The Publicity Association of Central England (PACE) has unveiled its new-look website with more content, improved layout and navigation.

Designed and built by Birmingham-based digital agency One Black Bear, www.pace-uk.co.uk has lots of new features including a feedback section where users can submit their views on site content, blogs from council members and a new image gallery powered by flickr.

PACE chairman Terri Smart said: “The growing importance of e-communications means that it is essential for us to have a cutting-edge website.

“The clear and dynamic image presented by the site supports and demonstrates the way we want to engage with all our members in the future. We hope it will create a new platform for feedback from members and non-members alike.”

PACE is a forum which provides informal contact between professionals working in the media and marketing and communications industries in the Midlands.

Steve Price has been leading the redesign project over the past six months. He said: “As well as giving the website a cleaner and more modern design, we wanted to make it more user-friendly – which meant completely overhauling the structure”.

This is the first phase of an ongoing digital development plan. The second phase of the website development will be launched in 2009 and will feature a new purchasing system where tickets for events can be bought online.

A social networking feature will be launched next year to increase professional and social interaction between PACE members.

In a bid to drive new membership, some areas of the site will only be fully accessible to PACE members and a series of new PACE membership offers will be available through the site.