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We are experts in providing digital solutions to the Public Sector.

ABOUT US

With a trained team of developers, designers and marketeers, Formation has a full understanding of the requirements that all public sector organisations should meet online. We have gained many years of experience within the public sector, from working with Police and Crime Commissioners, local councils and the NHS both on a local and national level.

Formation Media

Guaranteed quality every time Formation is one of just a handful of creative agencies to hold and operate under an ISO 9001 certification. Above all else, this provides our clients with piece of mind that our solutions will be provided in the correct way at the correct time, every time. The result of months of process refinement and independent auditing, our ISO 9001 certification ensures we are accountable, process-driven, and that we never make the same mistake twice.

Our Services We have been able to help public sector organisations improve their relationships with the general public by modernising and enhancing their websites, branding and digital presence, all to WCAG 2.1AA accessibility standards. Not only this but we’ve been able to create bespoke software, such as our Independent Custody Visitors App, helping digitise and improve processes.

Public Sector Solutions

DIGITAL ACCESSIBILITY

A huge part of working with the public sector is digital accessibility. We have been able to work with public sector organisations to make their websites comply with the new website accessibility standards. To allow us to offer a better service to our clients, our team of developers, designers and marketeers have been on extensive training courses in digital accessibility to ensure that everything from the technical development of the website to the content that the user sees is up to scratch.

What is digital accessibility? We have all experienced the frustration of slow loading website pages, having to squint at small text or unreadable fonts and graphics, also the annoyance of unfriendly or dysfunctional sites, particularly on mobile sites that are unresponsive to your smart-phone. While these issues might be slightly bothersome to many, for individuals with assisted needs, they can be severely restrictive.

Formation Media

OUR DIGITAL PLATFORMS ARE:

Accessible

What are the accessibility requirements? Digital accessibility standards were made enforceable through government legislation on 23rd September 2020. Any applicable public sector websites should be

Secure

compliant as of that date, meaning that in some cases, action needs to be taken immediately. Web accessibility is the requirement for websites to utilise

Easy to use

tools and advanced technologies to assist and support people with assisted needs. Integrating accessibility can seem a daunting task when it’s not your skillset. However, it is a vital element of the users’ digital experience and wellbeing.

What organisations does this affect? If your organisation receives public-funding, then you will be required to comply with these mandatory directives. This new law, The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018 applies to websites, downloadable documents, mobile apps, intranets and extranets, which means wide-ranging implications for councils, government agencies and the education sector.

Public Sector Solutions

SUCCESS STORY / POLICE & CRIME COMMISSIONERS PUBLIC SECTOR: UX / WEBSITE / SOFTWARE

Digitising vital public services throughout the UK 06

Formation Media

Bringing regional police forces in-line with the digital revolution... The Problem Throughout the UK, regional police forces work to provide the public with vital services. These forces face a monumental administrative task, as well as the challenges of relating to the public in a clear and friendly way.

The Transformation Given our dedication to aiding the police and our relevant expertise, Formation has created its own specialised arm to serve the sector, Police Commissioner Solutions. Through the creation of a number of websites and a bespoke software platform, Formation has transformed the way regional police forces throughout the UK operate and present themselves to the public. This has enabled police and custody services to revolutionise previously paper-heavy processes and, in the case of PCCs, communicate clearly and positively with an electorate.

We engineer digital transformation

PUBLIC SECTOR: UX / WEBSITE / SOFTWARE

Success Story Police & Crime Commissioners Websites - West Midlands, West Mercia PCCs

Software - Independent Custody Visitor (ICV) App

The West Midlands PCC website was launched in the

The app was born when PCCs notified us of the issues

Summer of 2019, the project involved working closely

they were experiencing with their current paper-based

with the PCC’s office to create a website which was

ICV visits and recording system - being time-consuming

accessible to all. Both websites are appealing and easy-

and inefficient. We digitised the entire process, creating

to-use, but can also be fully managed and maintained

an app to solve these problems. It records details

internally with an integrated content management

and information of detainees held in custody suites,

system. westmidlands-pcc.gov.uk

including any requests made by the detainee, any issues with the cell, along with any other notes and procedures to be followed during an ICV visit.

Formation Media

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1. ICV App Dashboard interface 2. West Midlands PCC Website A full, bespoke WordPress user guide was created with training conducted for complete in house website management using the CMS. A UX manual including research, schematics, pattern library and annotations was produced throughout the project to support the web design. 3. West Midlands PCC Website Homepage interface

Public Sector Solutions

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SUCCESS STORY / WEST MIDLANDS VIOLENCE REDUCTION UNIT PUBLIC SECTOR: UX / WEBSITE DESIGN / DEVELOPMENT

Preventing Violence in the West Midlands

Formation Media

A digital presence is a key factor in tackling violence. The Problem The West Midlands Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) focus on understanding the cause of violence and the reasons why young people are led into a life of crime. With rates of violent crime consistently rising in the West Midlands, the VRU needed a platform that they can use to connect with young people as well as allowing practitioners, educators and volunteers to get involved with crime reducing initiatives.

