Horizon Works strengthens its industry support – and looks to the future

Since our launch in 2010, Horizon Works has always been active in the UK’s industry networks and clusters. But throughout the Coronavirus pandemic, we strengthened our relationships with sector organisations and networks, both regionally and nationally.

Last year saw Horizon Works become even more deeply embedded into the manufacturing, engineering, energy and tech sectors. And driven by the evolving needs of industry, we also launched new services and initiatives.

There’s more to come in 2022.

Here, our managing director, Samantha Vassallo, looks back on a busy 2021… and gives us a preview of the year ahead.

Horizon Works’ highlights of 2021

Delivering the Supply Chain North East (SCNE) Back to Business Basics Marketing for Automotive Programme 

Working with the North East Automotive Alliance (NEAA), we brought our marketing expertise to this SCNE initiative, which is designed to help companies successfully promote, sell and distribute a product or service in the automotive sector.

The Horizon Works team enjoyed working with the three programme cohorts and we helped more than 25 innovative North East companies to shape and improve their marketing activities.

Sustainable safety solutions specialist, Ekobox, electronics manufacturer Arian EMS, 3D printing specialist MakeitQuick and lean manufacturing specialist Lean Deployment Solutions were just some of the businesses that benefited from the programme’s support.

Commenting on the programme, David Hunter, owner and manager of Ekobox, said: “The body of work Horizon Works have produced has been much more than we ever expected. It has allowed us to position the business in a new direction.”

Becoming an EMN affiliate partner… and launching the Marketing Lunch and Learn Programme

The Engineering and Manufacturing Network (EMN) is dedicated to supporting the growth of the North East’s engineering and manufacturing industries by building a strong, collaborative community of businesses.

And as a long-standing EMN member, Horizon Works has been closely involved in EMN for a number of years.

We were a Silver Sponsor of the organisation’s highly popular EMCON event in Newton Aycliffe in 2021 and 2019, and also delivered a number of webinars for EMN members during lockdown.

Last year, however, we further cemented this relationship.

In November, we became an affiliate partner of EMN. This enabled us to offer a wider range of marketing support to EMN members, including drop-in marketing surgeries and member offers.

And in December, at Gestamp’s world class 4300 sq ft training facility, we launched a new programme of monthly Marketing Lunch and Learn events with EMN.

The event was a great success, attracting business from across the North East’s manufacturing and engineering sectors.

More on the Marketing Lunch and Learn events later…

Joining NOF – and exhibiting at Offshore Wind North East!

NOF works to make valuable connections between businesses in the global energy sector… and it’s playing a huge role in supporting the North East’s – and the wider UK’s – renewable energy industry.

We were, therefore, delighted to become a NOF member in 2021. It enables us to offer additional support to clients working across renewables and places Horizon Works at the heart of this rapidly evolving sector.

Horizon Works also exhibited at NOF’s Offshore Wind North East in December, a major expo and conference held at the Beacon Of Light.

Bringing together offshore wind farm operators, OEMs, ports, higher education bodies, suppliers and innovators, OWNE demonstrated the growing strength of North East England in offshore wind… and the part our region is playing in the UK’s drive towards net zero.

Getting back to face to face events…

With the pandemic forcing many conferences and exhibitions to cancel – or move into virtual environments – it was exciting to see face to face events returning in the second half of 2021.

We’d certainly missed bumping into business friends and catching over a cuppa or two – not to mention seeing new product and service innovations first hand.

Our team exhibited at EMCON, the North East Automotive Expo, The North East of England Process Industry Cluster’s Meet The Members event and Offshore Wind North East.

Old acquaintances were renewed, new connections were forged… and unsurprisingly, a lot of coffee was drunk!

Expanding our capabilities

Animation is a growing part of the B2B marketing mix. And in 2021, we fully incorporated this into our offering by teaming up with an animation partner.

So, we’ve been busy delivering large scale animations for Martel Instruments’ VIDA data collection technology, metal decorating and coating machine manufacturer Crabtree and electrical safety equipment manufacturer Seaward.

And we’re seeing increased demand for our work in this field.

What we’re excited about in 2022…

Working in partnership with Innovation SuperNetwork

Innovation SuperNetwork gives North East entrepreneurs, start-ups and scale-ups access to new market opportunities, finance and sector expertise – and Horizon Works has supported the network as partner since 2020, alongside the likes of Innovate UK, Brewin Dolphin and the North East’s universities.

We’ve provided marketing advice to businesses engaged with Innovation SuperNetwork’s initiatives and programmes, and will be continuing to offer this support in 2022.

We’re also looking forward to the organisation’s VentureFest North East England event on March 30 – one of the UK’s leading innovation conferences, and a hotbed of ingenuity!

Playing a key role in the Make UK Defence Competitive Advantage Programme

Horizon Works is a proud member of Make UK Defence and we were recently invited to be a marketing partner on the organisation’s Competitive Advantage Programme (CAP). This brings together industry experts from across the UK to provide advice and services to members.

Through the CAP programme, we’ll be helping Make UK Defence members to improve their marketing strategies and tactics, and providing tailored support, seminars and webinars to businesses targeting the defence sector.

Sharing knowledge and expertise

Throughout 2022, we’ll be working with our network partners to bring Horizon Works’ expertise to regional and national businesses.

With our partners in EMN, we’ll be running regular Marketing Lunch and Learn events at manufacturing and engineering businesses across the North East. We’ll be providing marketing advice and guidance, and attendees will be able to network and gain an insight into the marketing approaches employed by some of the region’s most prominent manufacturing and engineering companies.

We’re also look forward to delivering face to face workshops, webinars and consultation sessions through organisations including Make UK Defence, NEPIC, the NEAA and Innovation SuperNetwork.

Attending conferences and expos!

Horizon Works will once again be attending and exhibiting at a range of events – and you’ll be able to meet us at conferences and expos across the North East!

We’ll be back at Wynyard Hall in June for NEPIC’s Meet The Members 2022 conference and expo, and in September our team will be at the Beacon Of Light in Sunderland for the North East Automotive Expo, and the Xcel Centre in Newton Aycliffe for EMCON.

We’re also excited to be returning to Offshore Wind North East in November.

Supporting more innovators

From life sciences game changers and emerging tech disruptors to global engineering giants, we’ll be helping visionary businesses to market their products and services regionally, nationally and internationally during 2022.

It promises to be an exciting year!

If you’d like to tap into our specialist expertise across strategy, marketing, public relations, design, brand, digital marketing and website design, why not get in touch? Email hello@horizonworks.co.uk or call 0345 075 5955.