Marketing Awards call on excellence from Ballymena businesses

Last year, Ballymena-based Patton Group scooped gold in the Building and Civil Engineering Industries category and CIGA Healthcare came highly commended for Best International Market Development Campaign.

The annual awards provide the opportunity for companies and their leading marketing and sales professionals to showcase their campaigns and the positive impact they have had within their particular industry. Winners will be recognised by CIM, at an exciting ceremony taking place in Titanic Belfast on November 7, hosted by BBC Business Correspondent, Jim Fitzpatrick.

Speaking at the launch CIM Ireland Chairman, John Edmund Hon. FCIM, said: “Northern Ireland industry, across all its sectors, has shown a remarkable ability to respond purposefully to the opportunities that have arisen through the continuing economic downturn. We have seen some great marketing campaigns launching over the last 12 months with geographic market expansion and new product and service developments becoming commonplace, not only amongst our largest companies but also in the SME sector. CIM is really looking forward to seeing how these campaigns were conceptualised, delivered and evaluated.

“The organisations that have delivered successful campaigns will already have been rewarded by growth in their business and should be on their way to achieving their ‘bottom-line’ objectives but we know from past history that recognition from CIM also means a lot for the team involved and to potential customers, who tell us they recognise that companies that get their marketing right tend to be those that make the best suppliers and the strongest brands.

“CIM, now in existence for 101 years, is universally recognised as setting the benchmark for the education and accreditation of marketing professionals. With our partners and supporters we look forward to a spectacular awards event on the 7th November when we can say well done, we are ‘mightily impressed’ and to those who are not represented – look what you can achieve when you take marketing seriously.”

Dr Vicky Kell, Director of Trade from Invest NI, added: “This is the third year Invest NI have worked with CIM Ireland and the standard of entries never ceases to amaze us. It is vital that companies in Northern Ireland can create and deliver exciting campaigns both here and abroad and we’re delighted to support and encourage marketing professionals and especially in relation to export marketing.”

There are sixteen award categories which are divided under three headings: Industry, Campaign/Professional and Individual/Professional Achievement. Key business partners include Invest Northern Ireland, Kantar Media and Pinnacle & Sage while event support partners include Belleek Living, eyesparks, Presseye, Stakeholder Group and Titanic Belfast as venue partner.

Companies should enter before the deadline on September 11.

For more information on the award categories and tips on what makes a winning entry please go to www.cimireland.net.