Cast your mind back to the last time a resident got in touch because they couldn't find something on your website, they had issues loading pages on their mobile, or they couldn’t change the language from English.
Sound familiar? You're definitely not alone.
Councils are working with limited resources, outdated systems and the constant pressure to do more with less. But, it’s often the resident experience that pays the price.
If any of that resonates, keep reading because LocalGov Drupal might be exactly what you've been looking for.
So, what actually is LocalGov Drupal?
LocalGov Drupal is a free, open-source website platform built by UK councils, for UK councils.
Instead of every council spending hundreds of thousands of pounds building their own website from scratch, LocalGov Drupal gives them a ready-made foundation with everything a council website needs already built in. News pages, service directories, event listings, accessibility compliance, multilingual support - it's all there before anyone has written a single line of code.
Because it's maintained by a growing community of councils and suppliers who share their improvements with each other, every council benefits from the work everyone else has put in. For free. What's not to love?
As a result of this collaboration, LocalGov Drupal can reduce the cost of building a new council website by up to 80% compared to a fully custom build. Over 50 councils across the UK are already using it, and that number keeps growing.
So, where does JDi Solutions come in?
LocalGov Drupal is the platform. JDi Solutions is the team that builds, customises, hosts and maintains your website on it.
We take that shared foundation and make it look and feel like your council with your branding, your content, your community.
We also make sure it integrates directly with OpusConsult and OpusMap, so your planning consultations sit neatly within your wider digital presence.
What does a JDi LocalGov Drupal website give you?
Quite a bit! It’s a website that works for everyone. LocalGov Drupal websites are built to WCAG 2.2 AA accessibility standards as standard, meaning your website works for residents with disabilities, non-native English speakers and anyone accessing it on their phone.
Drupal's built-in multilingual capabilities mean you can communicate with all residents in your community, whatever language they speak.
You can also share timely information as it happens, which is especially important during emergencies when clear, fast communication really counts.
LocalGov Drupal is one joined-up experience for residents. Your LocalGov Drupal website integrates directly with OpusConsult and OpusMap, so residents get a seamless experience from start to finish.
Elections, major consultations, unexpected emergencies - your website will be able to manage high traffic periods without a wobble.
Is LocalGov Drupal right for your council?
Here are a few questions worth thinking about.
Does your current website actually work on a mobile phone? If you're not completely sure, that's probably your answer right there. A LocalGov Drupal rebuild means WCAG 2.2 compliance is covered from day one, so your legal accessibility obligations are met from the moment you go live.
Is procurement a headache? JDi Solutions is an approved HM Government G-Cloud supplier for LocalGov Drupal website development, which makes the whole process much more straightforward for your procurement team.
Worried about security? We're Cyber Essentials Certified, so you can be confident your website meets the standards your council needs.
How JDi Solutions can help
We've been delivering digital solutions for local government for over 20 years.
Our LocalGov Drupal websites are tailored to each council we work with, and are designed, built, hosted and maintained by a team that genuinely knows local government.
Our work with Ipswich Borough Council is a great example. We built them a fully accessible, responsive LocalGov Drupal website that integrates directly with their OpusConsult consultation platform, giving residents one seamless digital experience and the council team a much more manageable way of working.
If you'd like to find out if it could work for your council, we'd love to have a chat!
Find out more here.
TL;DR
LocalGov Drupal is a free, open-source website platform built by UK councils for UK councils, and it can reduce the cost of a new council website by up to 80% compared to a custom build.
JDi Solutions designs, builds, maintains and hosts tailored LocalGov Drupal websites, making sure they integrate seamlessly with OpusConsult and OpusMap.
As an approved G-Cloud supplier and Cyber Essentials Certified company, procurement and security compliance are both taken care of.
Find out more here.