A report that outlines a potential future for the area’s economy and well-being to the year 2018 and beyond has received widespread support as it enters its next chapter.

The North East Lincolnshire Place Branding Study, a 44-page document by Manchester-based branding experts Creative Lynx, outlines a series of recommendations for North East Lincolnshire including:

• Adopting Greater Grimsby as an ‘umbrella brand’ for all future marketing of the area
• Building complimentary place brands of Grimsby, Cleethorpes and Immingham as integral to the overall proposition.
• Using Lincolnshire wherever possible in accompanying copy and imagery.
• Launching a new website to promote the area

The study, which has included 35 consultations with 23 organisations and also quizzed inward investment advisors, has been met positively by North East Lincolnshire Council – who first commissioned the work – and the Economic Development Enterprise and Environmental sub-group of the Local Strategic Partnership.

Now, the council is working with the consultants to produce an implementation plan on how the recommendations of the report can be taken further.

The ‘rebranding’ study focuses on the area’s key strengths – food and fish production, ports and logistics, chemicals and renewables – and suggests that, by 2018, the area could have increased employment opportunities and improved health and education.

The survey asked residents and businesses for their current perceptions of the area, which have been featured in the report.

Adam Breeze, specialist inward investment consultant for Breeze Strategy, said: “Attracting new jobs and investment to an area is always a challenge, and never more so than in the present climate. Greater Grimsby must be ready to tell its story on a regional, national and global stage. Every other town, city and region is actively promoting its strengths and the competition for inward investment has never been fiercer. In such a crowded market, locations need to be smarter in how they promote themselves.

“In the last few years this area has been offline and anonymous; but the widespread support for the place branding work across public, private, academic and voluntary sectors, indicates a much more positive future for Greater Grimsby. The area is ideally-placed to take advantage of many emerging sectors such as renewable energy and digital media, whilst building on its national strengths in food, ports and chemicals. It’s now up to everyone to start talking the place up and being positive.”

Councillor Geoff Lowis, the council’s portfolio holder for regeneration and housing, said: “This is an exciting document and I am certain that North East Lincolnshire will benefit from Creative Lynx’s exemplary track record in promotion and marketing.

“Creative Lynx and Breeze Strategy has stuck to its brief to explore new opportunities and develop our rich and varied history and heritage – now the challenge is to turn these ideas into reality.”

Michele Cusack, the council’s regeneration director, said: “The commissioning of this report shows that we all have the same aspirations and ambitions for North East Lincolnshire. It is a valuable document which will serve as a powerful blueprint to attract more inward investment to the area.

“There are several more staging posts on the journey, but this document showcases a bold potential future for North East Lincolnshire.”