SMC Website Development

Tender description

Work done so far The in-house team has undertaken an audit of the site to make refinements using the existing site architecture, based on user testing and stakeholder feedback. Further user testing will be conducted prior to the commencement of this contract to inform this brief. Alongside this work the SMC is working with a third party supplier to develop a new corporate identity for the Commission. We expect that the learnings from the discovery phase of this work will inform the design and development of this brief. Which phase the project is in Not started Existing team Deputy Director, Communications and Digital - Oversight of all external SMC communications Head of Campaigns and Digital Communications - Lead for digital communications and website Senior Campaigns and Digital Communications Manager - responsible for day to day management of the Commission’s social media channels Address where the work will be done The Commission's staff are based in different locations across the country with its head office in Westminster. It is expected that work will take place remotely. Working arrangements We expect that work on this project will take place remotely. Ad-hoc in person meetings may take place if practical with all travel and subsistence will require prior approval. Provide more information about your security requirements: No security clearance needed Latest start date 2025-05-27 Enter the expected contract length: 4 months Extension period: 2 months Write the term or acronym: SMC Are you prepared to show your budget details?: No Indicative maximum: £20,000.00 including VAT Indicative minimum: £0.00 Confirm if you require a contracted out service or supply of resource Contracted out service: the off-payroll rules do not apply Summary of work The Social Mobility Commission (SMC) requires a refresh of its website, built on WordPress, to bring it into alignment with its new corporate identity and to improve its functionality. Improvements to the existing functionality of the site will be based on internal stakeholder requirements and user testing. User testing has been conducted internally using the in house expertise with further testing scheduled for prior to the commencement of this contract. Successful delivery of this project will help the SMC to speak in a clear and consistent way throughout our audience journeys, ensuring our audience - Thinks - the SMC has interesting and engaging content, which they want to explore further - Feels - the SMC is a dynamic, authoritative and expert voice in social mobility - Does - digest reports / publications /calls to action, takes away key messages and promotes/amplifies the SMC’s positions Where the supplied staff will work No specific location (for example they can work remotely) Who the organisation using the products or services is Social Mobility Commission Why the work is being done The new corporate identity is currently under development by a specialist third party supplier and will support the delivery of the SMC’s strategic objectives - To change the debate on social mobility - To provide statutory, and independent advice to policy and decision makers cross-sector, so they understand how to consider socio-economic disadvantage as part of their work To catalyse meaningful and measurable action by local and national government that can improve outcomes for all There are no legal or regulatory changes influencing this work. Our target is for this work to be delivered by September 2025 though there is scope for flexibility on this subject to conversations with suppliers. The business problem you need to solve Our current site has received negative feedback from internal and external stakeholders who have reported that key information and publications are hard to find. The in-house team has undertaken an audit of the site to make refinements using the existing site architecture, based on user testing and stakeholder feedback, however new functionality is needed to meet these user needs. Additional external developer support is needed to implement cosmetic changes to the website which will be required to bring the site into alignment with the SMC’s new corporate identity which is currently being developed. Expected deliverables - Overall restructure - the design of which is to be tied to the results of user testing - New homepage layout - To support the strategic objectives of the SMC and the implementation of the new corporate identity - Revised news functionality - to showcase the SMC’s activities and publications - Content categorisation, search and tagging functionality - Incorporation of new brand elements into new site structure - Functionality to quickly host HTML versions of reports for accessible reading Expected outcomes - To support the strategic objectives of the SMC by increasing awareness of the SMC and its positions, increasing interest in and engagement with the commission’s reports and publications and building advocacy for the implementation of its recommendations. - To change the debate on social mobility - To establish the SMC as a unique, statutory, and independent voice that inspires collaborative action, cross-sector, to improve socio-economic outcomes for all - Through our statutory monitoring and research powers, create the foundations for a clear pathway to action that local and national government can follow to deliver meaningful and measurable policies that can improve outcomes for all First user type: Priority audience group - Politicians / parliamentarians - Employers (HR / DEI professionals) - Policy makers / officials (local and national) - Academics and students First user type: Our secondary audience group is journalists / the general public, though we do not consider these to have specific user needs in addition to those listed above.