As this year draws to a close, we look forward to 2022 and the new opportunities that are just around the corner. Laser Red is getting into the Christmas spirit after a hugely successful and exciting year for us. We decided to ask the team a series of questions about their predictions for 2022. As expected by such a diverse group of people, we had some very interesting answers that we would like to share with you! Sit back and enjoy…
Management
Liam O:
What has been your 2021 highlight?
Working with some of the most talented and passionate people, in our team and our clients, working on projects that tested my problem solving ability.
What are you looking forward to leaving behind in 2021?
Exciting film releases being pushed back
What are your predictions for the digital industry in 2022?
Demand and growth for many agencies and freelancers as companies continue to invest in technology and digital marketing. Recruitment and education may struggle to meet the demand, so companies better go further than ever before to attract and keep good talent. Remote working is here to stay, but people will try to meet more face-to-face for that personal connection.
What are your predictions for Laser Red in 2022?
Busy, and implementing some exciting plans!
What do you think 2022 has in store for you specifically?
My first best man gig. And hopefully more holidays out of the UK.
Bonus points for Christmas joke:
Santa went to the Doctors with a problem. Doctor: What seems to be the problem? Santa: I seem to have a mince pie stuck up my bottom! Doctor: Well you’re in luck because I’ve got just the cream for that!
Kirsty:
What has been your 2021 highlight?
So many things! We had some good socials.
What are you looking forward to leaving behind in 2021?
COVID
What are your predictions for the digital industry in 2022?
Robots that look like people
What are your predictions for Laser Red in 2022?
Still being totally awesome!
What do you think 2022 has in store for you specifically?
Fingers crossed, more holidays.
Bonus points for Christmas joke:
Why did Santa get a parking ticket? He left his sleigh in a snow parking zone.
Sam:
What has been your 2021 highlight?
Going to Dubai
What are you looking forward to leaving behind in 2021?
Fleas, I hope!!
What are your predictions for the digital industry in 2022?
Rapid growth as more companies are “going digital” as part of working from home more
What are your predictions for Laser Red in 2022?
It will be the best year ever!
What do you think 2022 has in store for you specifically?
Turning 30 and celebrating in a field
Ben H:
What has been your 2021 highlight?
Where to start! Finishing Uni, landing a job straight after finishing, getting engaged or moving into my first home!
What are you looking forward to leaving behind in 2021?
With a bit of work, hopefully a lot of mental health issues during uni and being during a pandemic. It was a very isolating time but with family and friend support I feel I’m on the right track.
What are your predictions for the digital industry in 2022?
A tricky one. There’s a lot of noise around the metaverse, but honestly I don’t think it’ll go anywhere for a long time. What seems more likely to me is websites becoming easier and easier to create at lower costs. Despite this, making top notch websites will be an expert’s game next year.
What are your predictions for Laser Red in 2022?
Only being in the company for 6 months, my view isn’t wide enough. One things is for certain though, that we’ll continue to improve and be cutting edge. There’s always a lot of work to be done, but the work ethic here means that we’re always pushing ourselves.
What do you think 2022 has in store for you specifically?
A tricky one! I’ve been continuing my learning in the digital world and I see that taking shape next year. Learning more about code, data management and digital marketing has not only helped me understand the work we do, but also develop the work of our clients.
Paul:
What has been your 2021 highlight?
Hitting 58 and being married for almost 25 years and in work for 41 years.
What are you looking forward to leaving behind in 2021?
COVID and bad health
What are your predictions for the digital industry in 2022?
I think it is stagnant – we have tools and platforms that feel totally unregulated – content platforms need to be accountable for the content they’re hosting. Legislation needs to
catch up with social changes and challenges.
What are your predictions for Laser Red in 2022?
Hitting that 30 members of staff ceiling
What do you think 2022 has in store for you specifically?
Better health, more angry man shouting at the cloud moments. Being horrified
at the power of minority voices and cancel culture. Watching the sad eradication of feminism.
Bonus points for Christmas joke:
What’s the difference between a Christmas tree and a man?
A Christmas tree will stay up for 12 nights, has cute balls and looks good with the lights on.
Development
Alex Cooper:
What has been your 2021 highlight?
I got to play senior hockey with my lad, now that he’s old enough, which made me feel happy, proud and old all at once. Ticked that item off the bucket list.
