15 April 2005

Knowsley Housing Trust (KHT) has commissioned Connect to re-develop its existing website.

Connect will develop a fully content- managed website to enable KHT staff to maintain and update it in-house.

Knowsley Housing Trust are a not for profit, independent Housing Association registered with the Charity Commission. The Trust manages over 15,000 homes and offers housing advice and support to people in housing need, primarily within the Borough of Knowsley on Merseyside.

As an existing client, KHT asked Connect to join the competitive tendering process to redesign the site. John McHale, Chief Executive of KHT said; “We wanted to improve upon the functionality and interactivity of our existing site. We chose to work with Connect as they are a proven supplier of cost-effective, reliable, and accessible web solutions with a reliable record of maintaining secure, eye catching websites.”

The accessible, content-managed site will offer new features, including a tenant area where tenants can view current rent balances and pay their rent securely online. In addition, the site also offers a graphical online repair reporting system that enables tenants to report repairs online.

KHT are keen to use the website to engage and involve their tenants and let them have their say. The site will host an online poll to quiz tenants on their view on ‘hot’ topics or new initiatives. “KHT tenants are actively involved in the management of their homes and we want them to have a similar involvement in our website. We consulted a number of our customers during the design and development of the new site and enabling them to demonstrate their opinions and responding to their views is extremely important to us. The new site will enable us to do just this, as well as provide a valuable source of information for our tenants and business partners.” said John McHale, Chief Executive of KHT.

Carole Boardman, Public Sector Director of Connect Internet Solutions, said “We are pleased to have been selected to redevelop the KHT site and look forward to continuing our existing working relationship with Knowsley Housing Trust. The new content-managed site will improve the online delivery of services for tenants, whilst helping KHT to realise Best Value.”