SOMERSET SKILLS AND LEARNING
A digital reset for a growing education provider.
At a glance.
Before SS&L partnered with Teapot, their website was struggling to keep pace with where the organisation was heading. With apprenticeships moving front and centre and a growing offer spanning courses, qualifications and employer training, the platform was beginning to show its age.
Navigation became clunky, management became cumbersome, and the experience was falling short for learners, employers and staff alike. It was clear this needed more than a fresh lick of paint.
So, Teapot got to work. Ditching a tired third-party system, we built a bespoke platform designed around SS&L and the people who use it. The result is a faster, smarter and easier-to-use experience that works just as hard as the organisation behind it.
"Injecting SS&L’s colourful brand palette into a clean layout without it looking garish took a considered approach. We needed something fun but intuitive that wasn’t complicated for the user. The simple side navigation gets users to the right places quicker and the page styling inspires intrigue and interaction."
Clive, Senior Designer
Teapot
The hurdle.
Choosing to learn is a big decision, and whether users were exploring courses, apprenticeships or workforce development, the experience needed to build confidence from the very first click.
Years of content growth had created a platform that was increasingly difficult to navigate. Courses, qualifications, apprenticeships and employer services competed for attention, making it harder for users to find what mattered and for the SS&L team to manage effectively.
At the same time, SS&L was evolving. A move away from a third-party booking system and a renewed focus on apprenticeships called for more than better organisation. We were challenged to create a platform that balanced accessibility with authority, while supporting learners, employers and staff in equal measure.
Growth strategy.
By digging into search behaviour, user journeys and keyword opportunities, Teapot used SEO to shape the site's structure from the ground up, ensuring apprenticeships could take centre stage while making information easier to find.
From there, the focus shifted to simplifying the experience. Navigation was streamlined, content was reorganised, and clearer pathways were created for learners, employers and staff alike. The result was a platform that felt intuitive rather than overwhelming.
To bring it all together, SS&L moved away from a restrictive third-party booking system in favour of a bespoke WordPress build designed around their needs. Flexible, scalable and easy to manage, it gave the organisation a platform ready for whatever comes next.
89%
Traffic increase
68%
Session time increase
67%
Organic Search lead increase
The shift.
When strategy, SEO and user experience pull in the same direction, good things tend to happen. The new platform delivered an 89% increase in website traffic, a 67.83% increase in average session duration, and a 66.67% increase in organic leads.
But the numbers only tell part of the story. With apprenticeships now front and centre, SS&L is reaching more of the right people, with stronger visibility helping some programmes build waiting lists.
The platform has grown up too. What was once cumbersome and difficult to manage is now a flexible tool built around the organisation, giving the team more time to focus on what matters most: changing lives through learning.
"As a training provider with a diverse range of courses, it was important for us to create a website that serves our learners and employer partners. The team at Teapot guided us expertly through the process, and we're delighted with the results. The added bonus, is that they are genuinely nice people to work with!"
Claire Martin
SS&L