Rushmoor Borough Council – Delivering a High Quality, Customer Focused Website

Plymouth, United Kingdom, May 16, 2013 --(PR.com)-- Socitm, the Society of IT Managers in the public sector, publish the annual Better Connected 2013 report into the usability and performance of 433 local authority websites. The best performing sites, like Rushmoor Borough Council, have taken a customer-led design approach that “simplifies, de-clutters, reduces the number of menus, and make things easier to use.”

Rushmoor Borough Council, who have their websites powered by GOSS iCM (intelligent Content Management), were mentioned by the reviewers for their overall approach.

The reviewers praised the provision of many services on the website such as the ability to object to a planning application, “Information is well structured and presented”, applying for housing, “Simply and clearly presented,” and information about councillors, “Clear and easy to use.”

The Council was one of only 15% to receive the new mobile standard. The reviewers described their mobile site as, “…presents well and is easy to use.”

Kristin Rawcliffe, Web Manager, Rushmoor Borough Council added: “We are delighted that the Council website and mobile site has been recognised for its approach to delivering services digitally. The team have worked really hard with GOSS Interactive to create a customer-focused website that can be used by the whole community, quickly and easily. The web is an area where significant savings can be delivered alongside service delivery improvements.”

Rob McCarthy, CEO, GOSS Interactive added "This isn't just about rewarding nice looking sites. This is about making it as easy and accessible for UK citizens to get all the information, forms and advice that they need from their council, quickly and simply, 24/7. In the process, local authorities can potentially save over £1M each, which is a huge win-win in these difficult economic times. GOSS Interactive is already helping our clients deliver their future digital strategy, including mobile websites, in preparation for Better Connected 2014.”

GOSS Interactive has been delivering GOSS iCM Web Content Management and website publishing software for over 10 years. Today it powers major corporations and public sector organisation’s website and is the market leader in use by over 60 of the 433 UK local authorities.

In the report over 76% of GOSS clients either increased or maintained their previously high scores. Additionally over 58% of clients have been rated amongst the highest in the country, receiving 4★ or 3★.