Your Creative Partner

Your Creative Partner

M Media & Design Ltd (mm&d) were celebrating last week having being crowned ‘Creative Industries Business of the Year’ at the Hartlepool Business Awards.

Hosted by Hartlepool Business Forum, the prestigious event held at Borough Hall, was attended by over 300 people from a wide-range of Hartlepool-based companies.

Sponsored by Cleveland College of Art & Design, the ‘Creative Industries Business of the Year’ was a new award for this year’s event, attracting entries from a range of media disciplines. Mark Skirving, Director, mm&d:

It’s great to be recognised by the Hartlepool Business Forum for the work we do in our industry.

The nature of our business sees us working with clients from all corners of the world but Hartlepool remains a key part of our plans for the future. We gain particular satisfaction in helping local companies grow.”

mm&d relocated to the Innovation Centre in Hartlepool in January 2014 and have built up a growing list of clients based in the town. Specialists in working in the engineering sector, mm&d recently started working with JDR Cable Systems, one of Hartlepool’s most successful businesses. Mandy Marriner, JDR Cables:

We were delighted for the team at mm&d to win the award. In a short space of time we have worked together, they have gone above and beyond our expectations. They are a great example of a local success story and we look forward to working with them going forward.”

With several clients of mm&d shortlisted for awards and many more in the audience, it proved to be a great night for the agency.

Footprints Nursery, who have been working with mm&d since the turn of the year, picked up the Service Sector of Year Award for their innovative approach to childcare. Advanced Retail Solutions, another mm&d client and Innovation Centre resident, claimed two awards as they were named Best Small Business and Most Promising Business.

Deepdale Solutions, neighbours of mm&d at Queens Meadow Business Park, were the big winners on the night, picking up the Manufacturer of the Year Award and the Hartlepool Business of the Year title.

Hartlepool Mail Review 

Your Creative Partner

Over the past four months M Media & Design (mm&d) have been working with Pro-Active Safety across a range of marketing services. Formerly known as PASS Safety, the Hartlepool-based training providers went through a full rebrand, with mm&d developing a new logo and a range of additional design and print work.

The second stage of the development was to create a website to cater for the growing demand of their training courses and consultancy services. Given their target audience, it was crucial that the website was responsive to mobile phones and tablet devices. Brian Hanson, Director, Pro-Active Safety:

The guidance – and more importantly, the great advice – suggested by mm&d has turned our old, out-dated website into a modern, sparkling, ready-for-business site.”

Working alongside the website is an innovative ‘passport’ system which allows building site supervisors to instantly access the qualifications of tradesmen. mm&d are already working on further developments for this feature, with the aim of considerably reducing administration time and the reliance on paperwork.

There are lots of ways we can grow the passport system in the future, including text messaging and app development. The days of carrying around paper documents are numbered and it is important that we react to this.”

Having recently signed a contract to become a major training provider for 16-to-19-year-olds, the next 12 months promise to be exciting times for Pro-Active Safety. Through their sister companies, Pro-Active Training and Brickwork Services Ltd, the business is now actively looking for over 60 school leavers to sign up for bricklaying apprenticeships at their new training facility in Hartlepool.

This is a massive 12 months for the business. We want to be different to other providers in that we can provide real hands-on training to the youngsters. They will end up with a series of qualifications as well as invaluable on-site experience.

We look forward to working with mm&d in the future and have already started work on an aggressive marketing strategy for the new training centre which opens its doors in July.”

For more information visit www.pro-activesafety.co.uk

Your Creative Partner

M Media & Design  (mm&d) are looking forward to attending two trade shows in Abu Dhabi and Dubai later this month. In a bid to extend their client base overseas, the team at mm&d will be specifically looking to meet engineering companies.

The Arab Oil and Gas event, which will be taking place from 21^st to the 23^rd of April has all of the main engineering companies exhibiting from all over the world. As well as the exhibiting businesses the event also attracts thousands of visitors. Mark Skirving, Director, mm&d:

As we begin to specialise in Engineering, we thought coming to events such as Arab Oil and Gas would help introduce us to the industry.”

Over the course of the three days the team at mm&d will be looking to create new connections and gain an insight into the latest regional trends in the UAE.

“We already have meetings set up with exciting new connections. Hopefully these meetings will turn into long term business relationships.”

Your Creative Partner

Wilton International Site, located near Redcar, is one of the most renowned industrial sites in the UK.

Home to a number of major international companies, the site went through a rebrand and approached M Media & Design (mm&d) to manage the design and build of a new website. Aiming to attract more businesses to locate to their sustainable power site, the team at Wilton were looking for a clean, modern design to reflect the reputation of the facilities on offer. Becky Bendall, Wilton International Site;

mm&d provided a professional service throughout the project.The innovative navigation was clean and easy which is great for our target audience and they really took our brand into the modern era with vibrant colours.

