Decision details

Ipswich Borough Council (IBC) are planning a high profile “Welcome Back Weekend” that will attract visitors to the town over the weekend of 11th to 13th March 2022.

The ambition of the Weekend is to:

- Increase footfall / visitor numbers in Ipswich Town Centre; and

- Increase the ‘dwell-time’ for people visiting the Town Centre.

The weekend will involve a range of activities and these need to be appropriately marketed and communicated to residents (etc).

As a consequence it has been decided to work with a marketing agency who will brand, market and promote the Welcome Back Weekend and provide specific support to ensure the successful delivery of the

Hospice Art Reunion Weekend (e.g. via the preparation of display material and public information for visitors to the event).

A procurement exercise has been untaken by officers from the Council’s Economic Development Team.

The opportunity to bid for this work was sent to 5 local agencies.

3 quotes were received, and a validation process was carried out by officers from the Economic Development team. The quote submitted by Friel Creative Ltd was found to best demonstrate value for money and best deliver the ambitions and objectives set out in the tender.

The quote includes event design, microsite, Business Toolkit, Social Media management, promotional video, Public Relations and liaison with key stakeholders.

Friel Creative Ltd will start the above activities immediately and continue until after the weekend.

The project is 100% funded by external sources (i.e. the Welcome Back EDRF Fund administered via the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) and as well as complying with the Council’s contract standing orders, the relevant ERDF rules have been followed in reaching this decision.

To fund Friel Creative Ltd £14,800 Promotion and Marketing for the Welcome Back Weekend.

Reason:

To promote the Welcome Back Weekend and provide specific support to ensure the successful delivery of the Hospice Art Reunion Weekend.