Member Article

?Building Bridges? across the North

The North East’s marketing sevices community feels that too many regional marketing contracts are given to organisations based elsewhere, according to recent research. The survey, undertaken by Newcastle based agency think M. and sponsored by Service Network, reflects the views of over 40 regional marketing, advertising and research agencies based in the region. The research identified concerns that there is a lack of awareness amongst regional users of professional marketing services, particularly with regard to the high levels of skills and expertise actually available in the North East.

Paul Sutherland, Managing Partner of think M. stated: “It was perhaps surprising to see that such a high proportion of agencies secure significant work from outside the region. I think many recognise it can be a struggle to create a Northern footprint, but a promising result is the volume of organisations that are interested in collaborating to improve success nearer home.”

‘NortheRN’ (the Northern Research Network), is a new professional research community spanning the North East, North West and Yorkshire and Humberside. Their summer conference, entitled ‘Building Bridges’, is taking place tomorrow at Lumley Castle in County Durham. The aim of the conference is to improve awareness of regional research skills and to improve competitiveness by forging strategic alliances and partnerships between providers across the North. The conference is the first of its kind, and already has over 120 research professionals and customers registered to attend from across the North.

Katherine Aitken, Operations Director of Service Network, said: “Helping the region’s professional services sector grow and develop is at the heart of what Service Network is all about. We’re delighted to be associated with the ‘Building Bridges Conference’ which is a prime example of the innovation, passion and expertise that exists in our region.”

To find out more about the Building Bridges conference, please visit www.think-m.co.uk/buildingbridges, or call Laura Fitzpatrick on 0191 211 1957.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .