Building A New Membership and Accreditation Platform for Shine
- A fully bespoke business membership system for the North East Combined Authority
- Streamlining complex application, assessment, and validation workflows
- 180 new members within the first 6 months of launch
The ambition
Shine is a new accreditation initiative from the North East Combined Authority, backed by Mayor Kim McGuinness, that recognises and supports employers who lead with fairness, opportunity, respect, and inclusivity. The scheme guides members through a tiered progression across five beams of good practice.
The new initiative encourages businesses to commit to better workplace practices while being recognised and celebrated. The Shine team wanted to relaunch with a new brand, a modern digital presence, and, most importantly, a powerful membership and accreditation system that could:
- Support a tiered application process, split into five “Beams” of good practice
- Enable businesses to start small (as subscribers or foundation members) and build towards advanced recognition
- Provide a streamlined back-office for assessors and validators, removing reliance on spreadsheets and email chains
- Deliver value to members through downloadable assets, logos, and a public profile to showcase their achievement
The ambition for the new digital presence was clear - transform Shine into a scalable, engaging platform that recognises businesses for their commitment to good work, while making it easier for both applicants and administrators.
What we did
Re-Imagining the Application Process
The original “standard vs advanced” pledge system was replaced with a more inclusive framework. Applicants can now tackle one “Beam” at a time, and gradually build towards full Shine accreditation.
This reduced the barrier for smaller businesses, who may lack the resources to complete a lengthy application in one go. It also introduced new award tiers (Foundation, Intermediate, Advanced), giving organisations a clearer, more motivating progression path.
Building the digital estate
For Shine’s team, administrative burden was a critical challenge. Enigma designed a sophisticated but easy-to-use back-office system that:
- Automates workflow between assessors and validators
- Tracks applications with colour-coded status indicators
- Provides tools for raising queries, logging decisions, and recording notes
- Eliminates reliance on email trails and spreadsheets
For the first time, Shine can manage the entire accreditation journey in one place, from initial application to award approval and revalidation.
Celebrating Accredited Businesses
Once approved, members receive more than a logo. Each business gains a branded profile page, showcasing their Shine accreditation to potential employees, partners, and clients.
This visibility reinforces the value of accreditation – not just as a badge of honour, but as a practical tool for recruitment, supply chain decisions, and partnership opportunities.
Advanced members are even given a distinctive animated profile border, adding a playful but prestigious layer of recognition.
Designed for Growth
Beyond accreditation, SHINE now has the foundations of a thriving business community. The platform can host events, publish resources, and deliver exclusive content to members. The architecture is designed for scale, meaning Shine can continue to expand its offer without technical limitations.
Results
Since its launch in June 2025, Shine has seen immediate impact:
Accruing over 180 new members, of which 40 have already received accreditation.
Positive feedback from assessors and validators, who describe the system as dramatically easier to use than the legacy process
Reduced admin burden for Shine’s small team, freeing them to focus on growth and engagement rather than chasing paperwork
For Shine, the project has delivered more than a website. It has provided the infrastructure to support an ambitious vision: building a network of North East businesses committed to better workplaces, and giving them a platform to showcase and celebrate their progress.
For Enigma, the success of the Shine roll-out has proven the power and flexibility of our membership extension – a solution ready to be adapted to a wide range of organisations looking to build engaged, accredited communities.
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