I’m not referring to the great thaw in Harrogate, but the loss of internet for a few hours yesterday afternoon.

We work in the digital world, so probably notice it a bit more than most, but what did we all do before internet access, broadband and Wi-Fi?

We almost felt naked. In the dark ages. Like an engine that’s lost its driving wheel.

Never to be beaten and down-hearted though, we adopted some novel practices:

  • Updating Twitter and Facebook using an iPhone;
  • Phoning and speaking to clients;
  • Reading reference books; and
  • Talking.

Whilst we abandoned MSN Messenger and talked, we discussed what we’d all be doing if the internet and web design didn’t exist:

  • Phil decided he’d be a Fireman;
  • Mike reckons he’d draw stuff and visit the library more;
  • Dave would be a superstar DJ (The International Master of Rave);
  • Bob juggled the idea of being a musician (living on the bread-line) or a self-sufficient small-holder; and
  • Matt would drive limousines.

Thank goodness for the internet…

Spooky goings-on at Mixd…

Friday, October 30th, 2009

Mark Graham, whose company Original Ghost Walks of York says he found things going bump in the night at the former Mixd offices in Northallerton, North Yorkshire.

Five will make you get down!

Monday, September 21st, 2009

Contrary to a popular belief created by nineties boy-band FIVE!, no it won’t… five is most certainly making us get up; happy and celebrating.

Yesterday was the fifth birthday of Mixd, the full service creative agency based in Harrogate and five of us celebrated in our own individual ways:

  • Matt jumped down five sets of steps on his BMX;
  • Mike got up at 5am to feed the twins;
  • Bob sampled five different types of light ale;
  • Phil bruised five ribs during a mountain biking incident; and
  • Dave listened to ‘Now That’s What I call Music 5′… five times.

Thanks to all our clients, friends and supporters for making the last five years truly enjoyable and here’s to the next five.

On your bike son!

Tuesday, July 14th, 2009

Phil get's on his bike!

Are you looking for a challenge this year with the benefit of the knowledge you’re raising money for a worthwhile charity? The British Heart Foundation is holding its long-running South Downs Way (SDW) Challenge on 25 July 2009 and Mixd is pleased to announce that Phil will be stretching his legs and representing Mixd at the event (I have offered to drive the support vehicle and be on standby with a flask of tea and some biscuits).

The SDW is just over 100 miles from Winchester to the western edge of Eastbourne. There is no real technical riding (it’s down south after all!) although there is plenty of scope to fall off(!) and there are some serious hills along the way. So it’s most definitely an endurance event and a steady pace that can be sustained for 100 miles is required!

So if you would like to join Phil on the day please get in touch… he would be more than happy for some company! However, if (like me) you’d rather be following his Tweets as he progresses along the way from the comfort of your sofa then you can show your support by sponsoring Phil at: www.justgiving.com/mixd

Matt strengthens the growing Mixd team

Friday, July 10th, 2009

Full service creative agency Mixd welcomes new recruit Matt to the web design and development team at the studio in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

Matt spent his first days at Mixd at the beginning of 2009, working with the team for a couple of days a week… he has already settled in well and served his time on a number of Mixd projects. When the vacancy became available, he was the obvious choice and should take to his full-time role like a duck to water. Matt joins Mixd as an Interactive Developer, specialising in ‘bells and whistles’ and all things digital.

Phil Shackleton, partner at Mixd commented, “We’re delighted that Matt has chosen to join the team here at Mixd. He has considerable experience of developing technical solutions, gained within an agency environment, and has previously worked with many blue-chip brands including Howies. I have no doubt he will be an asset to the agency. Plus, he doesn’t drink tea or coffee, so that’s one less brew to make when it’s my round”.

Mike Danford, partner at Mixd commented, “When do you ever make the brews Phil?”

Here’s to a successful future with Mixd and it’s good to know that even in the current ‘economic downturn’ (not my words, I heard them on the news), it’s onwards and upwards…

Not worth a nickel

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009

Mixd get mixed up with stainless steel!

New plans to brighten up Mixd HQ with the introduction of a ‘work wall’ that would allow the design team to display creative concepts was scuppered this afternoon.

The plan was simple: “Let’s get a sheet of stainless steel and use magnets to hold the work up”. One quick call to a local steel fabricator and within a couple of days our sheet of shiny metal arrived. It’s lovely, although the magnets don’t stick to it.

Now… having been taught at school that things are either magnetic or they’re not, we were pretty comfortable that stainless steel was. Oh no, how silly.

A quick bit of research on Google has informed us that stainless steel is a ‘ferritic’ structure and therefore magnetic, unless it has a large proportion of nickel (there must be loads in our sheet) making it ‘austenitic’… of course. If only Mr Rees had taught us that.

Right… anyone want a massive sheet of non-magnetic stainless steel?

Or have any suggestions of what we can do with it? Clean answers only please.

Get a good education

Tuesday, March 17th, 2009

York College sketch

A key feature of the BA(Hons) Graphic Design Programme at York College is its involvement with Design experts from industry. Phil Shackleton and Mike Danford from creative group Mixd have worked with the students as creative consultants on projects including Brand Creation, Promotion and Interactive Design.

“The experience has been of immense value for the students” said Programme Leader Alan Preston, “The presentation by Mixd was inspirational and the knowledgeable input from Phil and Mike gave students a greater insight into working as design professionals within the creative industries.”

If you know of an educational establishment that may wish to enhance their curriculum by working with creative professionals, please contact Mixd

Mixd gives Bob a job

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009

Beardy Bob

Mixd would like to give a warm welcome to the new guy, beardy Bob (his name’s Bob Tait and he has a beard). We think a group hug is in order; mind you, Bob’s girlfriend Vic knows that when it comes to the hugging stakes, no one is quite like Bob!

Bob’s role in the team will be as Producer; making sure the left hand knows what the right hand is doing and ensuring that the legs are going in the same direction… forward.

It’s no surprise that Bob’s career path (if a little wavy at times) has taken him onwards to be an organiser, a project manager… a producer. Bob makes things happen, always has… guess he always will. It’s not just in his career that he makes sure things come together well, scrap that, superbly. From the early years of playgroup projects through to the current day with cricket club events and his gigging rock n’ roll band, Bob has always been instrumental (he’s actually a vocalist, but it’s a turn of phrase).

In his professional life, Bob has safely and smoothly overseen numerous creative projects to fruition for many high profile organisations, including the Department of Trade and Industry, the Higher Education Funding Council for England, the Learning and Skills Council, the National Trust and the University of Leeds.

Oh, by the way, he loves music, the great outdoors and his garden …and quite fancies keeping chickens.