When you're choosing a digital agency to build, support or evolve your website, technical expertise matters.
But how do you know whether an agency's expertise is recognised beyond its own marketing materials?
One of the strongest indicators within the Umbraco ecosystem is the Umbraco MVP programme. It's a recognition awarded by Umbraco HQ to individuals who make an outstanding contribution to the wider community, and it's widely regarded as one of the highest honours within the Umbraco world.
As an agency, we believe that the best results come from staying actively involved in the technologies we work with. Community participation helps us continue learning, challenge our thinking and ensure we're delivering solutions that reflect current best practices rather than outdated approaches.
That’s why I'm incredibly proud that I've been recognised as an Umbraco MVP for three consecutive years, with my latest renewal announced at Codegarden 2026 in Copenhagen.
But what exactly does being an Umbraco MVP mean, and why should it matter to organisations investing in Umbraco?
What is an Umbraco MVP?
MVP stands for Most Valuable People and each year Umbraco recognises a select group of community members who have made a significant contribution to the platform and its community over the previous 12 months.
Unlike many industry awards, MVP status isn't based solely on technical ability or commercial success. Instead, it recognises people who actively help others, share knowledge and contribute to the growth of the wider Umbraco ecosystem.
The programme celebrates individuals who go beyond their day-to-day roles to help make Umbraco better for everyone.
What do Umbraco MVPs actually do?
There isn't a single path to becoming an MVP. Some recipients contribute code, while others focus on education, mentoring or community building.
Activities often include:
- Creating packages and tools that extend Umbraco's functionality
- Sharing knowledge through articles, tutorials and technical guides
- Speaking at conferences, festivals and community events
- Supporting developers through forums, Discord channels and community discussions
- Organising meetups and local events
- Contributing ideas, improvements and feedback that help shape the platform
What all MVPs have in common is a commitment to helping others succeed. The programme recognises contribution, collaboration and community impact just as much as technical skill.
Why does this matter for businesses?
At first glance, community awards might seem unrelated to the success of a website project. In reality, they can tell you a great deal about the people behind the work.
Professionals who actively contribute to a technology community tend to stay closer to platform developments, emerging best practices and real-world challenges being solved across the ecosystem.
They don't just use the technology; they help improve it, support others using it and stay engaged with the conversations shaping its future.
For clients, that often translates into:
- Better technical decision-making
- Stronger awareness of best practices
- Faster problem-solving
- Greater confidence in platform recommendations
- Access to wider industry knowledge and expertise
In short, community recognition provides an independent signal that expertise is respected by both peers and the platform vendor itself.
The value of community expertise
One of the reasons Umbraco has built such a strong reputation is the community surrounding it. Thousands of developers, agencies and organisations actively share knowledge, solve problems together and contribute ideas that help improve the platform.
MVPs play an important role within that ecosystem. By contributing their time and expertise, they help strengthen the platform for everyone who uses it. That collaborative environment ultimately benefits businesses too. The more knowledge that is shared across the community, the stronger the solutions become.
Expertise backed by community recognitioN
An Umbraco MVP badge doesn't automatically make someone a great developer, consultant or agency partner.
However, it does demonstrate something important: a willingness to invest time and expertise into helping others, contributing to the platform and supporting the wider community.
For businesses choosing an Umbraco partner, that level of commitment can provide valuable reassurance that they're working with people who are deeply engaged with the platform and recognised by their peers. In an industry that changes as quickly as digital technology, that ongoing involvement can make all the difference.
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