Nothing was too much trouble and we’ve had great feedback since the website launched.”

mm&d work closely with a number of engineering companies throughout the UK and recently became members of NOF Energy as they look to grow their presence in the industry. Attracting a client like Wilton Internation was particulary pleasing to Mark Skirving, Director, mm&d;

We were delighted to be asked to work with Wilton International. They have a great reputation not just in the UK but Worldwide. They were a pleasure to work with throughout and we look forward to continuing the relationship moving forward.”

More information

Visit the Wilton International website

Your Creative Partner

Would £1400 help the marketing of your business? Whether you need a new website, graphic design or an overhaul of your marketing strategy, funding is available to support you.

NBSL (Northumberland Business Service Ltd) is an Enterprise Agency based in Northumberland and operates across the North East region. Their Business Support Fund offers grants to North East businesses of up to £1400 towards projects worth up to £3500.  The end of the programme is 31^st March 2015 and you are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

As an approved supplier of NBSL, M Media & Design (mm&d) can help you through the entire process.

Step 1 – You’ll fill out a simple online application (http://www.nbsl.org.uk/nebsf-application) by 31^st March 2015
Step 2 – One of the NBSL advisors will arrange to visit your business
Step 3 – mm&d will provide you with an itemised project proposa
Step 4 – mm&d will complete your project nu 30^th June 2015
Step 5 – You’ll claim your funding and review the project

Local business Mohujos is a Mexican restaurant that first opened in Billingham in 2007 and has benefited from the programme. After several years of success, the company then opened their second restaurant, on Stockton’s Riverside. The management at Mohujos felt they needed a new brand identity to reinforce their growing reputation. Wendy Sayers, owner of Mohujos was delighted with the support they received;

Setting up a new restaurant is a very expensive process. We knew that getting the marketing right was vital and we were delighted to have the advice and financial support of NBSL and the creativity of mm&d.

I would encourage more businesses to look at external funding and help create that budget that might not normally be available. We are a fairly small business that competes against some large restaurant chains, and this support has allowed us grow as a company.”

Other NBSL funded clients of mm&d:

> Medipro Training | Darlington  | New e-commerce website with booking system  | Live January 2015
> Pro-active Safety | Hartlepool | Rebrand and new website  | Live April 2015
> Brickwork Services | Hartlepool | Rebrand and new website  | Live May 2015
> Atterway Estate Agents | Hartlepool |New website  | Live April 2015
> Mohojohs Restaurant | Stockton | Rebrand, signage and new website  | Live August 2014
> Steron Locksmiths | Hartlepool | New website  | Live April 2015
> Focus Removals | Hartlepool | New website  | Live April 2015
> Changing Futures North East | Hartlepool | New website  | Live May 2015
> EPS Engineering | Stockton | Rebrand and new website  | Live May 2015
> Mary Lambert Restaurant | Hartlepool | New e-commerce website  | Live March 2015
> Green Power Energy | Middlesbrough | Social Media and SEO  | Running from March 2015

Applications end on 31^st March and projects will need to be completed by 30^th June 2015.

More information

w. www.nbsl.org.uk
p. 01670 813322
e. info@nbsl.org.uk

mm&d contact

Owain Jenkins
w. www.mmediadesign.co.uk
p. 01429 874512
e. owain.jenkins@mmediadesign.co.uk

Your Creative Partner

Based in Hartlepool, County Durham, Focus Removals & Storage are fast becoming one of the leading removal and storage companies in the North East. Formed in 2012 by ex-servicemen Lee Caldwell and Peter Crowe, the company has gone from strength to strength in recent months picking up new business from all corners of the UK.

To assist with their growth, Focus have been working alongside M Media & Design (mm&d) for the past two years to boost the profile of the company both in the North East and further afield. A key part of their marketing strategy is based around a new website which, when launched in April 2015, will allow customers from around the UK to find out more about the services on offer. An innovative quoting system will allow visitors to list their items for removal, the destinations involved and then be given a real-time estimate. Lee Caldwell, Focus Removals & Storage;

We are a very ambitious company and want to be seen as the ‘go-to’ removal company in the North. We have also carried out removals from overseas and can help clients through every step of the removal process, including shipping.

Getting our marketing right has been crucial to our success. We see the new website as an opportunity to compete alongside the established national removal firms.”

Working in such a competitive industry, mm&d have also supported Focus with Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) to ensure they are well ranked in a range of search engines.

To assist with the development, Focus applied for, and were successful with their application for funding through the NBSL programme. The Business Improvement Fund offered Focus the opportunity to bring in external expertise for advice and guidance and covered 40% of the cost of work supplied by mm&d.

