Background

With a partnership dating back to 2000, Connect has worked on a number of exciting projects with the Northwest Development Agency.

The Solutions

Amongst these is the award-winning Northwest Workplace career development portal (www.northwestworkplace.com). Created to fill a gap in provision for regionally focused careers related information, the database driven portal delivers information on jobs, learning opportunities, funding for learning opportunities and careers advice and guidance. Connect developed an easy to use content management system which publishes simultaneously to the web and digital interactive TV, whilst allowing non-technical content providers (such as employers, learning providers and careers services) to add and maintain their own information online, through a simple web interface.

Connect has also worked with the Agency’s Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU), redesigning and developing the RIU website (www.nwriu.co.uk) which provides an extranet site for members wishing to access detailed key statistics about the North West region whilst providing access to top level information for unregistered users. The Connect training department also created and published a training manual for users of the extranet administration system.

Aside from the above, Connect is also a listed supplier on the Northwest Development Agency’s E-media Panel which provides electronic media consultancy and services in web design and development, database integration, content management systems, site optimisation, animation, brand development, website hosting, electronic commerce and domain registration.

The Results

The key outcomes from this long standing partnership are:

• The development of an award-winning careers development portal that benefits the region’s employers, service providers and individuals seeking jobs and careers advice.
• The provision of online access to the Regional Intelligence Unit services – allowing for a more streamlined service.