The Problem
Before moving to MSL, Salford SU recognised several challenges with its existing digital experience.
The previous website limited flexibility and made it difficult to create a modern, accessible platform that reflected the organisation’s evolving priorities. The team wanted more freedom to design pages around student needs rather than being restricted by existing templates.
Accessibility was also a major consideration.
Their research showed that some groups, especially students with disabilities, were more likely to experience loneliness due to additional barriers when accessing support and opportunities. Salford SU wanted to ensure its website wasn't adding any additional barriers and provided a better experience for all students.
The team also identified that the structure of the website needed to become more student-focused. Previously, information was often organised around internal departments, which could make it harder for students to find what they needed. Salford SU wanted to move away from internal structures and instead create journeys based around student needs.
We really worked on thinking about how we presented the content to students.- Bethan Bedwen-Evans, Head of Marketing and Communications, Salford SU
This created an opportunity to rethink the digital experience around the student journey, while also bringing more of Salford SU’s engagement activity together through MSL.
The Solution
Designing around the student journey
Salford SU carried out extensive research to understand how students use its website and what they expect to find.
Focus groups were held with students across all four university schools, exploring how they searched for information, how they would structure the homepage and which language felt clearer and more accessible.
One of the key findings was the importance of moving away from internal organisational structures.
Rather than expecting students to understand which department provides a particular service, Salford SU began organising information around what students are looking for and the journeys they are likely to take.
It’s okay that one department might have wellbeing, but it makes more sense for wellbeing to sit on another part of the website because that might be where the students’ mind goes.” - Bethan Bedwen-Evans, Head of Marketing and Communications, Salford SU
Making information easier to access
Accessibility was considered throughout the development of the website.
Salford SU simplified navigation, replaced Students’ Union jargon with clearer language, improved the mobile experience and considered how content works with screen readers and keyboard navigation.
The team also reviewed its content, reducing lengthy and text-heavy pages where possible so that students could find the information they needed without feeling overwhelmed.
We are an organisation that’s trying to remove barriers. Sometimes the barriers can be a very text-heavy page with a lot of information that might be good for them to know, but probably with someone else guiding them through it rather than trying to navigate that themselves.- Bethan Bedwen-Evans, Head of Marketing and Communications, Salford SU
Bringing student engagement together
Alongside its website work, Salford SU has been using the MSL System across a range of student engagement activity.
The team uses MSL to publish student-created articles, communicate with students, deliver loneliness training and understand engagement through reporting.
This has helped support Salford SU’s wider aim of reducing silos and bringing different areas of student engagement together.
You can house anything to do with the Students’ Union under one site and one provider… When you’re trying to achieve less working in silos and more working together and having central goals, using a provider like MSL that can provide all of that really helps.- Bethan Bedwen-Evans, Head of Marketing and Communications, Salford SU
This allowed the team to focus their time on creating meaningful content and planning how they would engage alumni, rather than managing complex technical requirements.
The Result
The partnership with MSL has supported Salford SU in creating a more connected digital experience, while its website work has helped make information easier for students to navigate and access.
Students now have a more centralised digital environment where they can find support, discover opportunities and engage with their Students’ Union.
For Salford SU, the value extends beyond individual digital services. Having different areas of student engagement supported through one platform helps the organisation work towards its wider goal of reducing silos and creating a more joined-up experience for students.
MSL has also helped support Salford SU's loneliness strategy, which is built around four key pillars: Inform, Intervene, Influence and Iterate. By bringing together communications, content, training, engagement reporting and student services within a single platform, the Students’ Union is able to support all four areas of its strategy through one connected digital ecosystem.
Looking ahead
Salford SU continues to evolve its digital experience. The team has introduced a new navigation design to improve site usability, creating a smoother, more intuitive mobile experience while strengthening alignment with the organisation's brand. The Students’ Union has also replaced plans for a standalone welcome page with a dynamic homepage that can showcase different campaigns, opportunities, support services and key updates throughout the year. This allows students to experience a sense of welcome and connection that extends beyond their initial arrival at university.
Future plans include developing its search strategy alongside changing student behaviours and the growing use of generative AI. The aim is to ensure students can easily discover trusted information, support, opportunities and representation wherever they begin their search journey.
By continuing to combine student insight, accessible digital content and connected engagement tools, Salford SU is building a digital environment that helps students feel informed, supported and connected throughout their university journey.