“We weren’t even aware of the funding programme until we met with mm&d. The application process was simple and we had everything confirmed within two weeks.”

Commenting on the success of the programme, Owain Jenkins, Business Development Manager at mm&d;

“Over the past 6 months we have seen a huge rise in the number of enquiries from the NBSL programme. We are an approved supplier and always try encourage businesses like Focus to apply for funding. It can make a significant difference to their improvement projects and helps create a budget that might not have been there to begin with.”

The deadline for applications to the NBSL Improvement Fund will close on 31st March 2015 and projects will need to be completed by 30th June 2015.

For more information visit:

www.nbsl.org.uk

www.focusremovals.co.uk

Your Creative Partner

M Media and Design Ltd (mm&d) are delighted to join forces with Hartlepool-based JDR Cable Systems to support their Annual Charity Summer Ball.

The prestigious black-tie event will be held at Hardwick Hall on Friday 19th June and will be raising funds for local hospice Zoë’s Place.

Teesside-based Zoë’s Place provides palliative, respite and end-of-life care to babies and infants aged from birth to five years old suffering from life-limiting or life-threatening conditions.

mm&d will be supplying all of the artwork and invites for the event free of charge. Director Gavin Hatton was delighted to support the ball:

Over the past few years we have supported several charities including Make a Child Smile, Cash 4 Kids and Wooden Spoon. We were more than happy to work alongside JDR to support such a worthwhile cause.

JDR Cable Systems were equally as pleased to get mm&d on board to help with the marketing of the event. Mandy Marriner, JDR Cables:

The event continues to grow year-year-on-year. This year we are expecting a full capacity of 310 guests and hope to raise close to £15,000 for the charity.

We didn’t approach mm&d in terms of sponsorship, they did it out of their own goodwill and we are grateful for their fantastic designs. With their event experience, we are hoping to make this year’s event the best yet.

For more information and tickets

Contact Mandy Marriner on mandy.marriner@jdrcable.com

www.jdrcables.com

Your Creative Partner

M Media & Design Ltd (mm&d) were delighted this week to have their membership application with NOF Energy accepted.

NOF Energy is a Durham-based business development organisation for the oil, gas, nuclear and offshore renewables sectors. The organisation has close to 500 members across the UK and provides access to business opportunities and project updates while facilitating introductions between its members, prospective clients and partners, both in domestic markets and internationally.

mm&d offer a wide range of marketing services, including website design, graphic design and print. Based at Hartlepool’s Innovation Centre, the award-winning design agency are specialists in working in the engineering sector. Director Mark Skirving hopes the new affiliation will see the business grow further:

We are hoping that the NOF Energy membership will create lots of opportunities to develop the work we do in this industry.

Several clients of mm&d are active members, including: Francis Brown, Jacobs, OMESL, Kier, SBV and Watson Lily.

We are looking forward to attending and exhibiting at the diverse range of networking events on offer by NOF Energy.

The extra support and advice that comes with the membership can only be of benefit. We have big plans to grow the business overseas in 2015, and the expertise of NOF Energy will be invaluable in our quest to reach new markets.

For more information:

www.mmediadesign.co.uk

Owain Jenkins
Business Development Manager
p. 01429 874 512
m. 07887538796

Your Creative Partner

January marks one year since M Media and Design Ltd (mm&d) relocated from Stockton to Hartlepool. It has been a particularly busy 12 months, with the website and graphic design agency bringing in new work, taking on new staff and embracing business in Hartlepool.

After 8 years in Stockton, mm&d made the business decision to move the Innovation Centre in Queens Meadow Business Park. Commenting on the move, mm&d Director Mark Skirving:

There are a number of reasons we selected Hartlepool’s Innovation Centre to move the business forward. We can easily service the North East of England with great transport links such as the A19 and A1 nearby. We also have a number of clients based in London so the direct train to the capital is another positive.

Also, we are heavily involved in the engineering industry and the sheer volume of Hartlepool-based businesses operating in this sector represents a great opportunity for 2015 and beyond.

Since the turn of the year, mm&d have recruited three additional staff members to cope with the companies continued success. New local business has followed with mm&d now working with the likes of:

• CBL Cable Contractors
• Evolution Risk Assurance
• Headland Futures
• Manor Community College
• Property Abroad
• Special Events North East

Property Webmasters, part of the mm&d group, are also celebrating a stellar year, with the property experts bringing in new business from all corners of the globe. Property Webmasters specialise in creating property portals and real estate websites. Property Webmasters Director, Jamie Arthur:

We attract clients from exotic locations around the world and we are proud to be able to do this from our Hartlepool office. With the improvements in technology, there is often no need to meet clients face to face.

Moving forward, we hope the reputation we have formed in the industry will open doors with more local real estate companies.