Q&A With Our Chief Technology Officer William Wildridge
Our CTO William Wildridge tells us all about his journey with HeritageXplore, his background at Google, his love of heritage and the ways in which he wants to see the platform evolve over the next year.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself; who are you and what role do you do for HeritageXplore?
My name William Wildridge and I am the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at HeritageXplore. In my role, I’m responsible for overseeing all technical aspects of the platform, including its development, maintenance, and continuous improvement to ensure we create the easiest way for people to experience our historic houses!
Can you tell us a bit about your background? Where did you work before joining HX?
Before joining HX, I had over 15 years of experience in building web products and have worked in various capacities within the tech industry. I spent nine years at Google, where I was a Technical Solutions Consultant, leading machine learning project teams. I have also founded several startups, including WiggleDesk.com and am working towards a part-time MSc in Software Engineering at Oxford.
What initially drew you to working with HX?
I was drawn to HeritageXplore because of the unique opportunity to combine my technical expertise with my passion for history and heritage. The chance to develop a platform that celebrates and supports the UK's independent heritage houses seemed like a fantastic opportunity! I wanted to contribute to making these beautiful estates more accessible and engaging for a wider audience, who historically haven’t necessarily had good access to or even known about these beautiful homes.
What do you think sets HX apart from other platforms from a technical perspective?
HeritageXplore stands out due to our focus on creating an intuitive user experience that is built specifically for Heritage houses from the ground up, as opposed to trying to shoehorn more generic booking software onto the houses. This allows us to highlight the often-curious fundamental aspects of these houses and make booking tours, house visits and free-roaming options really simple for our user
What is your favourite thing about working for HX?
The opportunity to merge my love for technology with my passion for history and heritage. It’s incredibly fulfilling to see how our platform can bring historic estates to life for a much broader audience than they would have historically catered to, which in turn helps their preservation for future generations.
And what is the most challenging?
The most challenging aspect is balancing the preservation of the authentic, historic charm of these estates with the need to modernise and make them accessible through a digital platform. It requires a delicate touch to ensure that we honour the past whilst making these places relevant and engaging for today's users.
How do you see the platform evolving over the next year?
Over the next year, we plan to expand our platform by adding more independent heritage houses and incorporating additional interactive features, such as maps and audio experiences.
We aim to enhance our digital offerings and develop new ways for users to engage with the histories behind these estates, through showcasing unique authentic stories from these houses. Additionally, we will be focusing on building a community around our platform where users can share their experiences and insights
How would you like to see users interacting with the platform?
I envision users treating HeritageXplore as their go-to resource for discovering and visiting the UK's independent heritage houses. I hope they will use the platform not just to book visits, but also to engage with the rich history and stories of these estates through our interactive content!
Ultimately, it would be wonderful to see the platform becoming a community hub where users can share their experiences and connect with others who share their passion for heritage.
And finally, what’s one fun fact about yourself not many people know?
When I’m not working, I enjoy long distance cycle touring, my most recent tour was San Francisco to Los Angeles !
