Fourth in our Meet the Team series, Stu is a Senior WordPress Developer here at Ultimately Better. With a knack for problem solving and impeccable attention to detail, he’s already proved himself invaluable since starting with us earlier this year.
Jem Turner, Managing Director
Hey, I’m Stu – a self-taught WordPress developer, proud WordCamp t-shirt wearer, and someone who’s been deep in the world of WordPress for over 15 years now. I’ve always found it a bit weird writing about myself, but here we are – and if it helps you get to know the person behind the code a little better, then I’m all for it.
So, who am I?
I didn’t take the traditional route into web development. There was no computer science degree, no formal training, and definitely no five-year plan. What I had was curiosity, a (slightly obsessive) attention to detail, and the willingness to dig into the nuts and bolts of how websites worked – and break a few along the way.
Back in the early 2000s, I built my first site just for fun. It was messy, unpolished, and barely worked – but I was hooked. I started teaching myself HTML and CSS, then PHP, then JavaScript… and suddenly I was diving headfirst into WordPress. Once I discovered it, that was it. Game over. Nothing else scratched the same itch.
What I loved – and still love – about WordPress is how flexible it is. You can build something simple or go completely custom, and it always feels like you’re in control. I started building sites for friends, then for clients, and before long it had become my full-time job.
Why WordPress?
Some people get excited about front-end frameworks or the latest JavaScript libraries. Me? I get a genuine kick out of crafting a clean, well-structured WordPress theme or building a plugin that just works.
WordPress has come a long way in the last decade and a half. I’ve seen it grow from a humble blogging platform to a powerful CMS capable of handling everything from eCommerce sites to full-scale membership platforms. I’ve ridden the wave of major updates, Gutenberg’s launch, and everything in between. It’s been a wild ride, but I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.
And yes, I am that guy who turns up to events wearing a WordCamp t-shirt. I’ve collected a fair few over the years, and they’re still some of the comfiest shirts I own – not to mention great conversation starters at conferences. If you’ve ever been to a WordCamp, you’ll know what I mean. There’s something about being in a room full of people who love this stuff as much as you do that just feels… right.
What I do at Ultimately Better
As a WordPress nerd – troubleshooting is kind of my thing – there’s nothing more satisfying than tracking down a weird bug or performance issue and getting everything running smoothly again.
I’m all about making things simple for our clients. That doesn’t mean cutting corners – it means making sure that the site we deliver not only looks good and functions perfectly but is also easy to manage day-to-day. Nobody wants to feel overwhelmed every time they log into their own website, so I put a lot of thought into the backend experience too. Clean dashboards, clear instructions, and a site that just works – that’s always the goal.
Coke Zero and Code
Now, most developers you meet are powered by coffee. Not me. I’ve never been a coffee drinker, but you’ll rarely find me without a can (or three) of Coke Zero nearby. It’s my fuel of choice – especially during late-night coding sessions or when I’m knee-deep in a particularly tricky problem.
I’m a bit of a minimalist when it comes to code. I believe in doing things properly, without overengineering. Just because something can be done doesn’t always mean it should.
Outside of development, when I’m not walking my springer spaniel Cooper, I enjoy a game of pool or snooker with my mates.
A bit about how I work
I’m pretty laid back day to day, but I take my work seriously. I like to really get to know a project before jumping in. What’s the client trying to achieve? What problems are we solving? How can we make life easier for them and their users?
I’m a big believer in clear communication, especially in a field that can be pretty jargon-heavy. You won’t get buzzwords or waffle from me – just honest, straightforward advice and practical solutions that make sense.
I also believe that no website is ever really ‘done’. Things evolve. Technologies change. Business goals shift. I like to build things with that in mind – flexible, scalable, and ready for whatever comes next.