New Stirling area brand is launched
City Deal prompts promo’ film and logo
A campaign to promote Stirling area as a place to do business, live and work was launched at the Tolbooth on Wednesday.
It features a promotional film showcasing the area’s many attractions, new logo and slogan: `Stirling – alive with Scotland’.
Stirling and Clackmannanshire was in November last year granted regional city deal status and the campaign is designed to build on that and other events like the inaugural Stirling Marathon in May.
Olympic swimmer Duncan Scott, who is from Alloa but attends Stirling University, features in the film with shots of people and places from the area.
It has been condensed into a 30-second advert, featuring a voiceover by local actress Simone Lahbib, which will feature in Stirling’s Vue cinema, Sky Catch Up and on social media. Scenes from the film were projected on to the rocks beneath Stirling Castle during the launch event. And the new logo and slogan will be visible across the area on banners and billboards
Addressing an audience of representatives from business, education and community organisations, Council Leader Johanna Boyd said: “This is a transformational moment. We know it is an incredible place and we want it to be even better. Our ambition is huge and we are already delivering on it.”
She made reference to elements of the city region deal masterplan which are coming to fruition such as the decision by Edinburgh technology firm CodeBase to create a new digital hub in the city’s Municipal Buildings, Corn Exchange Road.
Mention was also made of the plan to site a new National Tartan Centre at Forthside and the agreement by council’s and the Robertson Trust to set up a `third-sector innovation hub,’ also at Forthside.
“Stirling is changing, and we need to reflect that in how we present ourselves across Scotland, the UK and around the World,” added Councillor Boyd.
“This brand celebrates everything that we have to offer and captures this new spirit of Stirling, our optimism, our pride and our shared sense of purpose.”
Advertising agency Maguires were taken on to create the new branding and the council say they carried out a three-month consultation featuring 22 “engagement sessions” with a variety of groups, organisations and schools in places across the area including Bannockburn, Crianlarich, Aberfoyle, Callander and Dunblane.
At the launch, Bannockburn High pupils Tom Eadie and Megan Baxter, who took part in the consultation, spoke about how they wished to see the city develop.
The campaign was welcomed by University of Stirling principal and vice-chancellor Gerry McCormac who said: “Stirling is a world-class, dynamic and enterprising destination and the region’s reputation continues to grow both nationally and internationally. As Stirling’s centre of innovation and excellence, we will continue to play a pivotal role in driving economic growth, helping to revitalise the region and position the city as a major economic and cultural player.”
Ross Tuffee, co-founder of Stirlingbased, award-winning digital solutions company DOGFI.SH Mobile Limited, was also in support of efforts to attract talent.
“The Stirling area is vibrant and offers a great place to live and work, as well as to access education, with the opportunity to be in the heart of the city, break out into the countryside or access the rest of Scotland with ease,” he said. “We’re also 40 minutes from Edinburgh Airport, just a six-hour flight from New York, meaning the area is ideally positioned for those who want to grow a global business like ours.”