How to publish web content or create a new website

If you work in a Scottish Government directorate

Any web content you create should be published to either gov.scot or mygov.scot.

If you want to create a new standalone website, you might be given permission for:

• an inquiry, commission or similar project which needs to demonstrate independence from the Scottish Government
• a short-term marketing campaign
• a partnership where outside organisations are supplying content, functionality or interaction
• a site that has an evidenced need for functionality that is unavailable, and could not be developed, on existing sites

To create one of these websites, you must get permission by emailing website@.gov.scot. 

Otherwise, if your content is about policy, proposed legislation or service changes, or provides corporate information about the Scottish Government (including news, blogs and consultations), it should be published on gov.scot.

If your content is about helping the people and businesses of Scotland access public services, or find out about what they can or cannot do by law, it should be published on mygov.scot.

If you are not sure where your content should go, either content team can advise you:

• Digital Communications manages gov.scot content, website@gov.scot
• Digital Publishing manages mygov.scot content, contentupdates@gov.scot

If you work for an executive agency or other public sector organisation

If you work for an executive agency or other public sector organisation within the scope of the Technology Assurance Framework, you do not need permission from the Scottish Government to create a new website.

However, you must coordinate with the Digital Assurance Office. Contact the Digital Assurance Office for more information.

The Digital Publishing content team can advise you on content strategy, modelling and resourcing by emailing contentupdates@gov.scot.

You might be able to get support from the Scottish Government with:

• cloud hosting
• domain registration
• Design System patterns and components
• content standards
• accessibility and usability testing
• secure accounts for service sign in
• making secure payments

You should contact the relevant team as early as possible to make sure any deadlines can be met.

If you’re on the SCOTS network there is further guidance on creating and maintaining websites on the Saltire intranet.