After months of focused development, we’re thrilled to announce that Nene Digital is now officially live and open for business!
What started as a small idea over a chat and a cup of tea born from our frustrations with the state of council websites across the UK has now evolved into a fully-fledged web development agency with a clear mission: to make accessible, compliant web design affordable and achievable for smaller parish and town councils.
The Problem We're Solving
These days many smaller councils face a genuine catch-22 when it comes to their websites. They need sites that meet accessibility standards (which is a legal requirement under the Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018) and are easy to navigate for all users. Yet unfortunately, many fall short of this and are at risk of punishment for something they are not even aware of in some cases.
In fact, many of the websites we have audited over the past few months as part of forming Nene Digital don’t even come close to the most basic of standards, and that's not acceptable for any resident.
Below is an example for a site we audited recently for a council which serves an entire district in Lincolnshire, as you can see there are many glaring problems and if this site was to come under the scrutiny of an inspection it would absolutely fail!
Why Is This Happening?
The core issue isn't a lack of effort. It's that most web agencies prices push councils towards using volunteers with limited web experience or they end up using expensive DIY builders that were never designed with a council's specific needs in mind. Neither approach works well and as a result you end up with websites that are outdated, difficult to maintain, or fail to meet even the most basic accessibility requirements.
We have set out to fill that gap by combining our genuine web development expertise with real experience working inside local government. That's where Nene Digital comes in.
What Makes Nene Digital Different
Three things set us apart from the rest:
Accessibility First, Not an Afterthought. Every website we build is created with WCAG 2.2 accessibility compliance in mind from the ground up. We don't bolt on accessibility at the end - it's baked into every design decision and line of code.
Transparent, Reasonable Pricing. We believe tighter council budgets shouldn't mean compromising on quality. We offer competitive pricing designed for the reality of smaller authority budgets, with no hidden costs or surprise fees.
You Can See Before You Buy. This is the part we’re most proud of. We've designed an interactive template catalogue where you can browse council-specific designs and customise them live in your browser - colours, logos, images, the works - before you ever need to get in touch or make a commitment. It's a genuinely different way to buy a website.
More Than Just Templates
Alongside our core design and development services, we also offer security and web accessibility audits for councils that already have websites but want them checked over for compliance and security. Sometimes you don't need a brand-new site - you just need peace of mind that what you've got is up to standard.
For early councils who get in touch, we're also offering a limited-time discount as a thank you for joining us early so please get in contact if you are interested in becoming the newest member of the Nene Digital family and getting a thank you in return.
Why This Matters
Councils play a vital role in their communities, and residents deserve access to clear information and services online. When a website is difficult to navigate, inaccessible to people with disabilities, or looks neglected, it sends the wrong message. It shouldn't require a huge budget to change that.
We now live in a digital age where most forms of communication are carried out online and we don’t want to see anyone left behind.
Nene Digital exists to prove that you can build a professional, accessible council website without breaking the bank. Whether you're a parish council of 500 residents or a larger authority, your website should work for everyone.
If you're managing a council website or thinking about updating yours, we'd love to hear from you. Also please feel free to check out our template catalogue to see what's possible, or get in touch directly if you'd like to discuss your specific needs.
Here's to councils with better websites, and the residents who can actually use them! 🥳