Project background
In late 2022, Primary ITO transitioned into Te Pūkenga, Institute of Skills and Technology, alongside all other Polytechnics and Industry Training Organisations in New Zealand. Within this new Polytechnic structure, all of the individual entities will create a network of information, where potential learners and employers can navigate through a seamless pathway.
It had been over two years since Primary ITO had last upgraded their website, and without an overarching digital strategy, multiple microsites had been created to help build in new content as the organisation developed. Primary ITO reached out to Silverstripe to help them bring their website up to date and ensure it is fit for purpose.
Project scope
This project had five main goals:
- Increase brand reputation
- Futureproof the website
- Provide engaging, accessible content that’s easy to find
- Support learners to find the right pathway for them
- Promote training to employers
Primary ITO’s current website had a strong foundation, allowing us to refresh and update, rather than rebuild. We focused on user needs, and through our discovery, design and development services we delivered enhanced functionality and capability for their audience.
We reviewed all content to help Primary ITO get ready for the new Te Pūkenga world and helped manage BAU content changes on Silverstripe as the platform evolved.
Project challenges
Primary ITO had been battling with their website for the last couple of years, trying to manage the pace at which the organisation was growing and changing, with a digital structure that wasn’t flexible enough to keep up. This had resulted in a growth in microsites to fix individual problems, rather than an overall effective digital strategy.
Primary ITO has a vibrant brand that wasn’t matched on their website. Alongside this, the user experience was convoluted and didn’t showcase their service offering. There was also a strong desire to integrate te ao Māori and te reo Māori seamlessly into the experience.
Client collaboration
Primary ITO told us that they were looking for an engaged and responsive partner, with the capacity to deliver ongoing website maintenance and project work to support them on their journey. As a full service partner, we were well equipped to deliver all requirements under one roof in Wellington.
As an Industry Training Organisation, Primary ITO is responsible for providing work-based training for the food and fibre sector. With an offering of over 120 programmes, we developed a brand new programme listing page that was easy to find and navigate.
We were able to collaborate with Primary ITO’s designer to refresh the way they applied their brand in a digital setting, recommend and implement a new font, and create a web style guide to help their teams maintain the momentum gained off this website project.
Key outcomes
We listened to Primary ITO’s goals, and recommended an approach that delivered on these in a cost-effective way. With their training programmes being the most important factor to their organisation, we put a lot of focus into creating an easily navigated and clear user experience.
Silverstripe’s Content Block functionality delivered more options for their authors when creating more visually engaging content, reducing the reliance on creating microsites, and allowing a consolidated and streamlined web presence. This flexibility also means that as Primary ITO completes their transition to Te Pūkenga, their digital capability will adapt with them.
Services provided
- Discovery workshops
- User experience design
- User interface design
- Project management
- User testing
- Web development
- Silverstripe CMS development
- Managed cloud hosting
Work with us
Whether you’re looking for a project partner who can help you realise your epic digital vision, or you need a hand with your website, we can help.