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Scott Dawson Advertising appointed as Marketing Partner of popular East Lancashire Music Festival for third year running

Scott Dawson Advertising (SDA), the full-service advertising agency based in Burnley, have been appointed as marketing partner of The Great British Rhythm & Blues Festival for the third year running, following record ticket sales and media audience. 

Offering everything from TV ads to websites, photography and social media, SDA have marketed the popular East Lancashire music festival in both 2022 and 2023.

The 2022 event saw record ticket and camping sales as over 30,000 people flocked to Colne for the August Bank Holiday weekend extravaganza, while this year’s event saw record camping ticket sales once again as tens of thousands of visitors returned for another weekend packed full of live music.

That success has seen The 2023 Great British R&B Festival nominated for Large Event of the Year in the Lancashire Tourism Awards.

SDA’s ongoing marketing and advertising of the festival, working alongside organisers Colne Town Council and Colne Blues Society, has included social media, videography, photography, interviews, banners, signage, graphic design, posters, the official programme, live social media and much more.

Nathan Cutler, Events & Facilities Officer, said: “Once again Scott Dawson have exceeded expectations with their promotional work for the iconic Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival. In term of both professionalism and communication they score top marks, as well as being reliable and a pleasure to deal with. 

“Their coverage of the festival alongside their promotion of the Festival brand was creative and captured the attention of audiences right across social media. We look forward to working again with Scott Dawson having appointed them for the third year running, which is a true testament to them and their execution of the Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival campaign.”

Murray Dawson, Managing Director of Scott Dawson Advertising, said: “We are delighted to have been appointed as marketing partners for the Great British R&B Festival for the third year running.

“I’d like to think SDA work harder and deliver more than other agencies, our work for the 2024 festival started the day this year’s event ended, and we push hard for pre-ticket sales and development of the camping which was sold out last year.

“We view the horizon and create video content for the following event, so we can show those who didn’t attend what they have missed. We have also been appointed to develop a new website for the festival, with work already underway.

“We enjoy working with like minded people at Colne Town Council and Colne Blues Society, and we are proud to work for the best.”

You can learn more about Scott Dawson Advertising on their website: https://www.scottdawson.co.uk/

You can learn all about the Great British R&B Festival here: https://www.bluesfestival.co.uk/

AMAZING ACCRINGTON CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SWITCH ON BACK WITH A BANG IN 2022

The Amazing Accrington Christmas Lights Switch On in Accrington Town Centre has been confirmed for the evening of Thursday 24th November, proudly sponsored by amazing local businesses North Lancs Training Group (NLTG)Sundown Solutions and the Nelson and Colne College Group.

Hyndburn Borough Council ran a tender bid for the event, which was awarded to Scott Dawson Advertising to be run through Amazing Accrington. Working in conjunction with Accrington Market and Hyndburn Borough Council, plans are in place for a spectacular family friendly start to Christmas, including a music stage, live acts, interactive entertainment, a firework display and fairground rides.

Amazing Accrington are also looking to engage with all 36 local Primary Schools ahead of the return of the Christmas Light Switch On, and will be inviting them down personally to join in the show led by St Christopher’s Sixth Form choir.

The event will also provide the opportunity to celebrate local independent retailers, while charities have the chance to run a free stall outside Accrington Market Hall as last year and should contact Sameena at the Market Hall to make their application.

Murray Dawson, chair of Amazing Accrington, said: “After the huge success of last year, we are back to give everyone the opportunity to enjoy a spectacular night of fun and entertainment with the whole community. We have lots of plans in the pipeline and lots more to announce!”

Sara Britcliffe, MP for Hyndburn and Haslingden, added: “I encourage the whole of Hyndburn to turn out for this amazing event, and let’s see if we can beat last year’s numbers of over 12,000 and come together to celebrate once again!”

Cllr Miles Parkinson OBE, Leader of Hyndburn Borough Council, commented: “Amazing Accrington are so professional and know how to make events go with a bang, and we are so happy that they start this year’s Christmas events with Accrington’s Christmas Lights Switch On following on from last year’s amazing event.

