HBF Press release, Sept 2005:
www.hbf.co.uk - Home Builders Federation site launched. (Role: Technical Project Manager)
Click to see the New Media Age homepage feature / article review

SQN SOLUTIONS REDEVELOPS THE HOME BUILDERS FEDERATION (HBF) WEBSITE, www.hbf.co.uk, WITH ‘AAA’ WAI ACCESIBILITY AND NEW TYPO 3 CMS

September 2005 sees the re-launch of the Home Builders Federation (HBF) website utilising a new Typo 3 CMS supporting a variety of options for interactive online communications between the HBF and its members and the public. The website also boasts the highest standards of online accessibility for visitors with disabilities, and a significantly improved navigation system to promote ease of use for all.

Since its strategic review in 2004 the HBF has been implementing an improved communications strategy step by step. The new website www.hbf.co.uk uses Typo 3 CMS to provide three main channels of interactivity:
1. DISCUSSION FORUM: HBF _ member & member _ member
The discussion forum is a venue for live online meetings between the HBF and HBF members on key industry issues and initiatives.
2. COMMENT ON THIS: member _ member
Designed as an interactive blog facility, the ‘Comment on this’ page encourages members to read, consider and discuss new HBF articles and activities with each other.
3. NEWSLETTER: HBF _ member
The regular www.hbf.co.uk newsletter will update all subscribers on HBF activities and highlight forthcoming online discussions and newly published articles posted on the ‘Comment on this’ page.

The new HBF website also continues to allow for membership management such as subscription renewals and updating personal details online.
The Typo 3 CMS system also presents a much more intuitive, user friendly interface for HBF staff to truly take the reins of their own site. The Word style icons for editing and the timed publishing system mean they can quickly, easily and effectively update the content as needed.

www.hbf.co.uk has been designed to meet the industry standard WAI Accessibility Guidelines to its highest level ‘AAA’. Users can switch to a text only version at any time simply by selecting the ‘Text Only’ button clearly displayed at the top of every page. The size of text on the website, in the standard and the text only format, can easily be increased at any time.

The information on the website is clearly managed in distinct categories of resources and visitor zones. Resources available are information about the HBF and its members and articles on Industry Issues. Visitor zones divide information to allow quicker navigation, select from: Membership Zone, Media Zone and the Public Zone.

Every site visitor can follow their navigation path or ‘breadcrumb trail’ thanks to a visible list of links that allows them to go back or forward between the pages they have visited so far.

HBF: Representing Home Builders with a Single Voice