The Economic Development Department for Christchurch and East Dorset Councils launched a ‘Growing For Growth’ five-year plan in 2015 to create the best opportunity for the local economy to grow and businesses to succeed. The department consulted with local businesses to help prepare the strategy and reports to local businesses on its delivery through events, newsletters, and social media.
Having won the tender, DNPR was tasked to build awareness of the Partnerships’ Economic Growth Plan and roll-out of individual initiatives plus the role of the Economic Development team in local business support services. This included communicating success stories along with current issues and opportunities available. Darren Northeast PR also had to help generate interest from local businesses across all sectors, along with key stakeholder groups, to encourage engagement with the Economic Development Department.
In order to raise awareness of Christchurch and East Dorset Councils and engage with local business, DNPR organised several local business breakfast events with the council which has been attended by over 200 businesses from across the Christchurch and East Dorset region. Darren Northeast PR also grew Christchurch and East Dorset’s dedicated Facebook page from 60 to over 300 likes in 4 months, whilst producing and posting relevant content daily along with two blogs a month. Alongside this, they have run several Facebook advertising campaigns which have reached over 40,000 people online.
Christchurch and East Dorset Councils also asked Darren Northeast PR to produce an online alternative to replace their quarterly newsletters. In answer to this, Darren Northeast PR now produces a monthly e-bulletin which is delivered to over 1,000 people. Darren Northeast PR also successfully doubled Christchurch and East Dorset’s local business database.