We’re absolutely delighted to share some brilliant news from our digital sister company, Wildbird Web Design, and we couldn’t be prouder! Wildbird has picked up wins in two categories at the 18th edition of the Web Excellence Awards, one of the web design industry’s leading international competitions, and we wanted to take a moment to celebrate them.
The Web Excellence Awards recognise outstanding work across web design, development, digital marketing, and mobile applications, and serve as a global benchmark for creative agencies, designers, and developers around the world. This year’s competition was fiercely contested, with the 2026 season attracting more than 1,750 entries from over 50 countries across five continents, which makes this double win all the more impressive!
A natural evolution, built on everything we believe in
Many of you will know Wildbird as the digital arm that grew out of Jili Allen Creative. As the importance of the digital market kept growing, and as we watched website design across the industry start to feel increasingly homogenous, it became clear that the digital side of our work deserved a platform of its own. Wildbird was the result. Built by the same team, carrying the same values, but with the freedom to focus entirely on designing, developing, hosting, and maintaining websites and e-commerce sites for businesses across the UK.
That includes delivering designer websites with genuinely people-focused support, optimised for (but never created by) AI platforms such as ChatGPT and Gemini. It’s a philosophy we hold dear at Jili Allen Creative too, and seeing it recognised on a global stage so soon after launch means everything.
Jili Allen, the founder behind both Jili Allen Creative and Wildbird, reflected on the win:
“Wildbird was born of a wish to put back human-led design front and centre of the creative process. Good honest northern support and exceptional design made available nationwide. We simply want to provide digital services and products that are a cut above; showcasing the incredible talents of the county and consistently doing the best job we can for every client. We’re absolutely delighted to have been recognised on a global scale as we launch Wildbird proper but I think it reflects that we are living, and working with, our values day in, day out.”
Recognised for substance, not just style
What makes this achievement especially pleasing is how rigorously these projects were assessed. Entries to the Web Excellence Awards aren’t judged on aesthetics alone — an international panel of judges reviews each one against strict, multi-dimensional standards covering technical SEO, user experience architecture, mobile performance, speed, AI discoverability, and accessibility.
Wildbird’s two winning projects were recognised in the Recruitment category, for London-based agency TalentYard, and the Charitable Organisations category, for leading Cumbrian charity Another Way. Two very different briefs, both executed brilliantly.
Another Way: a digital hub built on sustainability
The first award celebrates Wildbird’s work with Another Way, a charity focused on youth engagement, community connection, and sustainability. The brief called for a vibrant, user-centred website that could appeal across age groups while genuinely capturing the attention of younger users — all without losing sight of the charity’s environmental mission.
That mission shaped the build itself. The site runs on eco-conscious, renewable-energy-powered hosting, paired with lightweight coding to keep load times and server demands low. A fully responsive design ensures a seamless experience across devices, and an intuitive content management system lets the Another Way team manage their own content independently.
Judges described the result as a dynamic digital hub that strengthens community engagement and promotes sustainable action — exactly the kind of outcome we love to see from the Wildbird team.
Amy Bray, founder and director of Another Way, shared her thoughts on the win:
“Another Way is honoured to receive a Web Excellence Award for our brilliant website, designed by the talented Jili Allen. As an environmental education charity created for young people, we knew that the website had to be accessible, welcoming and most importantly, full of hope. Our team is proud of the site and how interactive it is, and that it has become the embodiment of everything we stand for.”
TalentYard: recruitment with personality
The second award recognises Wildbird’s work with TalentYard Recruitment Ltd, redesigning and developing a modern recruitment platform to better connect candidates and employers. The project put a strong focus on user experience, functionality, and capturing TalentYard’s distinct personality.
Priorities included simple navigation, clear communication, a streamlined application process, and a more personal, technology-driven approach to help TalentYard stand out from competitors. The result is a high-performing Judges highlighted how the project demonstrated Wildbird’s ability to create effective, user-focused digital experiences — combining thoughtful design, robust development, and strategic content to drive meaningful results.
Onwards, together
True to form, the Wildbird team aren’t resting on their laurels. They’re already back to work, more focused than ever on fostering in-person relationships and creating authentic, ownable websites that highlight what makes each client different, all without losing the human touch.
From everyone at Jili Allen Creative – congratulations, Wildbird. We can’t wait to see what you do next!
To find out more about Wildbird and see examples of their award-winning work, visit www.wildbirdwebdesign.co.uk.