University of West London
The University of West London (UWL) is known for its commitment to delivering high-quality teaching and career-focused education. With thousands of students across a wide range of courses, their digital presence plays a key role in engaging prospective students and supporting existing learners. We started initially working with UWL in 2014, providing ongoing Drupal maintenance, development and design improvements to keep their website secure, accessible, and aligned with their digital goals.
The client’s primary objectives included:
- Streamlining the clearing experience
Developing a dedicated, responsive clearing homepage with a simplified application journey to assist prospective students during the busy results season - Homepage redesign & improved UX
Redesigning the site’s homepage to boost usability and user engagement across devices, including mobile-optimised layouts and improved access to key content - Site-wide design enhancements
Modernising the website’s design and backend editing experience, making it easier for internal teams to manage content while showcasing course information and student resources more effectively - Enhanced content control
Providing tools for the UWL team to prioritise key content, embed multimedia and adapt layouts for greater flexibility and impact
Providing bespoke Drupal development, ongoing support and technical maintenance
We started with a comprehensive audit to identify areas for technical and UX improvements. From there, we introduced design and development enhancements to support key recruitment periods, especially clearing, where time-sensitive and high-traffic interactions were crucial.
Over time, we’ve delivered phased updates to bring the whole site in line with the new design approach – focusing on consistency, improved editing tools, and enhanced user journeys. For staff, the back-end is now easier to manage, while students and applicants benefit from quicker access to essential services and course content.
Our approach also included improving mobile responsiveness, streamlining navigation, and embedding tools like search and video playback – ensuring UWL’s digital experience remains competitive and inclusive.
Project achievements
Following the launch of the new clearing homepage, UWL saw a 300% increase in traffic, with mobile visitors up by over 400%. The redesigned homepage led to a 10% increase in site visits overall and a 33% increase in average time spent on site – highlighting improved engagement and more effective communication of key content.
Following the initial improvement projects formed a long-term partnership to support UWL’s evolving digital strategy with ongoing Drupal maintenance, enhancements, and advice tailored to their objectives.
“We have been delighted by the work undertaken for us by the team at Pedalo, in particular their extensive Drupal experience and knowledge of mobile development.”
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Higher education expertise
For more than 20 years we’ve partnered with higher education institutes to design, build and support complex digital platforms. Our expertise includes large-scale content management, student and staff portals, research showcase sites, accessibility compliance, and system integrations. We ensure your digital presence is robust, flexible and aligned with the needs of your institution. Call us on 020 8747 3274 or send us a message to get going.
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