Prolific North

This will age some of our readers - Lime Pictures has dropped the first trailer for their 30th Anniversary shows... We won't ask whether you're a Hollyoaks, Hollyoaks Later or Brookside fan, but expect weddings, armed police, car chases and more. And as Brookside and Hollyoaks creator Phil Redmond said: "... who knows what might pop up if someone decides to re-lay their patio? I know we left something else down there.” #Brookside #Hollyoaks #LimePictures #Drama #Soap #Production #Liverpool

“When creativity starts with a clear orientation and ends with measured outcomes, that’s when ideas earn their place in culture and drive growth," says Jordan McDowell, head of strategy at McCann Worldgroup. As our Effectiveness Well Told focus week, in partnership with McCann, draws to a close, one message has been consistent across every conversation: effectiveness is no longer a ‘nice to have’ — it’s the lifeline of brand growth. Across the week, we’ve explored how brands of all sizes measure the impact of creativity and how McCann’s frameworks turn powerful ideas into measurable success. What has become clear is that great campaigns don’t just look good; they move people, change behaviour and drive growth. 🎯 So what are the key lessons and insights every marketer should take away from this week’s discussions? Find out more via the article link in the comments below:

Marketing that moves markets starts with partnerships that move people. In the latest feature from our Effectiveness Well Told series with Prolific North, Rebecca Ziantoni, Business Director at McCann Manchester, shares why marketing effectiveness isn’t just about dashboards, KPIs or ROI — it’s about people, trust and collaboration. As Becca puts it, “Effectiveness doesn’t come from teams working on the business. It comes from teams working in the business — shoulder to shoulder with clients and consumers.” Because the most effective work doesn’t just drive results. It builds relationships. It builds culture. And it builds brands that last. Read the full piece ↓ https://lnkd.in/e6Np2jNk

Here’s a whistle stop tour of what’s been happening across the region this morning 👇 💶 There’s going to be a new boss at FinTech Scotland as Nicola Anderson moves to Scottish Enterprise https://lnkd.in/d23pWMFk 🏔️ Regatta Ltd increases its television spend as it releases its Autumn Winter campaign. Filmed by MediaCityUK’s VELVET Film Production https://lnkd.in/d3C_UuMd 📚Readly appoints new Head of Content for the UK - Chloe Rushmere is a name you’ll recognise from her THG days https://lnkd.in/dPmnFCqm 🦾 A major investment for Launchpad, which has its R&D department in Edinburgh. The $11m was led by Lavrock Ventures and Squadra Ventures, with participation from The Scottish National Investment Bank https://lnkd.in/dAhH9-cA 🎨 Baltic Creative CIC has handed over the Northern Lights project to a new owner. It’s been a catalyst for the redevelopment of the area https://lnkd.in/dcdXwfjS 🤶 And yes, we’re heading towards Christmas campaigns and fast. Out of the blocks early is FGH (Freemans Grattan Holdings). They’re created an online only video, with pausable moments, so you can shop the look https://lnkd.in/dcdXwfjS #Christmas #Advertising #Campaigns #Robotics #Liverpool #Edinburgh #Manchester #Ecommerce #Investment #Retail #Fashion #Publishing

The brand–agency relationship is changing...and fast! AI, in-housing, tighter budgets… but what’s really driving the shift? Brands & Agencies, with Mustard and Agency by Agency, has launched the North’s biggest-ever survey to find out. How do brands and agencies really see each other - and where’s are the gaps? Richard Walker Tom Salmon Alexandra Balazs Karl Holbrook Annie Ip

The ‘Jam-packed with Mischief’ campaign has been a real turning point for Jammie Dodgers. Despite being a much-loved biscuit, the brand risked becoming a relic of childhood nostalgia. In partnership with McCann Worldgroup, the brand's return to TV after more than ten years delivered standout results — breathing new life into a familiar favourite. What followed was a masterclass in effectiveness, with a spot of mischief, jam and nostalgia forming the perfect recipe for Jammie Dodgers’ revival. 🎯 This is the fourth installment in Effectiveness Well Told, our week-long focus series in partnership with McCann. Read more via the link in the comments:

As you settle in for the day, here’s what you need to know across the North’s digital, tech and creative sectors this morning👇 🚀 Our Tech Start-ups to Watch 2025 list is out — celebrating the most exciting emerging innovators shaping the North’s tech landscape. 🔗 Read the full list here: https://lnkd.in/eCfzQ_ZT 💡 From the launch event: top investors shared what makes them say yes — and what sends them running — in our panel on the do’s and don’ts of raising capital. 🔗 Catch the insights here: https://lnkd.in/eufVEfQQ 🏆 In agencyland, congrats to the Manchester micro agency “redefining” the traditional PR model after scooping a major award over bigger rivals. 🔗 Read more here: https://lnkd.in/ecBUwhzM 👋 Also in Manchester, BANC is growing again with three new digital hires — bolstering its expanding team. 🔗 Full story here: https://lnkd.in/eJ6kAYMy 🏢 And a digital media company is making space for 25 more staff with a £750k HQ expansion in the city. 🔗 More here: https://lnkd.in/e7qqxsVF BANC KOMI Group Annabelle Hoogenberg Hannah Burke Lydia Wadsworth Duo Consulting Mark Kuhillow Neil Vose Dr Mark Rahn Alexandra Balazs Rachael Hesno Karl Holbrook Daniel Sheridan Beyond Echo PR Periphery Veridox Literal Labs JECO Birl Chapter 2 Dating Nicky Wake ScubaTx Limited PetProov Voxelo.ai Arcube NeuWave Technologies Future Greens

New talent joins from Marks and Spencer, Kantar and NielsenIQ as intelligence specialist announces new insight framework Product intelligence specialist Vypr has strengthened its customer intelligence and panel operations teams and announced VySafe – a new industry-leading framework for delivering reliable, trustworthy consumer insight. #data #intelligence #consumerinsight Link below...

"Northern England has the talent, infrastructure and cultural foundation to capture a greater share of the global creative economy..." Courtney Walker, an investor at BGF, explains how the UK government’s Creative Industries Sector Plan is an "important step" towards the North leading the UK’s next wave of creative innovation. But this is "only the beginning". Read the full piece below, link in the comments! 

Wednesday's latest from Prolific North HQ... ✳️ If you're one of the 40% of UK households who don't have a private driveway or garage to put an EV charger in, Be.EV might have just solved your EV ownership quandary with a pair of public charging tariffs that promise to make charging cheaper then petrol or diesel: https://lnkd.in/efBEnmay ✳️ The Venn diagram intersection of Manchester City Football Club fans who also play EA sports FC are in for a treat with City's latest kit – the crest contains an NFC chip that will unlock secret content in the latest version of the game from next week: https://lnkd.in/eKeSKV7z ✳️ Chuck D brought the noise to Leeds Playhouse last night. The Public Enemy legend, alongside broadcaster Kirsty Wark, was the star turn for the opening night of Leeds International Festival of Ideas: https://lnkd.in/eQHNuk97 ✳️ In slightly less angry, but equally iconic, music news, musicians from the Hallé Orchestra, and the BBC's Philharmonic and Concert Orchestras are teaming up with Carrot Productions for a new live music and animation adaptation of Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf, hitting venues across the North this festive season: https://lnkd.in/ecDP5drs ✳️ And there's a £3m boost for the North East's tech scene, as SMD opens its new subsea tech hub, the company's third facility in the region: https://lnkd.in/e2HwZntS #tech #creative #brand #gaming #hiphop #EVs