Business expansion for local design agency; ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE.

ADESIGN agency is reaping the rewards of a major expansion programme. ND Creative has clinched a number of prestigious new contracts including S& N UK and NHS Procurement North East.

And the latest deal is for a major design package for Fresh Element, operators of the Cafe Bar, the Riverside venue and the stylish Six restaurant, all located within Gateshead's nationally renowned Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art.

To cope with the fast-growing client portfolio, ND Creative, based in Horsley, in Northumberland's Tyne Valley, has appointed Joanne Elliott to the newly-created role of senior account manager.

No stranger to ND Creative, Joanne, who is chair of the North East branch of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, rejoins the team after a spell with another Newcastle-based agency.

ND Creative managing director Mark Hudson is delighted with the latest contracts and his new member of staff.

He also feels that the firm's recent achievements are a just reward for a positive and active approach to further developing the business, even in a recession.

Back in March, ND Creative launched its innovative Expand your Budget campaign to provide North East businesses with high-quality design solutions at cost-effective prices. The aim was to demonstrate how clear, concise marketing and innovative design can both add value and deliver tangible returns to those bold enough to invest in creativity.

It's a strategy that has certainly paid off.

Mark said: "While many businesses battened down the hatches and shied away from further expansion, we decided to take the opposite approach and just went for it.

"As a result we have won new business contracts through a combination of competitive tendering and the quality of our design work.

"We believe there is still a lot of business out there and we are determined to continue this approach. Joanne has been brought back in a senior management role to help co-ordinate and manage the expansion programme and help us achieve the ISO9001 quality standard." The new contract with Scottish and Newcastle UK follows the company's recent takeover by Heineken and has resulted in ND Creative being named as a preferred supplier of design work to the brewing giant. The company worked with the Pub Enterprises arm of the business for more than 10 years.

ND Creative was originally set up by Mark in Newcastle city centre in 1998. It relocated to the Horsley Business Centre in Northumberland a little over three years ago.

Since then the company has continued to build a reputation across the North East region for the quality of its design work. It continues to work closely with many large organisations including Newcastle United Foundation, British Polythene Industries plc, Visqueen Building Products and BNS Telecom plc.

What's more, ND Creative has proved that being based in Northumberland is no object when attracting new business. The agency also boasts Tees Valley-based Erimus Housing and Redcar-based Coast and Country Housing among its ever-growing list of clients.

Joanne was instrumental in helping the agency clinch the Teesside-based accounts. She graduated from Buckinghamshire Chilterns University with a degree in

Graphic Design and Advertising in 2002 and has a wealth of experience, both working for ND Creative and in other agency roles in London and the North East.

"Joanne has a great energy and passion for the business and adds strength to the senior management team," said Mark. "She will enable us to continue our strategy of growth, while improving service levels to existing and new clients alike.

"As our client portfolio continues to grow, we are proud that our first client is still with us - a sure sign of our levels of service, diversification and ability to keep delivering great design."While many businesses battened down the hatches, we just went for it

CAPTION(S):

GOING FOR GROWTH The ND Creative team at their Horsley base. Being based in Northumberland has been no drawback to the business. NEW ADDITION Senior account manager Joanne Elliott.