need2know.co.uk
need2know is an award winning first-stop-shop for everything in a young person’s life with signposts to relevant websites in the public, private and charitable sectors.
Brief
Cimex won a competitive tender to build the de facto online ‘life’ resource for 13 to 19 year-olds. A key requirement was to satisfy the differing needs of each age group within the target audience – and be ‘independent’ of Government, as stipulated by user testing and research. The portal also needed to be easily accessible by all computers, from 56k modems to broadband users.
Solution
Cimex developed the content rich need2know.co.uk portal, which covers topics such as health, relationships, law, money and travel.
- Cimex undertook extensive consultation with over 2000 young people, parents, carers and teachers, after which an appropriate name, editorial tone and style was devised
- In-house editorial team at Cimex wrote over 40, 000 words of original lifestyle content for launch and continues to update editorial daily
- Cimex reported and liaised with the project board comprising 13 Government departments
- A user centred design approach was used, involving accessibility and usability processes for the development of the Information Architecture, technical build, rich media content, design, and branding
- The in-house editorial team publishes a updated online magazine to inspire movement throughout the site and encourage repeat visits, along with other marketing tools
- The striking design maintains download speeds and achieves AA accessibility rating
- A scaleable content management system (CMS) was built for easy uploading and publishing of content
Cimex devised an award-winning DfES sponsored ‘first-stop-shop’ for everything in a young person’s life with sign posts to relevant websites in the public, private and charitable sectors.
An in-house editorial team continues to manage and update the online and mobile sites daily and advises the Department for Children, Schools and Families (formerly DfES) on how to use the branded portal for key departmental campaigns, such as Diplomas, Cyberbullying and the Children’s Plan.
Since its launch, Cimex’s editorial team has made use of social media, using third-party networks such as Facebook, Bebo, MySpace and YouTube, to offer repeat visitors exclusive, value-added content and to drive new users to the site. Cimex also produces a weekly email newsletter that keeps subscribed users informed of recent site updates.
Result
Cimex has devised a lively and informative portal that young people can use to access important information and get advice that really matters to them. The portal was given a ‘green light’ by the Government’s Gateway Review team. The site has won ‘best ongoing programme or initiative’ in the Forum Awards, a government awards ceremony which recognises best practice.
need2know was chosen by O2 to provide content to its i-mode customers following the platform’s UK launch.
The website was voted Best Government website by public servants in the 2004 Forum Awards and shortlisted in the international Webby Awards 2006.
More recently, the site was named in The Daily Telegraph’s list of ‘101 Most Useful Websites’ – March 2008.
