diff --git a/app/views/layouts/_footer.html.erb b/app/views/layouts/_footer.html.erb
index b1157c4..1c5a3bd 100644
--- a/app/views/layouts/_footer.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/layouts/_footer.html.erb
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+<% 
+  # Override the default Rails route helper for the contact_us page IF an alternate contact_us url was defined
+  # in the branding config file
+  contact_us = Rails.application.config.branding[:organisation][:contact_us_url] || contact_us_path
+%>
+
 <!-- footer container -->
 <div id="footer-navbar" class="navbar-inverse navbar-fixed-bottom" role="navigation">
   <div class="container-fluid">
@@ -5,7 +11,7 @@
       <li><%= link_to "&copy; 2004 - #{Time.now.year} #{Rails.configuration.branding[:organisation][:name]}".sanitize, "#{Rails.configuration.branding[:organisation][:url]}"%></li>
       <li>•</li>
       <li><a href="<%= about_us_path %>"><%= _('About') %></a></li>   
-      <li><a href="<%= contact_us_path %>"><%= _('Contact us') %></a></li>
+      <li><a href="<%= contact_us %>"><%= _('Contact us') %></a></li>
       <li><a href="<%= terms_path %>"><%= _('Terms of use') %></a></li>
       <li><a href="#"><%= _('Privacy policy') %></a></li>
       <li><a href="#"><%= _('Accessibility') %></a></li>
diff --git a/app/views/user_mailer/_email_signature.html.erb b/app/views/user_mailer/_email_signature.html.erb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b24b469
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/views/user_mailer/_email_signature.html.erb
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+<% 
+  tool_name = Rails.configuration.branding[:application][:name]
+  helpdesk_email = Rails.configuration.branding[:organisation][:helpdesk_email]
+
+  # Override the default Rails route helper for the contact_us page IF an alternate contact_us url was defined
+  # in the branding config file
+  contact_us = Rails.application.config.branding[:organisation][:contact_us_url] || contact_us_url
+%>
+<p>
+  <%= _('All the best') %>
+  <br />
+  <%= _('The %{tool_name} team') %{:tool_name => tool_name} %>
+</p>
+<p>
+  <%= _('You may change your notification preferences on your profile page.') %>&nbsp;<%= _('Please do not reply to this email.') %>&nbsp;<%= raw(_('If you have any questions or need help, please contact us at %{helpdesk_email} or visit %{contact_us}') %{ :helpdesk_email => mail_to(helpdesk_email, helpdesk_email, subject: email_subject), :contact_us => link_to(contact_us, contact_us) }) %>
+</p>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/views/user_mailer/api_token_granted_notification.html.erb b/app/views/user_mailer/api_token_granted_notification.html.erb
index 6177c46..02cdf93 100644
--- a/app/views/user_mailer/api_token_granted_notification.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/user_mailer/api_token_granted_notification.html.erb
@@ -2,8 +2,6 @@
   tool_name = Rails.configuration.branding[:application][:name]
   username = @user.name
   api_documentation_url = Rails.configuration.branding[:application][:api_documentation_url]
-  helpdesk_email = Rails.configuration.branding[:organisation][:helpdesk_email]
-  contact_us_url = Rails.configuration.branding[:organisation][:contact_us_url]
   email_subject = _('Query or feedback related to %{tool_name}') %{ :tool_name => tool_name }
 %>
 <% FastGettext.with_locale FastGettext.default_locale do %>
@@ -13,12 +11,5 @@
   <p>
     <%= raw(_('You have been granted permission by your organisation to use our API. Your API token and instructions for using the API endpoints can be found at: %{link}') %{ :link => link_to(api_documentation_url, api_documentation_url) }) %>
   </p>
-  <p>
-    <%= _('All the best') %>
-    <br />
-    <%= _('The %{tool_name} team') %{:tool_name => tool_name} %>
-  </p>
-  <p>