The Transformation By working closely together, Formation Media and the VRU have created a highly contemporary, user friendly, SEO optimised website that provides the platform that VRU need. The new website acts as a fantastic reference point, with a large amount of information on important issues, such as Education, Tackling Exploitation & Abuse and Criminal Justice.

We engineer digital transformation

PUBLIC SECTOR: UX / WEBSITE DESIGN / DEVELOPMENT

Success Story Violence Reduction Unit Our deep understanding of digital accessibility has allowed us to create a beautiful and highly functional website that meets the requirements of the VRU.

Digital Accessibility

Modern Design

As of September 2020, all Public Sector websites

With digital accessibility regulations somewhat

are legally obliged to meet digital accessibility

limiting design possibilities in public sector

standards. This meant that the new VRU website

websites, part of our challenge was to ensure

had to be designed and developed according

that the VRU website was still able to be striking,

to governmental guidance, so that people of all

attractive and modern, as is the aim with all

abilities could use the site, access key information

Formation Media websites, whilst ensuring

and navigate with as much ease as possible.

compliance.

In order to meet accessibility standards, we have

Our deep understanding of digital accessibility

made specialist accommodation for keyboard

has allowed us to create a beautiful and highly

users, so the whole site including any menus can

functional website that meets the requirements of

be navigated successfully using only the keyboard,

the VRU. The clean, uncluttered homepage uses

as well as ensuring that the site reacts well to

coloured segments to ensure that each area of

intense zooming. With the visually impaired in

content is clearly defined and easy to read, whilst

mind, we have also ensured that any fonts, colours

simple iconography and call-to-action buttons

and buttons used across the site all meet the

help direct users into key areas and allow them to

recommended guidelines.

easily engage.

Formation Media

User Experience Focus User Experience and User Journey are key aspects in any Formation Media design, and form a huge part of our identity. We always feel that websites should be focused around the user’s needs. With a simple top navigation, users are directed into key points of action, whilst a hierarchical burger menu gives users a clear and structured menu to access both highly important information, as well as areas of the site that are important in their own right, but perhaps less so than the main subject areas.

PUBLIC SECTOR: UX / WEBSITE / SOFTWARE

Success Story West Mercia PCC

John Campion Police and Crime Commissioner West Mercia

Contemporary design with digital accessibility in mind An integral part of the new website project was

One of our challenges was to implement a simple,

bringing its design in line with modern standards,

clear and easy to use navigation system. We did this

achieving a contemporary look and feel whilst ensuring

with a hierarchical menu layout and constant points

that functionality and user experience was considered

of navigation throughout the site. The most important

at all times.

pages are constantly visible in the top nav, whilst

The new site is pictorially led, featuring photography from the region in order to connect with the

secondary layers of information are accessible within the expandable burger menu.

community, as well as a consistently positive visual

Important pages can also be given prominence through

representation of the Commissioner, John Campion.

the ‘Discover’ carousel on the homepage, and Parent/

There is also the opportunity for integrated video,

Child page links are clearly demonstrated within

providing a dynamic and striking appearance upon site

internal page navigation.

entry and whilst browsing the site.

Serving the public sector for over 10 years.

John Campion Police and Crime Commissioner West Mercia

Public Sector Solutions

Tom Turrell Senior Media and Communications Manager, West Midlands Office of the PCC “Formation Media handled the entire process from quote to delivery with extremely high levels of professionalism and integrity. Their communication levels are good which makes working with them easy. We’re delighted with the new site, which was delivered on time and on budget. It’s the 2nd time I have built a website with Formation and I wouldn’t hesitate to do so again.”

Neil Tipton Head of Media and Communications, Warwickshire Office of the PCC “We were very pleased with the work that Formation Media was able to carry out to ensure that our website meets the Public Sector Website Accessibility Regulations. The process for auditing the website was straightforward and the work to produce the alterations and incorporate them into the live site was seamless. The result is a site which is now more accessible than ever before, ensuring all users, no matter their assistance needs, can have the same access to information.”

Suzanne Saunders Warwickshire County Council “The Dementia Living Well website re-development seemed a daunting task. However, the initial planning meetings to scope the project were particularly helpful, this Formation consultation and planning and your experience were invaluable, delivering an excellent website and UX experience, feedback from the Dementia community from clerical to individual users has been very positive, fully accessible to all and the interactive map is working wonderfully. Well done.”

