The students were asked to undertake an in-depth exploration of a chosen subject area and demonstrate the ability to research, analyse, synthesise, and creatively apply what they have studied. The project is often in an area they have gained an interest in either via a work placement or through their studies. Some students delivered projects which had external clients and require project managing to industry standard.

The EXPOTEES awards was held after the EXPOTEES exhibition to celebrate students’ achievements. Prizes included fantastic internship opportunities with industry-leading companies including UbiSoft, CBeebies, and Visualsoft. We we’re proud to sponsor and judge the Website Design and Development and Social Media award. It was a great privilege to be involved in such a prestigious showcase event, and inspiring to meet the exciting new graduates from Teesside University.

Exhibition content represents a cross section of the University’s final year work and as such, it demonstrates the full spectrum of subjects taught at the School of Computing.

The event attracted guests from industry, education, business and the public service sector, and provides an amazing opportunity for students to discuss their work with industry professionals and showcase it to potential employers.

For more information visit the EXPOTEES website.

Take a look below at some of the photos from the event and the award ceremony. For more photos of some other events and activities please visit our Flickr Photostream.

Project Details.
Digital Consultancy, Web Design and Development, Social Media Integration and Support, Brand Development, Creative Design, Print and Exhibition Design, Marketing Support.

Some comments from Greame Oram, Five Lamps, Chief Executive.

Five Lamps really enjoys working with the team at Better. After putting out a specification to redesign our website and listening to pitches from various agencies, we decided to go with Better because of their enthusiasm, their fresh and innovative approach and their proven track record. They did not disappoint! Our new website looks fantastic – the team listened to what we wanted and helped us to achieve our mission to have a more professional looking and customer focussed website.

Throughout the project, we were kept up-to-date on progress through their ‘Basecamp’ system and the team were always on hand to support us (and continue to do so). The content management system that they use is really user-friendly and is a great help for us to keep the content on our site fresh.

Social media was not an up-most priority for us at the time of redesigning our website, but Better convinced us, and more importantly supported us to develop a digital footprint that has not only enhanced our website by making it more interactive (linking the videos of our staff and customers on our YouTube channel to our website) but also enabled us to get information out to our customers to promote the organisation – we now have facebook pages for Five Lamps and our Youthy.

Better were instrumental in coming up with the branding design of the website and we loved their ‘townscape’ design so much, that we have followed this branding style right thought our printed material. It seemed natural to ask Better to redesign our customer Welcome Packs. They have subsequently also helped us to design additional promotional material – exhibition stands, invitations and our 2009/10 Annual Report. All of which have been done to a high standard and often turned around to tight deadlines.

We would highly recommend Better and look forward to continuing to work with them in the future.

View some more project screenshots…

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Global Entrepreneurship Week began life as Enterprise Week in the UK back in 2004. When news of the phenomenal success of Enterprise Week in the UK spread the globe, lots of other countries got excited at the potential of running similar initiatives in their own countries. So in 2008, Enterprise UK and the Kauffman Foundation (the world’s largest entrepreneurship foundation based in the US) founded the very first Global Entrepreneurship Week.

Last year, there were over 32,000 events run in 88 countries, attended by more than 7.5 million people. In the UK, over 529,000 people attended 4,812 events.

The North East event will take place on Tuesday 16 November 2010 at our business centre: Cuthbert House, City Road, All Saints, Newcastle, NE1 2ET.

The day will be made up of helpful seminars and workshops to provide you with invaluable support and advice to help grow your business and take your success to the next level.

Better\’s MD, Mark Easby, will be speaking at the event about how to build your digital footprint and embrace the new brand communication opportunities through social media.

FULL SEMINAR DETAILS:

9.30 – Registration and Refreshments

9.50 – Welcome, Safety Policy and Introductions

10.00 – Will McLean- The Entrepreneurs Forum: What Entrepreneurs do?!

