University of West England
A digital experience built for the next generation
Navigating university life is complex. Students need clear, intuitive and personalised digital experiences to help them succeed - whether managing deadlines, accessing support or exploring opportunities. The University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) set out with an ambitious vision: to transform its digital experience, ensuring every student has seamless, personalised access to everything they need to thrive.
This wasn’t just about building a better website, it was about creating a platform UWE could own and improve themselves. To make that happen, we worked side by side the UWE team, upskilling them throughout the project. Co-location and close collaboration ensured a smooth transition, empowering them to take full control of their new digital ecosystem once we’d stepped away.
We started by going straight to students themselves. Through deep research, user journey mapping and design sprints, we uncovered critical pain points and prioritised high-impact solutions. Rapid prototyping allowed us to test proof-of-concepts with real students, ensuring that every new feature genuinely improved their experience.
To power the experience, we implemented Sitecore Digital Experience Platform (DXP) – an industry-leading system designed to deliver personalised, multiple-channel content and integrate seamlessly with UWE’s evolving digital ecosystem. As Sitecore Gold Partners, we optimised the platform not just for launch, but for long-term scalability and adaptability.
Working in agile sprints, we designed, developed and deployed key features at pace. This iterative approach didn’t just deliver impressive functionality fast, it ensured the platform was built for long-term adaptability, equipping UWE to take ownership and drive it further once launched.
With a future-ready digital experience in place, UWE is now empowering every student from application to graduation and beyond. The result isn’t just a better website - it’s a digital gateway to student success, designed for the next generation of students.
“We are really impressed with Great State’s attitude to teamwork, their openness and approachability.”