Website Development and Support

Business West is looking to appoint a supplier to:

1. Develop a new website for Business West, launched by 1st Apr2016 2. Recommend a hosting solution 3. Provide ongoing support - to include integration with existing CRM system

Deadline for receipt of ITT responses is 12:00 noon (BST) on 16th Sep2015

Additional information: The current Business West website was designed originally to improve on its predecessor, developing its navigation and offering a more visual and interactive experience, but primarily still serving as a brochure-style, service-led site. The current site is now around 3 years old.

A thorough review of the site in 2013/14 resulted in recommendations for a new strategy: to develop a new site that would better serve business objectives; to offer a user-led, relevant and valuable experience for visitors, deliver more effectively on acquisition, retention and conversion goals as the 'beating heart' of the marketing mix, and to make it better equipped to evolve quickly in a swiftly changing digital landscape.

In a nutshell, the vision for the overall web project is to deliver a user-centric, future proof website able to demonstrate results to Business West.

Prior to commissioning the development of a new website, Business West has worked with consultants to formulate a well-considered and researched 'Forward Digital Plan' to provide a basis of key intelligence and recommendations from which developers could build on to develop an effective new site.

The following key requirements were identified at the outset:-

• The website should address the service diversity that Business West offers and also be innovative • Business West wants to attract new audiences, including younger business individuals, and those not actively engaged with or aware of Business West - whilst proving valuable to existing users. • The website should drive acquisition, nurture and conversion of users - supporting marketing goals and ensuring regular repeat visits • The website needs to integrate with existing technologies and microsites and provide a seamless experience for mobile users. • The website should also work within the business capabilities and provide a CMS that can easily be used by the organisation.

In order to identify how to proceed with these goals it was vital to talk to Business West's target market including existing members and non-members (potential prospects).

Primary research was conducted, using focus groups and user testing, as well as a variety of direct stakeholder engagement and desk-based research. The findings from this research phase have been analysed to produce the 'Digital Forward Plan'.

The 'Digital Forward Plan' aims to provide a fair basis from which tenderers may use the information to review, build on and provide a response that will enable us to achieve our goals.

It also includes a CMS evaluation, proposed IA, and technical specification which are intended as a starting point from which the appointed developer and Business West marketing team may review and work closely to finalise and develop.

If this opportunity is of interest please email [email protected] for a copy of the tender documents.