-    <%= _('Please do not reply to this email.') %>&nbsp;<%= raw(_('If you have any questions or need help, please contact us at %{helpdesk_email} or visit %{contact_us_url}') %{ :helpdesk_email => mail_to(helpdesk_email, helpdesk_email, subject: email_subject), :contact_us_url => link_to(contact_us_url, contact_us_url) }) %>
-  </p>
+  <%= render partial: 'email_signature', locals: { email_subject: email_subject } %>
 <% end %>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/views/user_mailer/permissions_change_notification.html.erb b/app/views/user_mailer/permissions_change_notification.html.erb
index 0987cdb..3f32fda 100644
--- a/app/views/user_mailer/permissions_change_notification.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/user_mailer/permissions_change_notification.html.erb
@@ -3,8 +3,6 @@
   username = @user.name
   plan_title = @role.plan.title
   access = nil
-  helpdesk_email = Rails.configuration.branding[:organisation][:helpdesk_email]
-  contact_us_url = Rails.configuration.branding[:organisation][:contact_us_url]
   email_subject = _('Query or feedback related to %{tool_name}') %{ :tool_name => tool_name }
   access_level = @role.access_level()
   access_level_messages = Role.access_level_messages
@@ -16,12 +14,5 @@
   <p>
     <%= _('Your permissions relating to %{plan_title} have changed. You now have %{type} access. This means you can %{placeholder1} %{placeholder2}') %{ :plan_title => plan_title, :type => access_level_messages[access_level][:type], :placeholder1 => access_level_messages[access_level][:placeholder1], :placeholder2 => access_level_messages[access_level][:placeholder2] } %>
   </p>
-  <p>
-    <%= _('All the best') %>
-    <br />
-    <%= _('The %{tool_name} team') %{:tool_name => tool_name} %>
-  </p>
-  <p>
-    <%= _('You may change your notification preferences on your profile page.') %>&nbsp;<%= _('Please do not reply to this email.') %>&nbsp;<%= raw(_('If you have any questions or need help, please contact us at %{helpdesk_email} or visit %{contact_us_url}') %{ :helpdesk_email => mail_to(helpdesk_email, helpdesk_email, subject: email_subject), :contact_us_url => link_to(contact_us_url, contact_us_url) }) %>
-  </p>
+  <%= render partial: 'email_signature', locals: { email_subject: email_subject } %>
 <% end %>
diff --git a/app/views/user_mailer/sharing_notification.html.erb b/app/views/user_mailer/sharing_notification.html.erb
index 2b55207..192adb7 100644
--- a/app/views/user_mailer/sharing_notification.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/user_mailer/sharing_notification.html.erb
@@ -2,8 +2,6 @@
   tool_name = Rails.configuration.branding[:application][:name]
   user_email = @user.email
   link = url_for(action: 'show', controller: 'plans', id: @role.plan.id)
-  helpdesk_email = Rails.configuration.branding[:organisation][:helpdesk_email]
-  contact_us_url = Rails.configuration.branding[:organisation][:contact_us_url]
   email_subject = _('Query or feedback related to %{tool_name}') %{ :tool_name => tool_name }
 %>
 <% FastGettext.with_locale FastGettext.default_locale do %>
@@ -16,13 +14,6 @@
   <p>
     <%= raw(_('%{click_here} to accept the invitation, (or copy %{link} into your browser). If you don\'t want to accept the invitation, please ignore this email.') %{ :click_here => link_to(_('Click here'), link), :link => link }) %>
   </p>
-  <p>
-    <%= _('All the best') %>
-    <br />
-    <%= _('The %{tool_name} team') %{:tool_name => tool_name} %>
-  </p>
-  <p>
-    <%= _('Please do not reply to this email.') %>&nbsp;<%= raw(_('If you have any questions or need help, please contact us at %{helpdesk_email} or visit %{contact_us_url}') %{ :helpdesk_email => mail_to(helpdesk_email, helpdesk_email, subject: email_subject), :contact_us_url => link_to(contact_us_url, contact_us_url) }) %>
-  </p>
+  <%= render partial: 'email_signature', locals: { email_subject: email_subject } %>
