A WEBSITE THAT WORKS ON SITE: WHITLOCKS’ NEW DIGITAL SETUP
Since 1997, Whitelocks has earned a strong reputation in North Yorkshire for plant hire, earthworks, and environmental services. As the business has grown, so has the scale of its projects and the complexity behind them. Over time, the website no longer reflected the level at which they operate – which is where our team at 21Digital enters the picture.
A new website isn’t all we helped Whitelocks with however. Alongside it, we also designed and developed a bespoke plant portal, giving their team a central place to manage plant assets and documentation, and to log operative activity across sites for billing.
Together, these elements create a more structured way of working, improving accuracy, reducing admin time, and keeping everything aligned as the business continues to scale.
It all starts with a brand new website
The previous iteration of the website had started to fall behind where Whitelocks is today. As the business grew, the site didn’t keep pace, both in appearance and in how it guided users through their services. It no longer reflected the scale and scope of their operations, creating a disconnect for potential clients landing on the site.
The new build focuses on bringing everything back into line. Services are easier to navigate, machinery and capabilities are better showcased, and key information is presented in a way that’s quick to understand. For a B2B audience, particularly in construction and civil engineering, that matters. Potential clients aren’t spending time browsing; they’re assessing whether a business is right for the job, and this new site supports that much more effectively.
We have also introduced stronger trust signals across the site, including reviews and accreditations, alongside more detailed service and product pages. Visually speaking, the site is now far more aligned with the level Whitelocks operates at today, with updated branding and a cleaner, more professional feel throughout.
A custom plant portal to support day-to-day operations
While the website brings Whitelocks up to the right level externally, the plant portal is what supports the day-to-day running of the business internally. This wasn’t an off-the-shelf solution. Our web development team at 21Digital designed and built this bespoke system specifically around how Whitelocks operates so it fits seamlessly into existing workflows rather than adding unnecessary complexity.
At its core, the portal is designed to simplify how activity is recorded on site. Each machine is linked to the system via a QR code, allowing operators to scan and access the portal instantly. From there, they’re guided through a pre-use checklist, ensuring a consistent process is followed every time equipment is used.
This checklist covers key areas such as:
- Safety and general condition
- Whether the machine is in full working order
- Any existing damage before use
It creates a reliable, time-stamped record of machine condition at the point of use, removing any ambiguity later on, particularly when multiple operators and sites are involved.
The portal then feeds directly into how time and activity are managed. This gives managers full visibility over site activity, making it easier to verify working hours and approve timesheets without relying on manual checks or multiple sources of information.
Improving accuracy, efficiency and control
At a practical level, the portal brings much-needed structure to how Whitelocks manages site activity. Information is captured in real time, records are consistent, and there’s a clear link between work carried out and how it’s reported and billed. It removes the friction of managing this across multiple systems, while giving the team greater confidence in the accuracy of their data.
Alongside this, the new website accurately reflects the level of service Whitelocks provides, with a clearer, more confident presentation of its services, capabilities, and experience.
Together, this creates a more complete setup. One that not only improves how the business runs day to day, but also how it’s positioned. As a trusted delivery partner to the UK’s leading contractors, consistency, visibility, and control matter.
It’s been a great project for both our web development and design teams, and we’re looking forward to seeing it in action once it goes live!
If you’re planning a similar project, whether that’s a website rebuild or something more bespoke behind the scenes, our team is here to help.
At 21Digital, lead generation and e-commerce specialists. For over 20 years we’ve been delivering results-driven services like web design, web development, SEO, Google Ads, digital consultancy, social media marketing, email marketing and more. So, if you’re looking for a team that’s as dedicated to your success as you are, get in touch – we’d love to have a chat!
