Category Archives: Accrington

Scott Dawson Advertising wrap up event season in their most successful year ever

Scott Dawson Advertising, the Burnley-based events and marketing agency, are celebrating the end of events season as their busiest ever year for large scale event management across Lancashire. Recent highlights include bringing Martin Kemp to Accrington and East 17 to Great Harwood, in what has been an action-packed event calendar for 2024.

People have visited town centres in their tens of thousands to celebrate together and get tills ringing as they shop and dine locally, with Scott Dawson managing events as diverse as the Accrington Food Festival, Nelson Food Festival, Accrington Soapbox Challenge, plus Christmas Lights Switch On events in Accrington featuring huge star Martin Kemp, and Nelson Lights Switch On featuring star DJ TeeDee. Three special run up to Christmas markets and events in Great Harwood ended with a big stage extravaganza featuring East 17. Scott Dawson have also provided marketing, social media and promotion for The Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival in Colne, and the iMEP Music Festival in Accrington featuring Grammy winning artist Jess Glynne.

Murray Dawson, founder and Managing Director of Scott Dawson Advertising, commented: “I’m really proud of all our team, we have pulled all the stops out this year and delivered some incredible events with record breaking turnout.

“We are unique in that we are turnkey operators, with all services and resources in house. When we’re contracted to an event, we handle everything from initial planning, concepts, budgeting, sourcing entertainment, security, health and safety, social media, promotion and PR right through to implementation and managing the event on the day and afterwards, including full reports on the event. Social media reach for the year is into the millions.

“We always get excellent feedback and have gone from strength to strength on events, we always create something spectacular and help people make memories – and get tills ringing as we always encourage people to #ShopLocal and eat locally, to give the whole economy a boost, not just the event. It’s a great feeling!”

Crucially, the events are always safely run and well managed, giving a great visitor experience even when town centres are packed. The local police force commented after the last event in Great Harwood, “It was great to see so many of you at the Great Harwood Christmas event this afternoon. It was great to be able to meet and talk to so many of you about the issues that matter to you.

“It was also fantastic to see such a family-friendly event and very little antisocial behaviour. Well done to all the organisers. We did reunite some small children to their parents whilst East 17 were performing but other than that it was a quiet, enjoyable afternoon where we were able to engage with many of you at a terrific event.”

Suzanne Haworth of Great Harwood Rovers, who was part of the High Street Accelerator Fund panel who commissioned the Great Harwood events, added: “Can I just say a massive thank-you to all of you from myself personally and on behalf of the club. You are all fantastic at what you do, your attention to detail is amazing and most of all your dedication is a credit to you all. 

“You are the ultimate professionals. Saturday was possibly one of the best days I have spent in Great Harwood, I was so proud of the club, the children and most of all of the community spirit and our town.”

Murray Dawson concluded, “Feedback like this is so good to hear and makes all the hard work worthwhile. The SDA team always go above and beyond to deliver. We can’t wait to see what next year’s event calendar brings, and how we can make events even bigger and more spectacular year on year, to keep our high streets buzzing!”

Scott Dawson Advertising are a full service marketing agency based in Burnley. They have over 30 years experience in marketing, with all of the services on offer in-house, so their highly skilled marketing professionals deliver the highest standard of work to each of their clients, from concept to completion. You can see more here: www.scottdawson.co.uk

Local business man Eddy O’Brien of iMEP teams up with Murray Dawson of SDA to offer community groups a FREE minibus to use

Hiring a minibus can be too costly for local community groups, which are often staffed by volunteers and run to a tight budget. With this in mind, local businessman, Eddy O’Brien, the CEO of iMEP – International Music Event Production has partnered with Murray Dawson from local agency Scott Dawson Advertising to kindly fund a minibus which will be free for selected partners to use.

The 17 seater minibus will be very useful for the community groups, and will enable them to transport participants and volunteers safely and as a group, rather than relying on their own transport. The selected partners to benefit from the minibus are: Clayton Boxing Club, Accrington Pipe Band, Great Harwood Rovers, Oswaldtwistle St. Paul Scout Group, Accrington Stanley Women, Maundy Relief, Accrington Cricket Club, and the Official Accrington Stanley Supporters Trust.

Eddy O’Brien, CEO of iMEP, said: “I’m really keen to give back to our local community and help and support these fantastic, volunteer led organisations.

“They do so much for our community, whether through sport or other activities, and I teamed up with Scott Dawson Advertising to see what we could do to provide them with help and support, and something they really need.

“A minibus seemed like a great solution, Murray bought it and I sponsored it! The groups will be able to access it free of charge on a diary system whenever they need it – whether that’s Clayton Boxing Club travelling to tournaments, or the Pipe Band travelling to performances, or a multitude of other reasons!”

Sarah Smith, MP for Hyndburn and Haslingden, said: “It’s amazing to see the generosity of iMEP and SDA to fund this brilliant community minibus. I know it will have a huge impact on many residents. A huge thank you to Eddy and Murray for enabling this brilliant initiative!”

Sami Smithson, Chair of Accrington Stanley Women added, “We are so grateful to be included in this fantastic community initiative. The power of sport can never be underestimated, and giving the children & young adults of Hyndburn and surrounding areas opportunities to participate and travel as teams to sports fixtures is an immeasurable experience. Thank you to Eddy and to Murray for giving our kids and the future of our borough these opportunities, and allowing them to create memories and experiences that will last them a lifetime.”

Peter Leatham of the OASST commented, “We can’t thank SDA and iMEP enough for the brilliant sponsorship of the minibus, and we look forward making good use of along with other partner organisations.”

Lucy Hardwick of Maundy Relief further added, “’This is a wonderful initiative that will bring huge mental health benefits to our guests – we can’t wait to get out and about and explore our beautiful region. We’re so grateful to iMEP and SDA for arranging this we will certainly be able to make great use of it. Thanks so much for your generosity!”

Offering everything from lighting, sound, staging and special effects, to fully managed music and theatre event production, iMEP regularly work with stars around the world and are hosting the iMEP Music Festival on Saturday 21stSeptember at Accrington Cricket Club, headlined by global superstar Jess Glynne.

To learn more about IMEP, visit their website: www.imep.co.uk and to learn more about SDA, see their website here: www.scottdawson.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.