The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has this week launched its new website, which provides improved access to information and services, by putting users and their needs at the heart of its design.
The new site, which replaces the previous one dating back to 2011, brings together the separate websites for Professionals, Animal Owners and the RCVS Mind Matters Initiative (MMI), so that resources which were previously published across separate webpages are now easy to find within a single, coherent structure.
The website project has also included a significant overhaul and consolidation of content.
Key features of the new website include:
- Audience-led navigation: content is organised by user group (veterinary professionals, practices, students/careers, and animal owners) with a simple and clear navigation so users can more easily and quickly find the information and service they need.
- Consolidated and re-written content: the total number of pages has been reduced from over 1,500 to just 600, with all content reviewed and rewritten in plain English to aid those who need to access information quickly, either because they are time-poor, or looking for information in an emergency.
- Better search functionality: faster and more effective search tool to help users quickly locate relevant information.
- Contemporary design: aligned to the new RCVS brand and visual identity and optimised for seamless use across desktops, tablets, and smartphones.
- Inclusive and accessible: Maintains national accessibility standards, WCAG 2.2 Level AA, ensuring inclusive access for all users.
RCVS Council member Linda Ford, who chaired the College’s Website Project Board, said: “This project has been a major undertaking for the College team over the past 18 months, so I’m delighted that we have been able to launch our new site as planned and very grateful to them for all their hard work. I’d also like to thank my fellow Council and Project Board members for their support and input throughout the project, and the 500 or so veterinary professionals and animal owners who have helped us with testing along the way, to ensure the new site works for them.”
Ian Holloway, RCVS Director of Communications said: “Our previous website was 15 years old and no longer met the needs of our users in today’s modern digital landscape. The overarching aim of the new site was to provide a clear, modern, user-focused platform and this marks a significant step forward in how we communicate with the professions and the public. With a modern design, intuitive navigation and streamlined content, it’s now significantly easier for users to find essential information, access services, and stay informed about the College’s work and initiatives.”
The RCVS worked with digital agency Numiko to design and develop the website which uses the Drupal content management system. Key user groups, including veterinary professionals, animal owners, staff, and other stakeholders were consulted throughout the process to ensure the website met the needs of diverse audiences.