What we've done

Part of the Higher Education Academy network of discipline-specific support centres, ESCalate is the education subject centre with a remit to disseminate resources and promote good practice and inter-institutional networking in Education and Continuing Education departments across UK HEIs.

Since 2004 simplicityweb has hosted ESCalate's website and provided a bespoke support and development service. Staff at each of the Centre's three UK sites use a specially designed web-based content management system which allows them to work collaboratively and publish information and resources directly to the web.

Standards based, data-driven page generation keeps the site up-to-date and easy to navigate, while powerful search facilities help visitors locate content using a familiar interface. Back-end systems allow cataloguing and exposure of content in standard formats (RSS and OAI) with minimum administrative effort.

A login facility enables academics to register their details and interests, sign up to events, contribute resources and even apply for grant funding online. Not only has this reduced the administrative burden on the ESCalate team in managing the data, it has also allowed the Centre to develop a closer relationship with and offer better support to its community.

Environmental Data Services Ltd (ENDS) is the leading provider of information to environment professionals throughout Europe.

simplicityweb has developed a number of database-driven systems for ENDS to help manage the publication of its web and print products which include a specialist recruitment site, daily e-mail newsletter and directory of environmental consultants and services.

In 2004 ENDS commissioned simplicityweb to implement a web standards based re-development of its flagship endsreport.com website, providing subscribers with powerful new tools for searching and accessing current and archived content. In 2005 simplicityweb developed the production system for a new e-mail newsletter linked to the site, ENDS Report Bulletin. Another custom web content production and subscription system was created in 2006 to support the new ENDS Europe REPORT policy briefing.

simplicityweb provides a development and maintenance service to ENDS and also hosts five of the company's product sites on a dedicated server.

Originally the result of an R & D project with BT, The University of Hull developed its own web-based "Virtual Learning Environment" (VLE) during the late 1990s to support e-learning both on and off-campus.

Since 2002 Merlin has been hosted by simplicityweb who also provide technical support and development services to the University. Over 2000 students, tutors and project partners on and off-campus currently use Merlin regularly as part of their learning and teaching activity. Merlin is also used by a small number of external organisations mainly involved in teacher training, including Bishop Grosseteste College and the University of Nottingham.

The YHGSA is a DFID funded umbrella organisation for the Development Education Centres in the Yorkshire and Humber region.

A major role of DECs is to make available to schools and other institutions resources and materials to support the teaching of global development issues. To improve the awareness and accessibility of resources held throughout the region, simplicityweb produced a database allowing inventories to be catalogued by staff at each centre and searchable by regional colleagues, association members and the general public using a simple but attractive web interface. The site also allows items to be ordered directly, and user reviews of resources to be submitted for publication. Two smaller databases have been added to the site to allow schools to search for information about links with overseas schools and local artists available to help with lessons and workshops.

A small but busy UK-based translation service, GO4IT needed a way of integrating business data held in several ad hoc Excel and other sources and extending direct administrative access to a partner office in Spain.

simplicityweb developed a MySQL database and web front end bringing job tracking, invoicing and client records all within a single interface and giving the remote partner full autonomous access to the data over the internet. This has saved valuable time not only by removing the need for constant co-ordination via email or phone, but also by automating job collation, invoice generation and other administrative tasks.

YHQP is a successfully completed project based within the Brynmor Jones Library at the University of Hull intended to increase awareness of and broaden access to locally related Quaker archives and printed collections.

The archive data was initially collected in two Access files - a Location Register and a Name Index - and simplicityweb was asked to make these available online. After designing two new SQL Server databases and migrating the data from Access, simplicityweb created a simple, easy to navigate public search interface to each as well as two data entry systems to allow the databases to be administered and extended via the web. The adminstration interfaces were simple and intuitive enough to require almost no user training.

The University Library's archives and special collections are currently catalogued using an out-dated desktop retrieval system. Migration to a new Z39.50 database is planned and in preparation simplicityweb was commissioned to convert the legacy data to an open standard XML format. Using a combination of specially developed ColdFusion string parsing routines and XSLT templates the set of around 200 semi-structured collection exports was successfully transformed into Encoded Archival Description (EAD) compliant XML documents.