Sunderland BID

Sunderland BID, a business-led working partnership, has one clear vision: to create a vibrant city centre with opportunities for everyone. Since 2014, they have invested over £6 million into the city centre, working closely with business owners, stakeholders, and key partners to develop a relevant and achievable plan for the future.

To continue supporting their mission, Sunderland BID needed a refreshed and easy to use website that could serve as a central hub for events, support, and news from around the city. This new platform had to effectively communicate the purpose of the Sunderland Business Improvement District, while also providing valuable information about the opportunities available to the local community.

After an incredibly competitive process, Phonetic Digital won the tender to design and build the new website. Our multifaceted approach for the project involved:

Strategic Planning and Workshops: We held workshops to gather insights and requirements from key stakeholders, ensuring the website’s design and functionality aligned with their expectations and needs.

Site Structure and Wireframing: We designed the site structure and wireframed the website to create a clear and intuitive navigation experience for users. This step was crucial to ensure that the final design would be user-friendly and effectively structured.

Sustainable Design and Development: The website was designed and developed in keeping with our sustainable principles at Phonetic Digital, ensuring it was not only efficient and effective but also environmentally friendly. This commitment to sustainability was a key factor in the overall design and development process.

Content Collaboration: We worked in partnership with the Sunderland BID Marketing Team on the content, ensuring that all information was relevant, up-to-date, and engaging for the website’s visitors. This collaborative effort helped to create a website that accurately encapsulated Sunderland BID’s brand.

The new sleek and fit for purpose website has significantly enhanced user engagement and now clearly communicates who Sunderland BID are and their work across the North East. It serves as a central hub for Sunderland businesses, providing a valuable tool that they can use to access important resources, stay informed about events, and explore opportunities throughout the community.

Our work with Sunderland BID showcases Phonetic Digital’s expertise in addressing complex digital challenges within tight timeframes. Being rooted in the vibrant community of Sunderland ourselves we are committed to enriching our local environment, therefore this project was a perfect fit for us, and in just 11 short weeks, we developed a site that will now stand as a valuable resource for businesses across the city.

The newly designed website has significantly enhanced Sunderland BID’s online presence. Built on WordPress using the Gutenberg editor, it is mobile-responsive and boasts fast load times, with an impressive performance score of 97. This high-performing website has not only improved user engagement but serves as a pivotal resource for promoting Sunderland BID’s mission and supporting local businesses. Its efficient design and swift load times ensure a seamless user experience, driving increased traffic and effectively supporting Sunderland BID’s growth and visibility within the community.