10.30 – Nigel Jones- Herdman Jones: Understanding Marketing Strategy

11.00 – Mark Easby- Better Brand Agency: Building your digital footprint

12.15  - Lunch, networking and time for one to one appointments with our speakers

13.15  - Mark Easby- Better Brand Agency: Social Media in Action

15.00 – David Wilson- NE Money: A to Z of managing money

15.30 - David Cliff- Gedanken: Beyond Survival; Strategies for Effective Business Thinking

16.30 - End of today’s events and an opportunity for further networking and appointments with our speakers

Lunch and refreshments will be provided on the day.

To confirm your attendance, please contact Kristy Giblin on 0191 350 6008 or email kgiblin@cecoffices.com

Jul 27 2010 by Karen McLaughlan, Evening Gazette – Read article online

We are Teesside – that’s the verdict of local business leaders when it comes to the region’s identity.

As well as a strong Teesside, the message also came that we need to be part of a strong North-east to take the region forward. Business leaders also overwhelmingly rejected the Tees Valley brand at a meeting held by the Evening Gazette and the Institute of Directors last night.

Members of the local business community were asked to attend the event and give their verdict on the Gazette’s identity survey. Almost 2,000 people recently completed the survey – with just over half opting for the name Teesside as the one to describe the place where they live.

Those responding to the survey also gave the name Tees Valley a resounding thumbs down. The sentiments were echoed at last night’s event with an almost unanimous rejection of the Tees Valley brand.

Many agreed that having a clear, unified brand was essential to help the region continue to grow and prosper. Almost all believed in a strong Teesside within a strong North-east region as the best way to move the area forward.

Stockton-born Robin Bloom, head of legal functions at Gibson O’Neill on Teesside – the company built by Middlesbrough FC chairman Steve Gibson – said: “We don’t have an identity that everyone is behind. The reality is people have never got behind the idea of Tees Valley.”

He added it was also key to be part of a strong North-east, though – with the “bigger regional picture” just as important.

Businessman and Wynyard Hall owner Sir John Hall said: “We need an identity to be a sub-region, it’s all about leadership.

“If we’re not united, we are weak.”

Alan Ransome, who runs a Middlesbrough-based sporting goods business and is chairman of Ormesby Table Tennis Club, said “I’ve been disappointed for a long time. Wherever I go I have to explain where Middlesbrough or Teesside is.

“That puts us at a serious disadvantage to other major centres in the North.

“When it comes to Leeds or Manchester, people know where they are.

“Our area is losing out badly because it has no identity, we’re lost.”

He added: “We need one name we can all agree on – one name we can all get behind.”

New Century Inn’s chairman Alistair Arkley, who was previously chairman of the Tees Valley Partnership, said the Tees Valley brand was born out of a need to bring the five local authority areas together under one title.

“Tees Valley was never meant to be for the image of the area.”

The Gazette’s identity survey also showed relatively strong support for traditional counties and for people identifying closely with their own town.

A total of 60.4% agree that Middlesbrough should be a city in its own right.

People saw the area having a single identity as an important issue.

A total of 1,672 respondents (84%) said it was very important or quite important.

Asked about the areas people would include in the sub-region Middlesbrough (1,794 – 90.9%), Redcar & Cleveland (1,667 – 77.9%) and Stockton (1,537 – 77.9%) scored highly.

Hartlepool got 850 votes (43.1%), Darlington got 436 votes (22.1%) while Hambleton had 479 votes (24.3%).

The geographical make-up of Teesside was also questioned at last night’smeeting.

Paul Sheperia, founder of Middlesbrough software company Applaud, added: “I’ve always said I’m from Teesside – but I don’t see Darlington as part of the area.

“And areas such as Guisborough and Brotton, I feel they’re more part of Yorkshire.

“However, I feel more affinity with Hartlepool and Stockton.”

However Graham Robb, director of Darlington-based Recognition PR, said it was important the region retained all five local authority areas.

He added that many companies and organisations based in Darlington had strong links with the Teesside area – including the National Skills Academy for the Process Industries which is based in the town.

Maximising opportunities in Teesside’s key industrial areas was also championed last night.

James Robson, MD of Hartlepool chemical processing firm Exwold Technology, said organisations such as NOF and NEPIC were helping take the Teesside message around the globe.

