Decision details

To approve a Marketing Strategy and Branding Profile for use in the promotion of the district to attract high skilled workers and inward investment to Huntingdonshire

 i.  Endorse the implementation of the Marketing Strategy and Branding profile for the promotion of Huntingdonshire subject to removal of  ‘Low Aspirations’ and the relating text from the ‘Weaknesses’ section of the SWOT analysis, and ‘Deprivation’ be amended to:

‘Concentrated pockets of deprivation in some key areas with some skill shortages’.

ii.  That progress on the implementation of the Marketing Strategy be reported to the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Economic Well-Being Panel) at six monthly intervals.

iii.  That an Annual Report on the impact of the marketing work programme be presented to the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Economic Well-Being).

The development of a Marketing Strategy was identified as an action following approval of the Huntingdonshire Economic Growth Plan 2013-2023.

Consultation with both internal and external audience has demonstrated a clear and universal support for the need to promote Huntingdonshire as a place to live, work and invest.

An increasingly competitive location environment requires a business facing, proactive Marketing Strategy with supporting branding.

None considered.

The cost of the initial development of the Strategy and branding was budgeted for in the 2014/15 and 2015/16 budget at a total cost of £18,500.  In addition £4,000 is allocated in the 2015/16 budget for the printing and purchase of promotional materials.  A further sum of £4,200 per annum is currently budgeted for an on-going web-site maintenance contract and search engine optimisation.