Formation Media

John Campion Police and Crime Commissioner West Mercia

Michelle Morgan West Mercia Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner “We are pleased with the new West Mercia PCC website, and would readily recommend Formation Media to organisations looking for website development. The process was easy and efficient from beginning to end, and the site was delivered on time and in budget.”

Neil Henderson CEO, Safeline “I approached Formation via referral from Warwickshire County Council, as a real and trusted agency. To which Formation, have lived up to their reputation, transforming our small local Warwick-based charity to a national entity. The websites you have built along with digital marketing and general support have been so instrumental in our growth; staff have now risen from 8 to 31 and all within 18 months. The charity is now approved by the Home Office and won sponsorship from the Ministry of Justice; we are now the official national sexual abuse and rape charity. It goes without saying I would recommend your dedicated services at the highest level.”

Jack Linstead Senior Marketing Lead “I am delighted to be working with Formation, once again, huge thanks to Formation Media whose incredibly talented web designers have made this a possibility... although large, every project is delivered with such passion and commitment.”

Public Sector Solutions

OUR WEBSITE ACCESSIBILITY SERVICE

01 Report

FREE: WCAG 2.1AA Report Complete the request form on our website, or call 01926 298999, to receive your FREE website compliance report* and returned within 24 hours.

rative & Mediation

Report for Resto Service ssioner: Essex PFCC

Evaluation Commi

Summary of the the evaluation

conformances to AA standards and confirm what non-compliance issues the website currently has.

evaluation findings

& Scope of

on Service Restorative & Mediati Mediation Service of Restorative & of the public website 'All web content Service tive & Mediation located at Restora

Website name Scope of the website

WCAG 2.1

WCAG Version Conformance target

Level AA

ion Additional evaluat requirements t Accessibility suppor baseline

*The report will contain all non-

ber 29, 2020

ion Media, Septem

Report Creator: Format

The report will include errors listed

a description of the

problem and repair

suggestions for any

Chrome with NVDA HTML5 CSS WAI-ARIA DOM

Relied upon technologies

it results

Overview of aud Results of Level

Level A

Principle

1. Perceivable 2. Operable

5/9 13 / 14

5/5

3. Understandab

25 / 30

Total

1/3 5/5 0/1

2/2

4. Robust

Level AA 9 / 11

15 / 20

lts

Detailed audit resu ble

Principle 1 Perceiva

03 Develop

1.1 Text Alternatives

ent t: (Level A) serves the equival 1.1.1 Non-text Conten text alternative that to the user has a that is presented All non-text content listed below. for the situations purpose, except

Quotation & Corrective Development With the gained knowledge from the phase two Manual Audit, we are then in the position to quote accordingly for the corrective development required. Please bear in mind; all corrective development work is completed in-house by our development team, to our strict development and coding philosophy, making the website fit for purpose.

Formation Media

We have an in-depth understanding of the technicalities involved with our in-house team of experienced accessibility consultants, trained designers and developers. Contact our Specialist Digital Consultant for the Public Sector, David Dunlop, to find out how we can help you...

02 Audit

Manual Audit: Website Accessibility Regulations Post the report upon request; we will conduct a manual site audit by an accessibility developer. This process is a time-consuming stage, with each separate area of the website undergoing appraisal; page by page and recorded, to identify precisely all of the required amends to be fully compliant. This assessment then becomes the roadmap for the sites redevelopment to bring the site into compliance – bearing in-mind this is for the benefit of users with specific needs – this can only be evaluated by actually completing and gauging the action of a user from an accessibility point of view. Phase two is cost-dependent upon the website size: usually dictated by style-sheet quantity.

04 Compliance

Website Compliance Accessibility Statement To confirm the sites newly gained compliance, we finally write the required and tailored Website Accessibility Statement, at a standard set cost. This accessibility statement is posted to the newly completed website for public knowledge as a mandatory compliance requirement. Disclaimer: In certain instances, your existing public sector website may be too old or dysfunctional for corrective development, and therefore it may be cost-effective to rebuild the site to the latest standards and with accessibility compliance in-built. Upon receipt of your free website accessibility report, this is a conversation you may wish to discuss with one of our Digital Consultants. Our objective is to gain website compliance cost-effectively. A new website may well bypass the expenditure of Phase 2 and 3, while still adhering to the latest protocols – ultimately our joint roles are to deliver a great user experience to the website user, including those with assisted needs, consequently proving compliance.

Public Sector Solutions

Website formationmedia.co.uk Give us a call +44 (0)1926 298 777 Find us Formation Media, Unit 2, St. George’s House, Cape Road, Warwick, CV34 5DJ