Ponteland marketers to create jobs following Scottish deal

A Ponteland-based marketing firm expect to create new jobs and quadruple turnover after landing a place on the Scottish Government’s Framework for Marketing Services.

Promovere is one of five businesses that join the Scottish Government’s list of marketing companies, on a framework that lasts for two years.

The move means Promovere’s services will be available to Scottish minister, non-departmental public bodies, parliamentary corporate, fire and rescue groups and health boards.

Promovere – which has its headquarters in Ponteland as well as an office in Glasgow – joins Kommando, The Leith Agency, Union Direct and Material Marketing and Communications on the list.

Last night Mr Affleck, managing director of Promovere, said: “I am delighted that Promovere has been given the chance to work with the Scottish Government in this way and that our expertise in field marketing has been recognised on such a high profile and very public stage.

“We are not one of the bigger companies but I believe the Scottish Government’s decision to include marketing sub lots in the procurement exercise has opened the door for SME providers in niche markets and specialisms and makes it easier for companies such as ourselves to compete with larger firms.

“However, we have many years’ experience in the development and delivery of tactical promotional activity for blue chip businesses such as Vauxhall, Tesco Extra, Guinness, Nissan and Walkers Crisps.

“In recent years we have also developed award-winning social policy marketing campaigns for clients such as the Department of Health as well as high-impact campaigns for the NHS and the Scottish Government.

“To now be chosen as one of five framework providers by the Scottish Government is a real feather in our cap and shows that we are a safe and secure pair of hands.

“If the Scottish Government believes we are good enough to trust with its marketing arrangements, then that’s a clear message to everyone else that we can be trusted.

“Potentially this is the biggest thing to come our way and could open up new and exciting markets. Whilst frameworks provide no guarantee of levels of business, there is every possibility that we could substantially build our business.”

It is not definite that Promovere will win further business as the firm will still have to compete for contracts with the four other providers on the roster. But it puts Promovere – which employs five full-time staff with a further 50 on contract – in a stronger position competitively than had previously been the case.

Promovere has worked on high profile Scottish Government-backed initiatives before, but always on a subcontract basis via preferred suppliers.

Field marketing campaigns the firm has been associated with in the last few years include promoting awareness of Scotland’s Smokeline national stop smoking helpline from the Shetland Islands down to the Borders; the Know Your Limits alcohol awareness programme and the Greener Scotland promotion aimed at making both householders and industry more environmentally aware.

Around 60% of Promovere’s business in the last three years has been generated north of the Border, although the firm regularly takes on marketing challenges in other parts of the UK, especially London.

Promovere’s client services director, Charlie Grabham, said: “We have operated in all the main cities of the UK and have a national reach with team leaders in all the major centres.”

She added that Promovere is looking to pick-up more business in the private sector “utilising what we have learnt working for government bodies and applying those principles.”