What are you looking forward to leaving behind in 2021?
I’d like to say the pandemic and all of the uncertainty in the UK at the moment, but that might be premature. How about “I’m looking to leaving behind any premature predictions of the future”?
What are your predictions for the digital industry in 2022?
More regulation I imagine. Changes to GDPR / data protections laws, while the social media and tech giants will find themselves coming under greater scrutiny with potential repercussions filtering through to affect everyone.
What are your predictions for Laser Red in 2022?
I feel we’ve put a lot of structural changes in this year that are going to prove themselves in 2022 and give us a lot more stability from which to grow further. I’m pretty excited by the prospect of a few things we have up our metaphorical sleeves.
What do you think 2022 has in store for you specifically?
I measure my successes by whether I can complete another year without accidentally killing myself; falling off ladders, electrocuting myself, etc. If I can manage that for another 12 months then I’m already winning.
Bonus points for Christmas joke:
Q: How do the contestants on the Christmas special of Strictly Come Dancing stay Covid free?
A: They Tess Daly
BenW:
What has been your 2021 highlight?
The highlight of my year has been buying a house. For a long time we’ve struggled financially and now it feels like all of our hard work has paid off. This year has also been when I joined the Laser Red team, which has been the best work related decision I’ve ever made!
What are you looking forward to leaving behind in 2021?
Anything negative in my life that has happened. I’m in a good headspace and I keep making positive decisions to enrich my life; I aim to keep this up and keep moving forward.
What are your predictions for the digital industry in 2022?
I believe the industry is going to grow at an unbelievable rate. The demand for a digital presence has never been higher and with the aid of technological advancements, I can see that we are going to be able to provide even greater opportunities for solutions to our clients.
What are your predictions for Laser Red in 2022?
We’re going to keep on rising and climbing to the top, proving that we’re giants in this industry.
What do you think 2022 has in store for you specifically?
2022 will continue to provide opportunities for me to learn and grow, not only with work but in my personal life as well.
Bonus points for Christmas joke:
What did one snowman say to the other snowman?
Do you smell carrots?
Dave:
What has been your 2021 highlight?
Learned loads this year in terms of development and things that were hard before are becoming so much easier to do.
What are you looking forward to leaving behind in 2021?
Hopefully, COVID but doubt that will happen!
What are your predictions for the digital industry in 2022?
The world has changed big time due to the pandemic so I think digital will keep growing year on year for the foreseeable future as more and more businesses look to move online or to improve their current digital offering to ensure they are staying current for their target audience and meeting the needs of their users.
What are your predictions for Laser Red in 2022?
Confident LR will continue to grow next year, taking on new and exciting clients and also growing the team.
What do you think 2022 has in store for you specifically?
Continue to learn new things and really kick-on as a web dev.
Joe A:
What has been your 2021 highlight?
Launching the new Hydraulic Megastore site.
What are you looking forward to leaving behind in 2021?
Working on the new Hydraulic Megastore site!
What are your predictions for the digital industry in 2022?
I think we’ll see an increase in people moving their real world shops over to ecommerce.
What are your predictions for Laser Red in 2022?
Continued growth, more awesome clients, creating bigger and better solutions.
What do you think 2022 has in store for you specifically?
A new car and maybe a haircut.
Liam C:
What has been your 2021 highlight?
Wise Robotics, great project, great team collaboration, smooth sailing right through to launch.
What are you looking forward to leaving behind in 2021?
Covid
What are your predictions for the digital industry in 2022?
A dip because of WFH boom.
What are your predictions for Laser Red in 2022?
1.5m turnover
What do you think 2022 has in store for you specifically?
Finally passing my driving test, getting a car and hopefully finally getting an xbox series x
James:
What has been your 2021 highlight?
Passing my 6 month probation back in April.
What are you looking forward to leaving behind in 2021?
Honestly this year hasn’t been that bad for me, so there’s nothing I’m actively looking forward to leaving behind.
What are your predictions for the digital industry in 2022?
More people sacrificing online privacy for the sake of convenience.
What are your predictions for Laser Red in 2022?
Bigger and better clients, more hires, and a wild Christmas party.
What do you think 2022 has in store for you specifically?
Getting back out on the mountain bike, and spending more time out in Norway.
Lisa:
What has been your 2021 highlight?
Walking 10k steps every day in August – I usually only manage around a 1000.
What are you looking forward to leaving behind in 2021?
Uncertainty around restrictions, I need a holiday!
What are your predictions for the digital industry in 2022?
The spotlight on accessibility and data privacy will continue to grow.
What are your predictions for Laser Red in 2022?
More lovely clients and more big projects!
What do you think 2022 has in store for you specifically?
A beach, a book and a Pina Colada.
Alex W:
What has been your 2021 highlight?
I haven’t killed any of my plants! (yet)
What are you looking forward to leaving behind in 2021?
Still writing 2020 on forms
What are your predictions for the digital industry in 2022?
Hopefully bigger and better things around security and privacy.
What are your predictions for Laser Red in 2022?
Can’t be spilling secrets now!
What do you think 2022 has in store for you specifically?
Winning the lottery would be perfect
Bonus points for Christmas joke:
Why does Santa go to strip clubs?
To visit all his ho ho ho’s.
Jack:
What has been your 2021 highlight?
The highlight of my year socially was going camping for the first time down in Devon – cue:
Trying to put up a tent and light a fire in extreme wind
Driving an hour and a half to find a Toby Carvery
Showering in some real questionable facilities
Being kicked out of my first club for being a total mess
All the while waiting for calls from my parents telling me what our then 4mo puppy has broken now
For work this is becoming our frontend team leader which is very exciting and I’m looking forward to being able to put my ideas into practice in the new year.
What are you looking forward to leaving behind in 2021?
Internet Explorer
What are your predictions for the digital industry in 2022?
It’s going to be another solid year with more and more businesses upping their online game following COVID.
What are your predictions for Laser Red in 2022?
Lots of new clients and big new exciting projects in the pipeline. Lots of internal improvements in the pipeline too that I think will make our development output unrecognisable to what it is now by the end of the year.
What do you think 2022 has in store for you specifically?
Exciting new responsibilities at Laser Red with my new role, more actual breaks and holidays, time with the family and hopefully a dog that won’t drag me down the street when we’re on one of the W words
Design
Danny:
What has been your 2021 highlight?
Feeling proud of myself for the first time in a long time, that I’m doing okay and finally have the ability to admit when something’s wrong or not quite working and ultimately asking for help. It’s tough on guys (as it is everyone) but it’s something I’ve struggled with for so long and this year with a lot of help I’ve broken through that and know that feeling, anything, is okay. I’m proud of me, my life, and my job, love my friends and my family and couldn’t ask for much more. Excited for bigger plans in 2022!
What are you looking forward to leaving behind in 2021?
COVID hopefully!
What are your predictions for the digital industry in 2022?
Design is going to continue to get more clean, simple, but UX at its forefront as it currently is. Everything about design is changing and shifting in such a direction where people don’t need “fuss” anymore and I’m all for it.
What are your predictions for Laser Red in 2022?
6 new team members and 4 of our biggest projects to date plus one project which will be MASSIVE.
What do you think 2022 has in store for you specifically?
That’s a secret!
Bonus points for Christmas joke:
What type of key do you need for a Nativity play?
A donkey!
Dan:
What has been your 2021 highlight?
Developing my skills further from Design to Frontend Development providing clients with websites that they love!
What are you looking forward to leaving behind in 2021?
Hopefully the general stigma and feeling around the whole COVID pandemic.
What are your predictions for the digital industry in 2022?
Meta/Facebook to create the Metaverse and have an awesome virtual environment like Ready Player One.
What are your predictions for Laser Red in 2022?
Further growth and expansion and continuing to provide clients with amazing websites and services plus lots of personal development from the team.
What do you think 2022 has in store for you specifically?
Hoping to continue and expand my Frontend Skills to provide larger and more complex websites to clients.
Bonus points for Christmas joke:
Who is never hungry at Christmas? The turkey—he’s always stuffed.
Jason:
What has been your 2021 highlight?
Beating Liams team at back2bear.
What are you looking forward to leaving behind in 2021?
Another year of COVID.
What are your predictions for the digital industry in 2022?
More talk about the metaverse.
What are your predictions for Laser Red in 2022?
To the moon!
What do you think 2022 has in store for you specifically?
Lots more design.
Marketing
Charlii:
What has been your 2021 highlight?
Growing the marketing team! We now have a super impressive team of 5 with loads of exciting things on the horizon. And gaining a whole new family!
What are you looking forward to leaving behind in 2021?
COVID! Let’s hope all of these boosters mean we can have a year of less restrictions.
What are your predictions for the digital industry in 2022?
The industry is shifting towards a focus on intent and what the user is really looking for, we are seeing an increase in intelligence which will ensure our search results are more accurate than ever.
What are your predictions for Laser Red in 2022?
I think we are gearing up to have our best year yet, with more talent and planning than ever before 2022 is looking exciting for Laser Red!
What do you think 2022 has in store for you specifically?
LOADS of holidays and a new home.
Charlotte:
What has been your 2021 highlight?
Obviously, aside from having our little one, coming back after maternity leave and having so much support from the team has been such a great experience. I’ve loved meeting the new members and catching up with the regulars.
What are you looking forward to leaving behind in 2021?
COVID restrictions! I understand the importance, but I’m looking forward to meeting up with people in person more often.
What are your predictions for the digital industry in 2022?
Voice search is slowly gaining more traction so I’m interested to see how Google continues to update in order to factor in things like user intent and user accents.
What are your predictions for Laser Red in 2022?
More growth – we’ve been all hands on deck this year and I can see this continuing into 2022. I think more companies have realised over the past two years that having a digital presence is more than just a ‘nice to have’ aspect of their business.
What do you think 2022 has in store for you specifically?
For me, 2022 is going to be about making the most of my time and skills. I want to improve what I already know, and also branch out into new things. I want to see how far I can go!
Bonus points for Christmas joke:
What’s a mathematician’s favourite Christmas snack?
A mince π
Arlena:
What has been your 2021 highlight?
2021 highlight is having my little girl, starting my masters and of course, working for Laser Red!
What are you looking forward to leaving behind in 2021?
Hopefully COVID!
What are your predictions for the digital industry in 2022?
My predictions would be a growth in the ad market worldwide, a further increase in online sales. The meta verse has recently been established so I believe this has some exciting things coming. Automation is also going to grow and become a large part of marketing campaigns.
What are your predictions for Laser Red in 2022?
Laser red will see massive growth both client and team based. I see many different clients coming on board from new areas and lots of surprises!
What do you think 2022 has in store for you specifically?
I hope 2022 brings me more challenges and ways for me to grow (hopefully not width ways!) and learn more skills. I will definitely be passing my driving test! Also, I think there is going to be a lot of change in the marketing world!
Joe L:
What has been your 2021 highlight?
My 2021 career highlight was graduating from university with a 2:1 and entering into a career that interests me.
What are you looking forward to leaving behind in 2021?
Hopefully COVID!
What are your predictions for the digital industry in 2022?
Digital marketing will continue to grow even more in terms of paid or organic – Smaller businesses are beginning to realise the importance a digital presence is for the success of a company and will continue to branch into the digital world.
What are your predictions for Laser Red in 2022?
Laser Red will probably take over the world…
What do you think 2022 has in store for you specifically?
Who knows what 2022 has in store for me… A year ago I didn’t think I would be where I am today but I’m excited to find out!
Anna:
What has been your 2021 highlight?
There have been so many to choose from! Landing my dream job at Laser Red, passing my 6 month probation and gaining my red converse and moving into my first home to name just a few!
What are you looking forward to leaving behind in 2021?
Hopefully some uncertainty, and having to sit outside of pubs.
What are your predictions for the digital industry in 2022?
We’ve seen a lot of traction over the last 18 months, many businesses have begun to realise the importance of an online presence, even if you don’t sell a ‘physical’ product. This means more competitive marketing in many industries, and digital marketing professionals are going to have to be on their A game.
What are your predictions for Laser Red in 2022?
I think the Laser Red team will continue to grow, both in size and skill. This means we can take on bigger clients, with more complex and interesting requirements. Basically, it’s gonna be epic!
What do you think 2022 has in store for you specifically?
More education and learning about what it means to be a SEO expert, especially as the industry evolves.
Phew! Well done if you got to the end of that one!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of our lovely clients, friends, family, followers and everyone else in between. See you all in 2022!