Once again it encourages everyone to shop local – get some Christmas shopping done while you’re having fun!”

Gareth Lindsay, Managing Director at North Lancs Training Group (NLTG), said: “We love these big events, it gives us a chance to interact with the whole community. The plans sound very exciting, and we’re proud to support them!”

Heath Groves, CEO of Sundown Solutions, added: “Last year’s event was a real spectacular and we’re happy to support it again. We encourage people to come down with all the family and have some fun!”

Morag Davis, Centre Principal for Accrington & Rossendale College, commented: “We’re really looking forward to feeling the Christmas cheer, and seeing the whole of Hyndburn out in force celebrating together. The plans look fantastic!”

Further details will be announced about attractions and performers. You can watch a video of last year’s Amazing Accrington Lights Switch On event here: 

Keep an eye on the Amazing Accrington website https://www.amazingaccrington.co.uk/ and social media channels for further updates.

BUSINESS LEADER FUNDING TAKES PLANS FOR EAST LANCASHIRE FREIGHT RAIL TERMINAL TO THE NEXT LEVEL

A number of business leaders have pledged funds to support the development of a new East Lancashire Freight Rail Terminal on the site of the former Huncoat Power Station.

Plans have now moved up a gear including the appointment of a project consultant and an economic feasibility study which is expected in draft 1 by the end of June. The study will investigate the economic case and the rail case, establishing the facts of the great benefit to the region and the private sector development opportunity.

Businesses pledging money to the project include Just Taps, Coach House, First Tunnels, Cardboard Box Company, Emerson & Renwick, Globe Enterprises, Hyndburn Borough CouncilNorthwest LogisticsSundown SolutionsWitch GroupScott Dawson AdvertisingLangtecHML Recycling and Fagan & Whalley.

The project, which could create 2,825 jobs in the local area, has also received support from MP for Hyndburn and Haslingden, Sara Britcliffe, Chief Executive of East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Miranda Barker and Chair of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP), Debbie Francis OBE.

#Amazing Accrington, a collaboration of businesses, public sector and 3rd sector organisations from within Accrington and the surrounding towns within the borough of Hyndburn, are committed to bringing positive changes to the area and the development provides a very real opportunity to do so, tying into levelling up plans, giving an economic boost to the region, as well as creating cost, resource and carbon savings for businesses.

The historic Huncoat site has disused freight rail sidings, with the surrounding land already designated for future rail freight development. It is ideally located in the centre of East Lancashire’s industry, engineering and aerospace, in between the existing rail and road network. The site covers 22 acres, with an estimated £200 million to develop, which would involve private sector investment.

Debbie Francis OBE, commented: “This is a business project which I have been staying very close to, providing advice from the rail sector and the feasibility study will provide an extremely interesting read.

“I am keen to build and improve corridors of transport in the north, and the LEP fully supports this project and its exciting plans.”

Miranda Barker, said: “Regionally this is an unbelievable opportunity for everyone, especially our local businesses and we are doing everything we can to help push on these plans, which will have a hugely significant impact on the North West for decades to come.

“It gives our businesses the opportunity to move their goods in a more cost effective, competitive and less environmentally damaging way, but also be part of the supply chain to build the infrastructure, and that is unlocking the potential of East Lancashire and its industry, not just for the North West, but for the UK as a whole.”

Sara Britcliffe MP, added: “The employment opportunities which would come from this project would be unbelievable for our borough and it could transform so many people’s lives, from businesses to our children.”

Murray Dawson, Chair of Amazing Accrington and MD of Scott Dawson Advertising, commented: “Freight rail is estimated to treble by 2050 and with our amazing businesses needing room and the opportunity to grow, we need to facilitate that. We can’t thank everyone enough who has pledged financial support for the feasibility study.

“It’s also extremely important to remember that it’s not just core businesses who use freight who would be affected – all businesses benefit from the future economic success of our region.”

You can learn more about the project and its plans here: