South West England appoints Space to integrated account

by Daniel Farey-Jones, Brand Republic 08-Mar-06, 07:00

LONDON – An alliance of organisations promoting the South West of England has appointed Space to a £2.8m integrated brief supporting tourism and business investment in the region.

The activity is funded by the South West of England Regional Development Agency, South West Tourism and the South West Regional Assembly.

Space will reach the separate tourist and business audiences with direct, promotional, experiential, digital, event and partnership marketing. The agency has also been handed responsibility for media planning and buying.

Space secured the £2.8m three-year contract after a five-way final shootout following a pitch following a tender offer through the Official Journal of the European Communities. The incumbent agency was RH Advertising Exeter.

Ian Watson, head of strategic marketing at the RDA, said: "The South West England brand has become firmly established, but now we need to ensure even greater awareness and penetration in the next three years."

London-based Space is in the process of opening a Bristol office to service existing accounts and explore new opportunities, according to founding partner David Atkinson.

David Atkinson, founding partner at Space, said: "The account has come at the same time as our search for a South West England office -- we're in the process of opening a Bristol office to service existing accounts. We could be perceived as the first success of our campaign to build investment in the region -- by moving there ourselves."

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