Better Brand Agency

Core Message Specialists

Tees Valley

Better Brand Agency regional news and updates relating to Tees Valley and Teesside, including Middlesbrough, Stockton, Darlington, Hartlepool and Redcar and Cleveland.

North East Business Awards

Friday, February 19th, 2010

We’re pleased, and very proud, to announce we’ve been shortlisted for the ‘ICT and Internet Award’ in the North East Business Awards.

We got the call today from the sponsors of the category to give us the good news and now we’re all excited and looking forward to the Awards Dinner on 25th March at Teesside University. The winning companies from each of the sub-regional heats (not applicable to Best Creative Business and Not-for-profit Organisation of the Year Awards) will go through to the Regional Final of the nebusiness awards which will be held at Hardwick Hall Hotel on Thursday, 29 April 2010.

More details of the Awards category and criteria is detailed below:

Purpose of Competition:

To recognise companies and other organisations that have used web technology, including ICT, e-commerce and e-business, to enhance their business.

Judging Criteria:

The judges will be seeking examples of best practice and will look for:

- Excellence of website design, in terms of visual appearance, navigability and interactivity.

- A demonstrable impact of the use of web technology on the business, internally and externally.

- The innovative use of Internet technology to improve business performance or boost competitiveness within an existing business, or to start a new enterprise.

The regional business award format is now in it’s 10th year. It is a tried and trusted formula that offers a consistent benchmark for judging performance.

Since 2000, over 2,500 different companies in the North East have entered one of the Award categories. That is a fantastic endorsement of the event and shows that the event really means something to the business community. Companies of all shapes and sizes, and in all sectors, get involved.

A key ingredient of the nebusiness awards is the tremendous support we get from the Award sponsors. Organisations such as Public Health North East, Pearsons, One NorthEast, UK Trade & Investment, KPMG and Deloitte give the event credibility and gravitas.

For any further information please visit www.nebusinessawards.co.uk.

Posted by: Better Brand Agency

Filed in: Awards, Better Brand Agency, Better News and PR, North East, Tees Valley, Web and Digital

Tagged: Evening Gazette, North East, north east business awards, Tees Valley

Entrepreneurs Forum

Sunday, January 31st, 2010

Project Details:

Brand Development, Marketing Campaign Design, Marketing Literature, Direct Mail, Website Design and Development, Social Media Support.

(more…)

Posted by: Better Brand Agency

Filed in: Better Brand Agency, Better Client Work, Better News and PR, North East, Tees Valley

Tagged: Better Client Work, entrepreneurs forum, Events, ifwecanyoucan, North East, Tees Valley, teesside

North East Tyne Twestival returns

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

TyneTwestival will be hosted on the 25th March 2010

On Thursday 25 March 2010, people in hundreds of cities around the world, including Newcastle will come together offline to rally around the important cause of Education by hosting local events to have fun and create awareness. Twestival™ (or Twitter Festival) uses social media for social good.

All of the local events are organized 100% by volunteers and 100% of all ticket sales and donations go direct to projects. Follow @tynetwestival on Twitter or visit http://newcastle.twestival.com for updates.

About Concern Worldwide.

Concern Worldwide was founded in 1968 to meet the needs of people living in extreme poverty, for whom every day is a ﬁght for survival. Concern is a non-governmental, international, humanitarian organization dedicated to the reduction of suffering and working towards the ultimate elimination of poverty. Their mission is to help people living in extreme poverty achieve major improvements in their lives – improvements they can sustain without ongoing support. Concern meets the needs of these people in a caring and personalized manner, respecting their human and cultural dignity. They are committed to reaching the most vulnerable, even in the most difﬁcult of circumstances.

