The verdict in three sentences
An innovation cluster with 400 members cannot run on a brochure website: it has to prove the impact of 120 funded collaborative projects and make the member directory genuinely useful to SMEs, corporates and university labs. The heaviest workstreams are the project database, the member area, a three-level editorial workflow and WCAG 2.2 AA accessibility, plus 40 events a year with registrations. Plan for 12 to 16 weeks, with Kolonell pricing on quote after a scoping workshop.
What the site must do for each audience
A London cluster speaks to audiences with very different goals. A medtech SME wants an academic partner for an Innovate UK competition, a corporate wants to scout mature technologies, and public and private funders want hard evidence that their money creates jobs, patents and follow-on investment. The site has to serve each journey without becoming a maze.
| Audience | Indicative volume | Main need | Site feature | Metric tracked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Member SMEs and scale-ups | about 260 | find partners, follow funding calls | filterable directory, funding call alerts | introductions per month |
| Corporates | about 60 | scout innovative SMEs and start-ups | capability profiles, technology readiness filter | qualified contact requests |
| Universities and labs | about 80 | showcase facilities and teams | team pages, equipment, publications | partnership requests |
| Public and private funders | 10 to 15 | measure impact of funds committed | project dashboard, consolidated figures | impact report downloads |
| Non-member companies | continuous flow | understand the offer and the fee | membership pages, fee calculator, form | membership applications |
| Press, policymakers, partners | a few hundred | news and key figures | newsroom, media kit | press pickups |
The directory is the core of the platform. With 400 profiles, filters must be meaningful: sector, thematic programme, company size, London borough or region, capabilities, equipment and technology readiness level. Members must update their own profile from a member area, with validation by the cluster team, otherwise the directory is out of date within six months. A nightly sync with your membership CRM avoids re-keying contacts and fee status.
The project database is the shop window for funders. Each project page shows the consortium, total budget, funders (UKRI, Innovate UK, local authorities, private investors), duration, deliverables and measured outcomes such as patents, jobs and follow-on funding raised. Automatic aggregation produces the headline figures: total funding mobilised, number of SMEs involved, split by sector. Confidential data stays hidden until the consortium approves publication.
Modules, editorial workflow and accessibility: what drives the effort
The cost of an institutional website depends far less on page count than on business modules and governance rules. Here is the typical split of effort on this kind of project, as a 2026 order of magnitude.
| Module | Content | Complexity | Share of effort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funded project database | 120 projects, consortia, funders, deliverables, aggregation | high | 20 to 25 % |
| Directory and member area | 400 profiles, filters, self-service updates, validation | high | 20 to 25 % |
| Events | 40 a year, registrations, caps, waiting lists, attendance export | medium | 10 to 15 % |
| Three-level editorial workflow | drafting, thematic review, publishing, audit trail | medium | 10 % |
| Accessibility | accessible design, WCAG 2.2 AA audit, accessibility statement | medium | 10 to 15 % |
| Design, content, migration | brand, templates, legacy content, redirects | medium | 15 to 20 % |
The three-level workflow mirrors how a cluster actually works: a programme officer drafts a news item or project page, the thematic lead checks the substance, and the communications director publishes. The headless CMS keeps version history, supports scheduling and records who approved what. For project pages, an extra approval by the consortium lead can be added.
Accessibility matters for a body funded largely by public money. If you qualify as a public sector body, the 2018 accessibility regulations apply; in any case, funders and corporate members increasingly expect WCAG 2.2 AA. Designing accessibly from the wireframes costs far less than fixing after launch: contrast, keyboard navigation, registration forms, project data tables and the PDF impact report must be planned from day one.
London market budgets in 2026
| Option | 2026 market budget (order of magnitude) | Timeline | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WordPress theme with directory plugins | 12,000 to 25,000 GBP | 6 to 8 weeks | fragile workflow and accessibility, plugin upkeep |
| London institutional agency | 50,000 to 140,000 GBP | 16 to 24 weeks | high retainers, proprietary platform lock-in |
| Membership management SaaS | 5,000 to 18,000 GBP per year | 4 to 8 weeks | limited customisation and branding |
| Kolonell, custom build with headless CMS | on quote | 12 to 16 weeks | scoping workshop required first |
The typical Kolonell schedule runs as follows: 2 weeks of scoping and workshops with the thematic leads, 3 weeks of accessible design, 6 to 8 weeks of development, then 2 to 3 weeks of testing, accessibility audit and contributor training. The quote reflects the modules selected, the connectors (CRM, email platform, ticketing) and the support level you need.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Mini case study
Emma, communications director of an innovation cluster in London, currently keeps the directory in a spreadsheet and handles event registrations through separate forms. Her team spends 6 hours a week updating profiles and about 5 hours per event managing attendees.
With a member area and automated registrations, profile upkeep drops to 2 hours a week, saving 4 hours over 46 weeks: 184 hours. Events save 3 hours each, or 120 hours across 40 events. Total: 304 hours a year. At a loaded cost of 40 GBP an hour, that is 12,160 GBP a year. If a clearer membership journey converts just 8 more companies a year at an average fee of 1,500 GBP, the cluster adds 12,000 GBP in revenue. The annual gain exceeds 24,000 GBP, before counting the effect on funder relations.
FAQ
Why does Kolonell not publish a price for institutional websites?
Because two clusters can differ enormously: 120 or 600 projects, one connector or three, one or several approval levels. Pricing follows a scoping workshop, with a detailed quote within 48 hours.
How long does it take to launch?
Allow 12 to 16 weeks depending on the modules. Scoping takes about 2 weeks and testing plus the accessibility audit 2 to 3 weeks.
Can the directory connect to our membership CRM?
Yes. An API sync, for example every night, updates all 400 profiles and fee status. Members only edit presentation fields, which the team approves.
How do we stay accessible over time?
The site is designed accessibly, audited against WCAG 2.2 AA before launch and ships with an accessibility statement. Contributors get 2 to 3 hours of training on accessible writing.
Can the site be multilingual for European partners?
Yes, languages are set in the quote. Project pages can be translated gradually, starting with the 20 to 30 most visible projects.
Let's scope your project. Directory, project database, events and editorial workflow: we define the scope with you and plan a launch in 12 to 16 weeks. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
