BESA is the leading voice of UK education suppliers. For nearly a century, they have supported schools and their members by representing, championing, and developing the UK education suppliers’ sector.
Understanding the requirements
As part of their digital transformation, BESA sought to enhance member management and refresh their member-facing experience. This initiative centered around three key components: a new CRM, a member portal, and a redesigned website. Together, these elements would help BESA achieve its strategic goals—driving membership, showcasing members, and influencing policy.
To create an effective solution, we first needed to understand BESA’s diverse audience. This included existing and prospective members, educators, policy influencers, and partner organizations. While BESA primarily operates in the UK, its reach extends internationally.
Working closely with BESA and Oomi, their chosen CRM provider, we led a comprehensive scoping phase. Through a series of workshops, we identified audience needs and explored how best to integrate the website with the CRM. This user-centered approach allowed us to develop solutions through visual prototyping, ensuring an intuitive and engaging digital experience.
Bringing the vision to life
The project coincided with a refresh of BESA’s visual identity, providing an opportunity to extend and refine their brand presence online. Our copywriter collaborated with BESA to develop a consistent and compelling tone of voice, aligning the content with their brand values.
To drive membership growth, we implemented features such as gated content previews, sign-up prompts, and a personalized member dashboard. A key focus was showcasing BESA’s members, which we achieved through an integrated supplier directory and individual member profiles. These profiles are dynamically linked with related content throughout the site, enhancing visibility and engagement.
By aligning technology with BESA’s strategic objectives, we delivered a seamless digital experience that strengthens member relationships, promotes engagement, and reinforces BESA’s role as a leader in the education sector.
