Specialist consortium drives entrepreneurial campaign

Submitted by on Thu, 5.06.08

The Entrepreneurs’ Forum has successfully formed and spearheaded a unique consortium of specialist regionally based creative and media agencies  tasked with delivering the first phase of the ‘If we can, you can’ campaign aimed at actively addressing the current business shortfall in North East England by unlocking the region’s entrepreneurial potential.

The consortium, consisting of eight regionally based creative agencies, was forged by the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, with funding from One NorthEast, to drive ‘If we can, you can’, a campaign built on the principles of peer-to-peer support, using personal stories to inspire budding and existing entrepreneurs. All enterprising individuals in the region are being urged to join a growing online community by logging onto www.ifwecanyoucan.co.uk and sharing their story.

 

The ‘If we can, you can’ concept was developed by advertising agency Stark Hartley Atkinson and has been developed in partnership with strategic communications consultancy Admiral PR; creative digital agency TH_NK; and integrated marketing company Robson Brown.

 

Over the last three months the consortium has worked in unison, utilising its  specialist areas to support the campaign. Creative activity has included the development of a dedicated campaign website by TH_NK; a variety of strategically placed inspirational advertisements, designed by Stark Hartley Atkinson and placed by Robson Brown and an extensive range of media relations and editorial coverage achieved through the ‘If we can, you can,’ Challenge - a competition bidding to find the ‘faces of entrepreneurship 2009’, orchestrated by Admiral PR.

 

In addition , the consortium has also seen key contributions from; Twenty First Century Media, which has been instrumental in a number of video projects; bgroup, working on the development of activities targeting youth audiences; Push Creative; involved in a number of design projects; and Fuse Box who have created an e-marketing solution.

 

The ‘If we can, you can’ Challenge, called upon any individual who is either; thinking of starting a business, already running their own business or looking to grow their existing enterprise to enter the competition.

 

Carole Beverley, chief executive of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum said, “This approach of uniting different agencies with specialist expertise has proved to be highly successful. As a result the first phase of the campaign has surpassed all our expectations.

 

A key role in the success of the campaign and Challenge has been a region-wide alliance with seven print media partners including the Northern Echo; the Evening Chronicle; Shields Gazette; Sunderland Echo; Hartlepool Mail; Middlesbrough Evening Gazette and the Northumberland Gazette; all of whom were keen to get onboard to support and foster entrepreneurship in their own areas. Further support was also received from The Journal, Hexham Courant and the Morpeth Herald.

 

“The support from the regional media has been invaluable in promoting the campaign and generating such a high interest across the entire region. Each paper has really nurtured the campaign to inspire and encourage an enterprising spirit among their readers.”

 

The Challenge saw over a 140 people enter with a further 130 joining the overarching campaign community. With nearly 4,000 hits on the site, much of the untapped entrepreneurial talent and drive across the region is being realised.

 

Now in its latter stages, the competition has been flooded with over 1,200 public votes for favourite entrants out of the short-listed fourteen finalists, who are competing head to head for a coveted prize package.

 

You can now also vote by phoning 0191 226 7491 and leaving a message with the name of the person you are voting for and their adopted newspaper, or write with the same details to The Entrepreneurs´ Forum Limited, Suite 21, John Buddle Work Village, Buddle Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 8AW. The closing date for votes is midnight on Monday, June 9. Further information on the finalists and their adopted newspapers as well as how to vote by text and email can be found at www.ifwecanyoucan.co.uk. The seven winners will be unveiled on Thursday, 12th June.