SE Borders 'Marketing for Success' Programme



AME Marketing won the contract to develop and deliver the 'Marketing for Success' Programme, a new type of marketing training and marketing planning initiative, funded by Scottish Enterprise Borders.

The programme saw eight companies coming on board the programme, which included six marketing workshops and five days each of one-to-one support. Over the course of six months, AME Marketing helped each of the eight companies to put together a strategic marketing plan.

The companies that took part were:
3G Energi
Berwickshire Housing Association
Business Utility Solutions
Dryburgh Abbey Hotel
Eribé Knitwear Design
Fox Fleming Ltd
Oil Remediation Technology
R Mitchell (Glass) Ltd.

Press Release, excerpted from the Southern Reporter, December 2005:

'Companies hone marketing skills'
Mark Entwistle, Chief Reporter

Companies from across the Borders are set to test their marketing skills following the completion of a summer-long programme to help them boost business. Eight firms have just graduated from the Marketing for Success Programme organised by Scottish Enterprise Borders and AME Marketing.

It consisted of six interactive and practical workshops and five days of one-to-one support from a marketing expert, all leading to the development of a strong marketing plan for each company. Topics covered included marketing audits, market research and information, targeting markets, setting budgets and allocating resources. Each company also had to produce a marketing plan and do a presentation on their plan.

The 'graduates' were Dryburgh Abbey Hotel, 3G Energi, Fox Fleming, Oil Remediation Technology, Eribé Knitwear Design, R Mitchell (Glass) Ltd, Business Utility Solutions and Berwickshire Housing Association.

Susan Roden of R Mitchell (Glass) Ltd said: "The course helped me to understand the difference between selling, i.e. making the customers want your products, and marketing, which involves giving the customers what they want. It is now clear to everyone that marketing is what we do every day, from the way we answer the telephone, driving vans on the road and the service we give. Our marketing plan is taking shape and will be implemented next year."

SE Borders Director of Enterprise Development Alistair McKinnon added: "A good marketing plan is vital to the success of every business. This initiative aimed to help Borders businesses identify what marketing opportunities might work for them with the tools needed to exploit these opportunities for the growth of their company."