Web
Fixing the legacy issues
We know the current website has its challenges. It’s old and navigation, discoverability, and overall usability haven’t always worked as well as they should. The new platform will address these issues with a design that is faster, clearer, and easier for everyone to use.
One site, one standard
From 2026, all non-corporate sites, micro-sites, and landing pages will migrate into the main University website. This isn’t just a design refresh. It ensures we meet strict obligations around accessibility, compliance, security, and data privacy, while strengthening our search performance and making sure audiences can find information - all in one place.
Protecting our brand
A single site also means consistency. Every subject and area will be represented in a way that reflects the University’s identity and values. It avoids the risks of fragmented or competing web spaces and gives us a stronger presence online.
Supporting you through the transition
Our aim is simple: to make sure your subject areas are shown in a professional, engaging way you can be proud of. We’ll work closely with subject and content owners to guide this process and ensure your areas are well represented.
Have questions on web? Email marketing@greatermanchester.ac.uk
Built on production (legacy) platform
Improving high-traffic areas first, including course listings, subject exploration, and legal or compliance content. This phase was focused on maximising Summer Clearing applications and course promotion with enhanced promotion on Google, CGPT, Meta, Digital Radio, Portals and TikTok.
A tale of two sites
In this phase we focused on making sure domain names and branding on high-traffic pages aligned with our new identity - especially for Clearing.
We know this has created a clear contrast between the refreshed pages and the older parts of the site. The new brand and user interface sit alongside legacy pages with outdated design, content and user experience, and the result can feel disjointed.
We’re very aware of this, and it’s exactly what the next phase is designed to tackle. Content review and transformation, interface updates, and design enhancements will bring everything up to the same standard. We’ll be working closely with content teams to make sure all areas benefit from the improvements.
Built on production (legacy) platform
Rolling out improvements across subject areas and specialist centres to better showcase the breadth of what we do.
Improving informational pages, updating navigational structure, removing unnecessary PDF downloads, reducing load times and improving discoverability for search (Search engine and AI).
Built on a brand new platform
- Brand new CMS platform
- Greatly improved load times
- Self-serve capabilities (teams can edit/add to to their content areas)
- Enhanced search and content surfacing
- Improved security
- Improved data privacy
- Greatly improved mobile and tablet UI
- v1.2 of our new design language
- Web accessibility and screen reader improvements
Built on a brand new platform (currently in Alpha development)
- Conversational AI assistant (for subject, course finding and application processes)
- Enhanced AI summaries for courses and topics (including intelligent Help Centre)
We appreciate your patience
Please bear with us as we make these important changes. The result will be a stronger, more accessible and professional online experience we can all be proud of.
Micro-sites and subject-matter pages
From 2026, all non-corporate web assets (including external and third-party websites, micro-sites, and landing pages) will be transitioned into the main University website.
This is not just a branding decision. Separate sites create real risks and challenges. To meet our legal, security, and compliance obligations, everything must sit within one managed platform. This ensures:
- Accessibility - content meets standards and is available to everyone
- Brand identity - all sites follow University brand guidelines
- Data privacy - data is processed securely and lawfully
- Cookie consent - the correct notices and controls are applied
- Legal notices - statutory information is displayed and maintained
- Content discoverability - audiences can search and find information in one place
- Search performance - microsites risk splitting or cannibalising search traffic, while a single site strengthens overall visibility
Bringing everything together also makes content easier to maintain, more visible to external audiences, and more effective at representing the University as one organisation.
We know why many of you created independent websites and microsites.
The old platform was slow, hard to navigate, difficult to update, and never worked properly on mobile. It made sense that teams looked for their own ways to showcase content and reach audiences. We applaud the effort and creativity that went into making this happen.
But maintaining separate sites comes with real drawbacks. It fragments our brand, creates legal and compliance risks, and makes it harder for people to find the information they need. Fragmentation is no longer viable - especially in the age of AI search.
The good news is that the new platform will be everything the old one wasn’t. Faster, more accessible, easier to manage, and designed with mobile at its core. Our goal is to give you something powerful, professional, and inspiring – a site you can be genuinely proud of.
We want to harness the energy and drive that went into those independent projects, and channel it into building something even better together. We’ll work closely with subject and content owners throughout the transition, making sure your areas are well represented with content and design that maximises visibility and impact.
