The September PHP Oxford user group event was an exciting occasion as we welcomed a new sponsor, Global Initiative, to the fold. Held at their newly refurbished offices in central Oxford, the event was a perfect combination of insightful talks, networking, and a glimpse into one of Oxford’s top digital agencies.
Global Initiative is a full-service digital agency specialising in digital production services, supported by classical media collateral. Their expertise in online UX development and their user-first approach to each project make them a standout in their field. As a company that heavily relies on PHP in its day-to-day work, Global Initiative was an ideal sponsor for this event. Their fantastic new venue in the heart of Oxford provided a great setting for the local PHP community to gather and exchange ideas.
Event Highlights
The evening kicked off with drinks and networking, offering attendees the opportunity to chat with peers and the friendly team at Global Initiative. After a warm introduction from Humand Talent, the first talk of the night began.
“Testing in PHP without Assertions with Naranza Bateo” – Andrea Davanzo
Andrea Davanzo, a seasoned software engineer with a wealth of experience in PHP, delivered a highly engaging presentation on Naranza Bateo, a unique tool that enables PHP developers to write unit tests without using assertions. He explained how Bateo allows developers to write tests in pure PHP, keeping them simple, effective, and optimised for speed, thanks to parallel test execution. This talk was a must-see for anyone looking to improve their PHP testing practices and was well-received by the crowd.
“Hacking Parenthood: A Software Engineer’s Guide to Raising Future-Ready Kids” – Rajkumar Sakthivel
Following a short break, Rajkumar Sakthivel took the stage with his thought-provoking talk on balancing a career in tech with parenthood. As both a software engineer and a parent, Rajkumar offered practical tips and strategies for raising adaptable, confident children while juggling the demands of a tech-heavy lifestyle. His talk resonated with many attendees, providing insights into how to prepare kids for a future where technology continues to play a pivotal role.
The event wrapped up with more networking and a relaxed atmosphere where attendees shared their thoughts on the talks and the latest in PHP trends.
Looking Ahead to November
Didn’t make it to the September event? Not to worry! We’re already gearing up for the next PHP Oxford meetup in November, which will once again be hosted by Global Initiative at their fantastic George Street offices. Our upcoming keynote speaker will be Gina, who will present her talk, “PHP: Pretty Horrible Programs”, a tongue-in-cheek exploration of common PHP pitfalls and how to avoid them.
Mark your calendars and be sure to RSVP early! It’s shaping up to be another insightful evening, and we’d love to see you there.
Join Us and Get Involved
Humand Talent is always looking for new sponsors and speakers to share their expertise with the vibrant tech community here in Oxford. If you’re interested in sponsoring or speaking at one of our events, get in touch with us today!
To learn more about our recruitment services, upcoming events, and talent solutions for software engineers, visit the Humand Talent homepage.
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