About
The Faraday Institution is the UK’s independent institute for electrochemical energy storage research, bringing together leading scientists and industry partners to accelerate breakthroughs in battery technology. Its work supports the transition to a clean energy future by driving innovation in areas such as electric vehicles, renewable energy storage, and advanced materials. Collaborating with universities and commercial partners across the country, The Faraday Institution plays a key role in strengthening the UK’s position at the forefront of battery research and development.
The Problem
Over time, the Faraday Institution website had evolved through input from several developers and had expanded well beyond its original structure. As a result, a number of challenges had emerged:
- Complex content management – updating and maintaining pages in the admin area had become time-consuming and inconsistent.
- Performance issues – the site had become slow to load and cluttered with redundant or outdated content.
- Accessibility issues – key areas of the site did not meet modern accessibility standards.
- Inconsistent design – the visual style varied between sections, reducing overall brand cohesion.
- Poor data structure – information was stored in a fragmented way, making it difficult to manage or reuse effectively.
The Solution
We rebuilt The Faraday Institution website using a custom, component-led WordPress theme focused on accessibility, performance, and ease of use. The new design system ensures visual and functional consistency across the site while meeting WCAG accessibility standards.
To simplify content management, we replaced legacy page builder layouts with a structured, reusable component approach. Existing content was seamlessly migrated into the new system, preserving valuable material while removing redundancy and improving clarity.
The new website delivered a significant improvement in performance, accessibility, and usability. Page load times were reduced, content management became far more efficient, and the consistent, standards-based design enhanced both clarity and brand presentation.
An independent accessibility audit rated the site exceptionally highly, with the auditor commenting:
“This is looking brilliant… One of the best ones I have done so far this year.”
Our Impact
- Accessibility excellence – independently audited and described as “one of the best ones I have done so far this year.”
- Improved performance – faster page loads and a more efficient, lightweight build.
- Streamlined content management – structured components make updates quicker and more consistent.
- Stronger SEO foundations – improved heading hierarchy and cleaner code.
- Future-ready platform – flexible, modular system that can grow with the organisation’s needs.
And it doesn’t stop there
We’ve been working closely with The Faraday Institution for a number of years, offering constant support and maintenance to give them ultimate peace of mind.