The identity survey found 72% of people disagreed or strongly disagreed that Teesside was an old-fashioned and damaged brand.

Most people felt the name Tees Valley was a term only used by the public sector.

“Teesside is still a strong brand,” said Andy Hatton, technical director at Billingham-based Global Anodes.

“People identify with it, especially amongst the younger generation.”

Mr Arkley added: “People have got to feel that they belong to something.”

:: For more about the Evening Gazette’s Identity Crisis campaign log on to www.gazettelive.co.uk

Jul 19 2010 Evening Gazette - Read article on nebusiness.co.uk

LOCAL business leaders are being asked to give their verdict on the region’s identity.

Almost 2,000 readers recently completed the Evening Gazette’s identity survey – with just over half opting for the name Teesside as the one to describe the place where they live.

Those responding to the survey also gave the name Tees Valley a resounding thumbs down.

There was also an overwhelming support for the area’s airport to revert to using the Teesside name again.

Gazette Media Company and the Institute of Directors are now holding a special event on Monday, July 26, and are inviting members of the local businesscommunity to come along and share their thoughts on the identity issue.

Darren Thwaites, editor of the Evening Gazette – who will present the key findings of the survey at the event – said: “The number of responses to our survey clearly demonstrates just how important this issue is.

“At this special event we want to find out what the local business community’s thoughts are on the area’s identity – and how best to move our region forward.”

The event, being held at the Evening Gazette on Borough Road, will start at 5.45pm.

Following a presentation on the survey’s results, the audience will be asked for their comments and feedback, before finishing with a vote on the region’s identity.

In the survey, the Teesside name got 1,000 votes – 50.7% of those responding – well ahead of any of the other options.

Support was even greater among those aged 35 or under, with 62.1% opting for Teesside.

Cleveland, which existed as a county for just over 20 years and was abolished in 1996, scored 254 votes (12.9%), while only 59 (3%) respondents backed the name Tees Valley.

North Yorkshire or Yorkshire had a combined total of 504 votes (25.6%).

There was a clear view about what the area’s airport should be called with 1,801 (91.2%) backing the name of Teesside. Just 173 (8.8%) supported the name of Durham Tees Valley, which was adopted in 2004.

The identity event will be covered in the Gazette on Tuesday, July 27, and on www.gazettelive.co.uk

It is set to finish at 7pm, but numbers for the event are limited.

As part of this, the BBC is looking to explore the supply chain between the public and private sectors. They want to find companies who have laid off staff because they have either lost contracts with the public sector or there is uncertainty over future work. The BBC would also be interested to hear from businesses that have put staff on to short-time working  /  annualised hours / reduced salaries etc., again as a result of the public sector squeeze.

The objective is to attempt to trace the impact through the supply chain from the private company (and individual) hit by the spending squeeze to the public sector organisation making the cut.   In addition, the BBC is also looking for an audience for the programme and would welcome contact from individuals who want to share their views and generally get involved.

Anyone wishing to participate should contact:

Mark Denten,
Political Correspondent,
BBC North East & Cumbria
07714 322 629
mark.denten@bbc.co.uk

Click to view Project Slideshow

Project Details:

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

Website: http://www.useyourloaf.info

Following on from the success of our student conferences over the last 4 years – which have attracted speakers including Bob Geldof, Tom Hunter, Tre Azam and Ian Livingstone, in February 2009 the Entrepreneurs’ Forum held its first Youth Conference, which attracted a staggering 1,300 budding young entrepreneurs.

Aimed at ambitious young people from the region’s schools and colleges Use Your Loaf will follow on from the success of the first Youth Conference, promoting enterprise by bringing students out of the classroom for a day of inspiration, opportunity, knowledge and sharing between young people and entrepreneurs.

The Use Your Loaf Youth Conference will combine an unrivalled speaker program alongside a number of interactive elements to develop the spirit of an entrepreneurial community.

VIEW ALL LATEST CLIENT PROJECTS.

