Leeds-based integrated agency, ilk, has announced its partnership with Helm, a ground
breaking Person Held Record in Leeds aimed at helping people to take an active role in their
health and care.

The platform originally launched in January 2020 and approached the agency with a
challenge to refresh its existing WordPress site to support its scale up. Work began by
refining messages to users, and outlining a sitemap with the space to tell Helm’s story – what
it is, why it’s so vital, and how users can get involved. The agency’s expert design studio
aimed to keep the aesthetic simple and clean, whilst the Copy and Strategy team introduced
a new tone of voice that was friendly and confident.

The aim was to enable simple, yet effective user experience using the creative elements of
the website. An important aspect was enabling the Helm team to edit the website to keep it
up to date with the growing Helm platform. The website also contained signposting to the
NHS login authentication system used by Helm, resulting in a high volume of reference
material within clickable text and the menu structure, making the build more complex than
initially thought. The team at ilk overcome this challenge and delivered a website that fully
met the brief. The agency also ran a WordPress CMS training session with the Helm team
and provided a written guide, empowering the team to maintain and edit the site in the
future.

Speaking on the project, Dr Alistair Walling, Chief Clinical Information Officer at Leeds City
and Leeds CCG and Helm Senior Responsible Owner said:
“After launching Helm it became clear we needed a wordpress site that could grow as the
platform did. We chose ilk after reviewing its bid and the great work the agency did for
VisitLeeds. We asked them to enhance our website making it more informative and
something our team could maintain longer term. We’re delighted with the end result and are
glad to have a website that will support us as we grow.”

Nev Ridley, Managing Director at ilk, commented:
“When the brief came through our internal team were excited to get stuck in. As a business,
we’re always keen to help bring something new to the market – whatever market that may
be. A functional website was vital for the Helm project to continue its growth so it’s great we
were able to not only provide them with this, but train their staff in how to use the system and
make the website work for them. We look forward to seeing what the future holds for Helm!”