MHCLG Intranet
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) required a comprehensive overhaul of its internal staff intranet to meet modern usability, performance, and government digital standards. We executed a full UX and accessibility transformation, replacing an outdated, non-compliant platform with a secure, highly accessible architecture built on GOV.UK Design System patterns. Through rigorous internal user testing, wireframing, and iterative design, we eliminated third-party bugs, streamlined key workflows—such as the People Finder and Wonder Wall—and achieved full WCAG 2.1 AA and GDS compliance. The resulting intranet delivers an intuitive, fast, and responsive digital workplace that directly supports the daily operational needs of MHCLG employees nationwide.
Government & Public Sector, Civil Service, Enterprise Internal Communications
2025 – Current
Problem
An aging internal platform burdened by technical debt, third-party bugs, and poor accessibility was hindering daily operations for civil servants across the ministry.
The existing MHCLG intranet was outdated and failed to meet mandatory Government Digital Service (GDS) compliance standards, relying heavily on brittle third-party components that introduced persistent system bugs. Staff encountered severe navigation friction, sluggish page performance, and disjointed visual branding that disconnected the platform from the ministry’s updated digital identity.
Furthermore, critical accessibility barriers prevented screen reader and keyboard-only users from efficiently accessing essential operational tools. Key administrative resources were buried beneath confusing hierarchies, forcing staff through unnecessary navigation loops, increasing cognitive load, and diminishing daily platform engagement.
Solution
We engineered a secure, GDS-compliant intranet using accessible design components, streamlined user flows, and iterative feedback from civil service staff.
We conducted comprehensive UX and accessibility audits before designing a custom, GDS-compliant component framework aligned strictly with the GOV.UK Design System. By replacing legacy dependencies with lightweight, native web architecture, we drastically improved loading speeds, enhanced system security, and ensured full WCAG 2.1 AA compliance across all touchpoints.
Through hands-on user testing sessions with MHCLG staff, we iteratively refined high-friction layouts. Key features like the People Finder were restructured, and the Wonder Wall was reimagined into an inline, single-column social feed—reducing navigation steps, simplifying filtering, and eliminating unnecessary page redirects for routine interactions.
Results
The redesigned intranet delivered full GDS compliance, enhanced digital accessibility, faster resource discovery, and higher overall staff engagement.
The new platform established a fully GDS-compliant, secure, and responsive foundation that scales effortlessly to support staff daily. Accessibility scores improved markedly across the organisation, providing seamless, barrier-free access for screen readers, keyboard-only navigation, and multi-device use.
Staff feedback was overwhelmingly positive, noting clear performance gains and an intuitive layout that drastically reduced time spent searching for internal information. By streamlining user journeys and introducing familiar interaction patterns, the redesigned intranet significantly increased staff engagement while embodying the modern operational standards of the civil service.
“From discovery through to launch, Juicy Media demonstrated exceptional technical expertise and a strong understanding of user needs. The new intranet is intuitive, accessible and has significantly improved the digital experience for our staff”
Dive Deeper into the Project
Want to see the full process behind the work?
Explore the research, strategy, design decisions, and results that shaped the final outcome.