Concern’s work is informed by a vision for change and their education programs target the poorest people in the poorest countries in the world, with particular emphasis on reaching out-of-school children such as girls, orphans, street children, working children, children affected by conﬂict, children affected by HIV and AIDS, and children with disabilities. Concern’s education programs currently reach over 700,000 people in 25 countries across the regions of Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. Please follow @concern on Twitter to get a glimpse of their staff tweeting from around the world; including their efforts on the ground in Haiti. (more…)

Posted by: Better Brand Agency

Filed in: Better Brand Agency, Events, North East, North Yorkshire, Social Media & Social Marketing, Tees Valley, Web and Digital

Tagged: Industry - Web and Digital, North East, North Yorkshire, social media, Social Networking, Tees Valley, twestival, tynetwestival, Web, Web and Digital, Web Development social media

North East Youth Conference – ‘Use Your Loaf’

Monday, January 4th, 2010

We’re proud to be involved and supporting the Entrepreneurs Forum North East Youth Conference called ‘Use Your Loaf’. As an agency, and as individuals, we’re committed to supporting the Forum’s agenda for promoting enterprise and entrepreneurship across the North East.

More information on the ‘Use Your Loaf’ North East Youth Conference:

Enterprise  and entrepreneurship are high on the agenda, both for schools and the region’s future economic prosperity.

There’s no doubt that the best way to find out what it’s all about — the peaks and pitfalls, the tears and triumphs, the challenges and successes and above all the immense satisfaction of achievement — is to hear straight from the horse’s mouth. Many entrepreneurs claim not to know much! But that belies the fact that they take all opportunities to absorb knowledge and learning from experience and those around them. And whether they’re conscious of it or not, they are experts at applying that knowledge.

So the combination of wisdom, passion, vision, drive, dedication and determination shared by our speakers makes them great role models and ideally placed to inspire a generation.

Use Your Loaf will be a partnership between the key organisations involved in enterprise education across the North East including Enterprise UK, Enterprise Learning Partnerships, Young Enterprise, the Prince’s Trust, Young Chambers, education business partnerships and we’ll celebrate the excellent ideas and commitment of students who have taken part in the many activities and competitions.

Use Your Loaf sits alongside a wide range of activities and resources developed by the Entrepreneurs’ Forum through the Ifwecanyoucan campaign to support enterprise in schools, colleges and universities.
For the last seven years, the Entrepreneurs’ Forum has worked tirelessly to nurture and promote entrepreneurship in the region.

(more…)

Posted by: Better Brand Agency

Filed in: Better News and PR, Events, North East, Tees Valley

Tagged: enterprise, entrepreneurs, entrepreneurs forum, event, North East, Tees Valley

Chance to Change event in the North East

Saturday, January 2nd, 2010

Better are proud to be supporting the Entrepreneurs Forum’s Change to Change event which will take place in the North East at the Civic Centre, Newcastle on 22nd February.

The Change to Change event is your Chance to Change your life. An inspirational and informative conference, funded by One North East, for those looking to escape the world of employment and create their own job or venture – whether through necessity or choice.

Lots of the best things that happen in life, happen by chance. But you’ve got to embrace opportunities as they come along and make the most of them. So if you can find a way to increase the likelihood of the chance encounters that could make a real difference to you, then why wouldn’t you jump at it.

Chance to Change is the perfect opportunity to think about what makes you tick and where your passions, ambitions and opportunities lie. Chance to take stock.

Chance to make the most of your skills
Change the way you think about your career.

Chance to speak to people who’ve already done it
Change your thoughts on what you’re capable of.

Chance to do something you’ve always wanted to
Change your life to fit you and your priorities.

Chance to work through the barriers
Change your view on what it takes to start a business.

Chance to make the right connections
Change the rules – make your own.

For more information please visit the Chance to Change website.

Posted by: Better Brand Agency

Filed in: Better Brand Agency, Events, North East, North Yorkshire, Tees Valley

Tagged: enterprise, entrepreneurs forum, event, Events, North East, North Yorkshire, Tees Valley

Social Media: Beyond the Hype

Friday, October 16th, 2009

Date: Thursday 29 October
Time: 5.30 – 8pm followed by food, drinks and networking
Venue: Great North Museum: Hancock, NE2 4PT
Cost: FREE to Codeworks Connect members; £20 to non-members

Everyone and anyone is talking up social media right now. Asking you to “join the conversation”, “engage” with your customers rather than shouting at them. And telling you that if you don’t use these tools you’re at a major disadvantage.
But what’s the truth about social media? Can they really help your business? And how, exactly? (more…)

Posted by: Better Brand Agency

Filed in: Better Brand Agency, Events, North East, Social Media & Social Marketing, Tees Valley, Web and Digital

Tagged: Better Brand Agency, codeworks, Industry - Web and Digital, North East, social media, Social Networking, teesside, think and a drink, Web 2.0, Web Development social media

Be Better Informed – October 2009

Friday, October 9th, 2009

Our monthly shout out about what’s buzzing in the Better studio.

