Currently each regional Government Office maintains its own website on a separate IT platform using different technologies. This distributed method of maintaining websites has proved costly and complex, making it difficult to move content between sites, and to enforce regulatory standards such as website accessibility.
Following a recent and comprehensive evaluation of the current method of maintaining the nine Government office websites, the RCU selected Mediasurface and its innovative smart client console Morello, to assist it in reducing costs and increasing functionality, whilst maintaining control of website content standards.
Sue Hamer-Moss from Hedra Consulting, who leads the project for the RCU said: “The aim of the project is to create an award-winning, highly accessible website for the Government Office Network as a whole. Mediasurface was chosen because the product’s capabilities matched the complex requirements of the Government Offices and because it was good
value for money.”
Mediasurface will allow the RCU to reduce costs in a number of important areas while providing a solution which allows it to deliver improved web communications. Morello will improve the functionality of the website for the non-technical content editors at each of the nine units and provide consistency across the regions, taking the pain out of accessibility,
compliance and regulatory standards issues.
Norman Annett, Mediasurface Account Manager, said of the announcement:
“This was an important win for us as the ODPM were initially looking at an in-house solution. It confirms our stance that Morello is a major differentiator in this market and in terms of consolidation of sites and non-technical usability, can generate large scale ROI. We congratulate the RCU which has been a forward thinking partner with strong in-house
expertise and a sound IT procurement strategy.”
About the Regional Co-ordination Unit
Established in 2000, and located in the Regional Development Group of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Regional Co-ordination Unit provides a Whitehall centre of operations for the Government Office (GO) network, and works with the GOs to improve the regional and local delivery of Government programmes, so that the needs of local ommunities are met.
As well as managing the network, the Regional Co-ordination Unit works to raise its profile, promote its ability to deliver Government policies in the Regions and make it more representative of Government as a whole. The Regional Co-ordination Unit also ensures that regional concerns and interests are properly reflected in central Government and that area-based programmes are properly designed and co-ordinated to achieve maximum effect.
About Mediasurface
Mediasurface provide pioneering software that empowers the business user to build and manage sophisticated content driven websites.
Mediasurface software combines an interactive, graphical look and feel with industrial strength technology. Easy to use, business professionals can manage sites seamlessly, enabling authorised personnel to effortlessly update the content they ‘own’ without needing technically skilled web authors to craft HTML pages by hand.
Mediasurface helps organisations reduce the risks and costs involved in building and running websites and other digital channels. It increases their ability to keep pace with change and assures the quality of the content published – ultimately increasing the usefulness of these online resources.
An AIM listed company headquartered in Newbury, UK, Mediasurface products and services have been implemented to drive hundreds of web applications solutions for customers across Europe and the United States.