Take a look at some more screenshots…

]]> http://www.betterbrandagency.com/2010/01/entrepreneurs-forum/feed/ 0 http://www.betterbrandagency.com/2009/10/social-media-beyond-the-hype/ http://www.betterbrandagency.com/2009/10/social-media-beyond-the-hype/#comments Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:32:39 +0000 Better Brand Agency http://www.betterbrandagency.com/?p=1312 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....

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.

So what is Twestival?
Twestival grew from a small group of Twitter users who came together offline in order to raise money for a local charity. After a number of small scale events it was decided to take Twestival global.  On the 12th of February 2009 the world realized that it was more than just another charity gig – it became a movement.  Over 220 cities hosted Twestival on the same day, each with a common goal – coming together offline to raise money for charity:water.

Twestival is back and this time we have the chance to support a local charity.  We hope to raise even more this time around using Twitter for social change. We hope that you will get involved and encourage other Twitter users to come along to the event to meet like minded people who want to make a real difference in their local area and network.

So who’s behind Tyne and Tees Twestival?
There‘s a small team behind both events Mark Easby (@easbynow), Declan Metcalfe (@declanmetcalfe) and Aoife Ross (@aoifebeefah) but we believe that this event is owned by the collective community and hope that you will engage with us and enjoy the experience as much as we do. TyneTwestival and TeesTwestival
will be held on different dates, giving everyone in the North East the chance to go to
one or both of the events. Dates to be confirmed but it will beheld between the 10th –
14th of September.

What will happen at the event?
As with the last Twestival it will be a laid back affair, open to all and a lot of fun.
We’ll have some activities planned (get your Rockstar pout ready!) but the main drive of the event is to raise money for charity and let your hair down! We’re happy to accept ideas for fund raising activities and welcome budding photographers and film makers to come along and take some shots.

How will money be raised?
We’re keen to keep the process as transparent as possible and thanks to Amiando we hope to sell tickets (with 100% of the profits going DIRECTLY to the charity).

In addition to this, there will be a raffle and we are also looking at fund raising ideas on the night. 100% of funds will go directly to charity so dig deep and give generously.

About the charities:
Money raised at Tees Twestival will go Teesside Hospice. Teesside Hospice Care Foundation was formed in 1982 as a response to the shortfall in specialised care for those suffering from a life limiting illness in the Tees Valley and North Yorkshire region.

Teesside Hospice’s primary aim is to act as a resource to the local community to provide holistic specialist palliative care at any point during a life-limiting illness by controlling symptoms relating to their illness such as pain and nausea, providing Respite Care giving families and carers the opportunity to have a break and rehabilitating patients who may have had a long stay in hospital to allow them to return home to their families if that is possible or another care provision when home is not an option organisations.

Tyne Twestival is supporting North of England’s Children’s Cancer Research Fund.  NECCR was formed in 1979 by a small group of parents whose lives had been changed forever by childhood cancer. Some parents had lost children, while others were grateful that their children had overcome the disease.  The aims of the NECCR are to raise money for continuing vital research into the causes and treatment of cancer in childhood. Since 1979 the charity has raised over 6 million pounds and has established the North of England as one of the world leaders in the research and treatment of childhood cancer. The NECCR supports a whole team of doctors, scientists, statisticians and research nurses, who work with the Children’s Cancer Unit in the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. The core of the Unit is provided by four full time post which the NECCR endowed at a cost of 1.4 million pounds and the remaining staff are provided on short term funding.  Research is published and used by those treating children with cancer around the world.

Want to headline this global event?
If your company wishes to get involved in Twestival please let us know. We have a number of Twestival sponsor options available.

Contact us on email via TTTwestival[@]googlemail.com, call us on 08451 222611, or follow TyneTwestival and TeesTwestival on Twitter at @TyneTwestival and@TeesTwestival.

Better has worked alongside the marketing, web, alumni and student recruitment teams at the University to help them understand how social media integrates with their communication strategy and bring their various audience groups closer to them on a daily basis, while supporting them in building and integrating and number of social media tools around their main corporate website.

The University of Teesside is a vibrant, innovative University dedicated to pursuing excellence and enabling individuals and organisations to achieve their potential through high quality learning, research and knowledge transfer. For more information please visit http://www.tees.ac.uk.