 <% end %>
 
diff --git a/app/views/user_mailer/welcome_notification.html.erb b/app/views/user_mailer/welcome_notification.html.erb
index a02da97..f97257d 100644
--- a/app/views/user_mailer/welcome_notification.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/user_mailer/welcome_notification.html.erb
@@ -2,15 +2,18 @@
   tool_name = Rails.configuration.branding[:application][:name]
   username = @user.name
   helpdesk_email = Rails.configuration.branding[:organisation][:helpdesk_email]
-  contact_us_url = Rails.configuration.branding[:organisation][:contact_us_url]
   email_subject = _('Query or feedback related to %{tool_name}') %{ :tool_name => tool_name }
+
+  # Override the default Rails route helper for the contact_us page IF an alternate contact_us url was defined
+  # in the branding config file
+  contact_us = Rails.application.config.branding[:organisation][:contact_us_url] || contact_us_url
 %>
 <% FastGettext.with_locale FastGettext.default_locale do %>
   <p>
     <%= _('Welcome to %{tool_name}, %{username}') %{ :tool_name => tool_name, :username => username } %>
   </p>
   <p>
-    <%= raw(_('%{tool_name} will help you to develop your Data Management Plan. If you have any queries or feedback as you use the tool, please contact us at %{helpdesk_email} or visit %{contact_us_url}') %{ :tool_name => tool_name, :helpdesk_email => mail_to(helpdesk_email, helpdesk_email, subject: email_subject), :contact_us_url => link_to(contact_us_url, contact_us_url) }) %>
+    <%= raw(_('%{tool_name} will help you to develop your Data Management Plan. If you have any queries or feedback as you use the tool, please contact us at %{helpdesk_email} or visit %{contact_us}') %{ :tool_name => tool_name, :helpdesk_email => mail_to(helpdesk_email, helpdesk_email, subject: email_subject), :contact_us => link_to(contact_us, contact_us) }) %>
   </p>
   <p>
     <%= _('All the best') %>
diff --git a/config/application.rb b/config/application.rb
index a498903..9e5c35c 100644
--- a/config/application.rb
+++ b/config/application.rb
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@
 
     # Load Branded terminology (e.g. organization name, application name, etc.)
     config.branding = config_for(:branding).deep_symbolize_keys
-
+    
     # The default visibility setting for new plans
     #   organisationally_visible  - Any member of the user's org can view, export and duplicate the plan
     #   publicly_visibile         - (NOT advisable because plans will show up in Public DMPs page by default)
diff --git a/config/branding_example.yml b/config/branding_example.yml
index a81af4c..a6a9683 100644
--- a/config/branding_example.yml
+++ b/config/branding_example.yml
@@ -9,6 +9,11 @@
     copywrite_name: 'Curation Centre (CC)'
     email: 'tester@cc_curation_centre.org'
     helpdesk_email: 'someone@somewhere.com'
+
+    # Warning: this value will be used to override the URl of the application's built-in contact form. It will
+    #          replace the link in all email communications as well as the contact link in the page footer!
+    #
+    #          Comment this line out if you want to use DMPRoadmap's built-in contact form.
     contact_us_url: 'https://somewhere.com/contact-us'
 
   application:
diff --git a/config/initializers/contact_us.rb b/config/initializers/contact_us.rb
index 3f12697..10d2997 100644
--- a/config/initializers/contact_us.rb
+++ b/config/initializers/contact_us.rb
@@ -27,4 +27,4 @@
   # Set the following variable to true if you are using localized paths
   # e.g. /en/contact-us OR /fr/contact-us
   config.localize_routes = true
-end
+end
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/config/routes.rb b/config/routes.rb
index b270d3b..d494910 100644
--- a/config/routes.rb
+++ b/config/routes.rb
@@ -254,5 +254,4 @@
         end
       end
     end
-
 end