The TyneTeesTwestival

The TyneTeesTwestival is all about people. We’ve got to say a big big thank you to some high energy people who stepped up to the bar to help deliver the event. Aoife, Li, The Sharpe ladies, Laura M, Oli, The Frii Spray guys, Amanda and Chris for the pictures and the Sailor Girls. Our sponsors were generous, our host was accommodating and people had a good time; drank, ate and gave their money for charity. Every team needs a leader and Aoife, who despite illness, unescapable trips away and a full time job managed to pull us all together and make us work as a team. Around £1,400 was raised which will go to support Teesside Hospice and NECCR (North East Child Cancer Research), the events chosen charities. Again there’s pics a plenty below, so go take a look….in a bit!

We’ve also been heavily involved in supporting the upcoming ‘Touch of Class‘ Ball which will be held at the MFC Riverside Stadium this evening. Now in its 4th year, the event goes from strength to strength, with previous events having raised nearly £60,000. With only 200 tickets available and some high profile names already on the guest list, it’s an exclusive event not to be missed! (more…)

Posted by: Better Brand Agency

Filed in: Better Brand Agency, Better News and PR, Better Team News, North East, North Yorkshire, Tees Valley

Tagged: Be Better Informed, Better Brand Agency, Better News and PR

Be Better Informed – August 09

Thursday, August 13th, 2009

Our monthly shout out about what’s buzzing in the Better studio.

We’re all really pleased to introduce a new member of the Better team to you all. Say hello to Sam Larcombe, who has joined us as Account Manager. Sam will be keeping us slick and efficient as we grow as a business, ensuring we stay close to our clients. If you’re on Twitter please add her @abettersam.

In September we’re proud to be hosting the hottest event in the calendar if you’re a Twitter fan.
The Twestival is a global charity event being hosted in over 200 cites across the globe with the simple aim of having fun and raising money for local charities. This year the region will be hosting two events, TeesTwestival on Sept 10th and TyneTwestival on Sept 14th supporting Teesside Hospice and NECCR respectively. We’re looking for sponsors for either (Or both!) events so if you want to get your brand in front of techy cool crowd, and support a good cause get in touch.

If you’re on Twitter you really will need to be there. For exciting updates on plans as they develop follow them on @tynetwestival and @teestwestival and use the hash tag #TTWES. (more…)

Posted by: Better Brand Agency

Filed in: Better Brand Agency, Better News and PR, Better Team News, North East, North Yorkshire, Tees Valley, Web and Digital

Tagged: Be Better Informed, Better Team News

TWESTIVAL IS BACK, AND TWICE AS BIG!

Thursday, August 6th, 2009

As most of you have heard, Twestival is back and Better Brand Agency is happy to announce Tyne and Tees Twestivals will be taking place in early September.

Details of headline sponsor and corporate sponsors opportunities will be announced shortly, as will some of the ideas we’ve got to make this year, bigger and better. So keep an eye on the Twitter accounts @TyneTwestival and@TeesTwestival and local media for more news.

(more…)

Posted by: Better Brand Agency

Filed in: Better Brand Agency, Better News and PR, Events, North East, Social Media & Social Marketing, Tees Valley, Web and Digital

Tagged: North East, Tees Valley, teesside, teestwestival, twestival, twitter, tynetwestival

Living through a revolution

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

I read a piece recently by Clay Shirky, who in a blog post entitled ‘Newspapers and Thinking the Unthinkable,’ reflected on the nature of revolutions. Periods of time when old ‘stuff’ was no longer relevant to us and new ‘stuff’ couldn’t come along fast enough to replace it. That feels like now doesn’t it?

The edges of our media space are expanding faster than our ability to make sense of them, of new technologies, of how people use them and of the shake out, that will mean some old media will fall by the wayside.

But this is an unravelling story seen from two very different perspectives. The user, swept along by the rush of the crowd to try new media, to make that media fit their lifestyle and the marketer, trying to position a brand where its’ target customer is. (more…)