Category Archives: event management

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 24^th 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.

Countdown on to the 2016 Accrington Food and Drink Festival

Gold Sponsors secured to help make day even bigger and better

It might seem a long time until summer, but the countdown to the 2016 Accrington Food and Drink Festival has well and truly begun.

Festival co-ordinator Sue Lawson is pictured with Liz Murphy, PR Manager at Simon Jersey

Last year’s revamped and revitalised event was one of Accrington’s biggest crowd-pullers, with more than 10,000 people filling the town centre for a day filled with flavours and family fun. Now planning is well under way for this year’s event, to be held on Saturday June 4^th.

Many of the same ingredients will help make a recipe for success, including an array of regional stalls showcasing the area’s finest food producers and retailers, live cookery demonstrations with a celebrity chef, a fabulous Continental food market on Broadway, “Accrington Pals” uniformed actors giving talks throughout the day, and a live World War II re-enactment commemorating D-Day.

Another heritage highlight this year will be a Spitfire, the iconic fighter aircraft of the Battle of Britain, on display in the town centre. Visitors will be able to view the historic aeroplane at close quarters and have their photo taken next to it.

Two Gold Sponsors have already been secured for this year’s event, helping make it even bigger and better than 2015. The first is one of the UK’s leading suppliers of uniforms, Altham-based Simon Jersey, which is celebrating 45 years in the area as well as sponsoring Team GB for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

and with MD Jim Harness (left) and Operations Director Gareth Lindsay from NLTG.

The second Gold Sponsor is one of the UK’s largest training providers, North Lancs Training Group, which has been training and supporting young people through apprenticeships and other vocational programmes for more than 45 years. With one of its two Vocational Centres of Excellence based in Accrington, it has strong links with the town and was keen to support its flagship food festival and participate with its catering students.

The event will once again take place in Broadway and in and around the award-winning Market Hall. Back by popular demand is celebrity chef Richard Fox, who will perform live cookery demonstrations in an outdoor cookery theatre on Broadway and host other demonstrations by local restaurant chefs.

Another huge hit last year and set to return for 2016 was a live World War II re-enactment by the North West Military Collectors, which saw Germans and American GIs locked in an action-packed skirmish in the usually peaceful grounds of St James’ Church.

This year also marks the centenary of one of the darkest days in Accrington’s history, when the famous “Accrington Pals” battalion suffered devastating losses on the opening day of the Battle of the Somme, during the First World War. It will be commemorated at the food festival by various displays and activities, including uniformed Accrington Pals actors.

Children can once again join in the fun with activities including the popular cake decorating competition, and once again a vintage double-decker bus will transport people to the festival free of charge from pick-up points across Hyndburn.

This will be the second year that the Accrington Food and Drink Festival has been organised by Scott Dawson Advertising (SDA) as part of its civic pride initiative, working in partnership with Hyndburn Borough Council and the Town Team.

Murray Dawson, from SDA, said: “Last year’s revived Accrington Food and Drink Festival was a great success and we want this year’s to be even better. Having a tank parked in the town centre as part of the D-Day commemorations proved a very popular attraction so we wanted to go one better this year and have a Spitfire on display.

“That and all the other attractions certainly put Accrington Food Festival on the map for must-see event this year!”

Coun. Clare Cleary, Cabinet Member for Accrington Town Centre, added: “Last year’s Food and Drink Festival was a huge success and this year’s looks set to be even bigger and better. It’s a superb family day out for all age groups to enjoy, so make Saturday June 4^th a date in your diary to come along and join in the fun.”

Opportunities to get involved with the festival, either through sponsorship or by having a stall, are still available and anyone interested can phone Sue Lawson at SDA on 01282 426846 or email: sue@scottdawson.co.uk

To keep up to date with the latest developments on the 2016 festival, visit it’s website at www.accringtonfoodfestival.co.uk where you will also find a gallery of photographs and videos giving a flavour of last year’s event. You can also ‘like’ the festival Facebook page at www.facebook.com/accringtonfood or follow it on Twitter at twitter.com/AccringtonFood