Challenge
The Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust, managed by Baillie Gifford, required a standalone digital platform. Previously housed on the broader Baillie Gifford website, the Trust needed a distinct, premium presence that reflected its global reputation and growth ambitions.
The new site aimed to expand international reach, attract new demographics, and reduce reliance on telephone and email enquiries through improved self-service. It also sought to deepen engagement via rich content, including podcasts, video, and thought leadership.
Performance, accessibility, and regulatory compliance were critical. The platform had to be mobile-first, meet WCAG AA standards, and deliver exceptional speed and stability.
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Solution
Equator led discovery, user journey definition, and information architecture design, aligned with key personas, including prospects, investors, analysts, and journalists.
A blended waterfall and agile model ensured upfront clarity and sprint-based delivery. Working as an augmented team, we implemented a modern React architecture using Next.js. Baillie Gifford developed structured JSON APIs, which Equator mapped to dynamic, component-based React builds. Server-side rendering and static regeneration optimised performance, scalability, and SEO, while accessibility standards were embedded from inception.
Outcome
The result is a high-performance, component-driven platform that establishes a distinctive global presence. At launch, the site achieved 90+ Lighthouse scores across performance, accessibility, and best practice metrics. The Trust now benefits from a scalable, future-ready platform that supports richer engagement and long-term international growth.