The publishers of the UK’s highest-circulating golf magazine are partnering with digital strategy specialists Skylab in a long-term project to create an industry-leading digital platform.
The first phase will see Sports Publications, whose stable of consumer titles includes National Club Golfer, Lady Golfer and Golf International magazines, unveil a new platform for nationalclubgolfer.com in April.
The design work is being conducted by digital agency Skylab, who specialise in the creation of websites, web applications and video platforms.
Based in Manchester, they have a proven 10-year track record of creating highly innovative websites with an impressive client base of global brands and government bodies.
“We are delighted to have found SkyLab – a business that understand how sport can embrace digital technology as well as sharing our ambition and drive to create new and innovative products,” said Tom Irwin, Sports Publications’ commercial director.
“Our commitment to digital is significant and the commencement of a phased, three-year strategy is testimony to that.”
Skylab are particularly strong in the sport and leisure industries. They have worked with both Manchester United and Manchester City, as well as many national governing bodies such as British Swimming, Badminton England and England Golf.
In 2015, Creative England chose Skylab out of a field of over 500 companies, as one of the country’s top-10 Future Leaders, for their innovative MediaTank video platform.
“We are really looking forward to partnering with Sports Publications on this new multi-year journey,” said Nigel Collier, Skylab’s managing director. “Clients get the best out of Skylab when we marry together our unique blend of digital innovation with their desire to embrace digital change and all of the potentially disruptive challenges that brings. This is usually a very powerful and successful combination.
“Sports Publications are very ambitious and we are looking forward to architecting a new strategy and platform for them that will bring significant value both to readers and commercial partners over the next few years.”
When the first phase of the work is complete, not only will Sports Publications have a website that can present their content better but the foundations will also be in place to develop an enhanced overall digital package around it.
“The first instance of our new platform will provide better presentation of our existing content, and differentiate our three principle consumer titles,” said Irwin.
“We are not trying to change the world overnight. We simply want to give our users the best chance of firstly finding and secondly enjoying our content.
“When the new platform launches in spring we will then have the foundations we require to build a significantly enhanced digital package.”
Skylab studioskylab.com