Pictured at a recent Think Big Think Branding workshop at Coleraine Borough Council offices, are (l to r): Seamus McAdams from i2 Total Marketing and Martin Clark, Coleraine Borough Council.

Firms from the Coleraine and Limavady areas are currently being challenged to think big and develop strong brands for their businesses. Over the past few months the “Think Big…Think Brand” programme has been providing 20 firms with an unrivalled opportunity to avail of hands-on support to develop and manage their brand.

The programme, which is funded by Coleraine and Limavady Borough Councils and co-financed through the European Union’s Regional Competitiveness (ERDF) Programme, uses a combination of practical workshops and expert mentor guidance to help participants get their branding right.

Speaking about the programme, Coleraine Borough Council’s Economic Development Officer Martin Clarke, explained that the initiative forms part of both councils’ commitment to supporting local firms by providing tailor made business supports. He said: “Regardless of age, position, or the business we happen to be in, all of us need to understand the importance of branding. It’s time for us to take a lesson from the big brands, and the branding programme provides participants with the tools to get focused and make their business really stand out from the crowd, regardless of their size.”

Paul Beattie, Economic Development Officer with Limavady Borough Council, explained how the programme works: “Apart from benefiting from expert mentor guidance and workshops, participating firms have all had an initial brand audit carried out on their business, which is being used to give the “Think Big…Think Brand” branding team ideas as to how the firms can best present themselves to the marketplace; this will then be conveyed to the firms visually and will be used as a guide to help them towards developing and managing their own bran,.”

The programme is being delivered by i2 Total Marketing, which has extensive experience in working with businesses to grow their business through well branded, targeted marketing and promotional campaigns.