Unionlearn

BOCC's dynamic website for unionlearn, the new TUC workplace learning initiative, was released on time and on budget to coincide with Gordon Brown's launch of the organisation, on 2 May 2006.

Unionlearn provides support and advice on lifelong learning and workforce development across England and plays a key role in meeting the Government's Skills Strategy. It will focus on literacy and numeracy skills, and also aims to encourage greater employer support for training and strengthen union membership. The project is a partnership between the Department for Education and Skills and TUC, and the Government.

Speakers at the launch included the Chancellor, Education Secretary, Ruth Kelly, and TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber. The event, hosted by TV personality June Sarpong, attracted over 500 of the leading figures from trade unions, employers, universities and colleges. Individual learners and representatives who are already involved in union-sponsored learning schemes also attended.

Web site design, development and hosting by BOCC.

May 2006

Macmillan Cancer Support

The online shopping catalogue developed by BOCC for Macmillan Cancer Support, has been updated and redesigned to match a new branding for the charity.

Features of the catalogue include:

• web-based catalogue management
• gift personalisation
• online payment card authorisation
• orders transferred directly to fulfilment agency
• email a friend

The branding design was provided by Macmillan to BOCC as mock-ups and these were converted to standards-compliant HTML code for the dynamic website.

Completed site and databases hosted by BOCC.

April 2006

Stunning Design

A contemporary, flexible, design has been created by BOCC's design team for the new unionlearn organisation's website. Starting from only tentative logos for the organisation and an agreed colour palette, BOCC created a stunning design which has received much praise from the client, delegates at the site's launch and, most importantly, end users.

Initially, BOCC created a general graphical design in combination with the client. Designs for other key pages and components such as forms, tables, banners and images were also developed and tested in HTML to ensure the web page code would meet latest web accessibility standards, was consistent with the content publishing requirements and passed usability trials.

BOCC also created the content management system and host the new website.

April 2006

Usability and Design

The Society of Information Technology Management (SOCITM) has released its Better Connected 2006 survey of local authority websites. BOCC's recent work for West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC) has rocketed its position up the ratings.

SOCITM is the professional body for IT in local government and its annual survey is acknowledged nationally as being the definitive review of UK e-government on the web. SOCITM gave some very favourable comments about the overall design and usability, and about the 'My West Oxfordshire' area of the site.

On using the site, the reviewer said "Excellent usability - I glide through the site and it is a pleasure to use. The design is professional and it does not get in the way of the information".

The reviewer also said "The West Oxfordshire property search is the most impressive I have seen. I can access tons of information about a property from council tax band, to nearest car parks; bin collection day to planning applications. This is very impressive use of the data and should be an example to all other councils. West Oxfordshire is leading the way!".

Website and databases hosted by BOCC.March 2006