LOCALiQ has launched an exclusive study to detail the state of digital marketing in the UK.

In 2022 LOCALiQ surveyed over 300 businesses. This year they aim to build on that success and attract even more participants from managerial and marketing backgrounds.  Last year’s data revealed that almost 50% of marketers thought that marketing had changed more in the last 2 years than it has in the past 50.  In addition to this, 70% of respondents reported they struggled to keep up with advancements in marketing technology. Over the past 12 months, we have seen a meteoric rise in AI.

In this year’s State of Digital Marketing Survey, LOCALiQ will look to uncover if and how businesses have adapted to this shift in technology, as well as the challenges and opportunities businesses will no doubt be confronted with now that AI has started to take centre stage.

The survey will dive deeper into the industry’s hottest topics such as AI and marketing technology, whilst also revealing what UK businesses deem to be the critical elements of digital marketing.  From marketing channels and marketing performance to budgets and trend predictions – these answers can help form a better understanding of the current state of marketing in the UK whilst also outlining what is in store for 2024 and beyond.

To complete the survey please visit: https://hubs.li/Q01XqvBQ0

The past 12 months have been some of the most turbulent yet for marketers. The constant changes combined with stretched marketing budgets mean it has never been more vital for businesses to understand exactly how their investments shape up compared to those of their competitors.  LOCALiQ believes that this year’s State of Digital Marketing Report will help many local businesses understand how they compare against similar businesses and assess their current and future marketing plans.

Nikki Broxup, Marketing Director of LOCALiQ – the digital marketing business of Newsquest Media Group commented “The digital marketing industry has experienced significant developments over the past year. AI is everywhere, with businesses navigating how to balance the benefits while mitigating the potential drawbacks.  As the leading digital marketing partner to local businesses across the UK, and with insights into more than 200 local communities through our Newsquest publications, we’re excited to launch our 2023 State of Digital Marketing Survey, enabling us to gain a comprehensive understanding of how local businesses have tackled and surmounted challenges, as well as pinpoint the crucial digital marketing strategies for the future.”

LOCALiQ invites all UK business owners and marketing personnel to complete the survey and contribute to this extensive research. As a reward, all participants will get an exclusive first look at the survey later this year and will also be entered into a prize draw to win an Amazon gift card.

A STRATEGY for up to £2.5 million of improvements to the city centre will be revealed at the launch of Bradford BID’s new five-year business plan next week.

The Business Improvement District’s first term will come to an end later this year and the organisation will launch a ballot at the end of August to secure a second five years.  Almost 600 levy-paying businesses and organisations will be asked to support the BID in the ballot, which if successful will see the organisation run until the end of 2028.  The results are set to be announced at the end of September.

The BID is a limited not-for-profit company funded by a small levy on businesses and organisations, and the money it raises is used for projects to help promote and develop the city centre.

Ian Ward, general manager of The Broadway shopping centre and chairman of the BID, said: “The BID and its hard-working team have achieved an astonishing amount over our first term to date and have quickly gained a reputation as one of the best organised and most effective business improvement districts in the country.  We have smartened up the city centre, helped improve safety, boosted footfall, generated trade through events and promotion, supported – and provided a voice for – businesses and lobbied local, regional and national authorities for improvements.  But we believe the work has only just started and there is so much more to come,” he added.

An independent survey of city centre businesses found that 89 per cent of those responding agreed the BID had “made an impact” and 94 per cent said that a second term would “benefit the city centre”.

The BID’s objectives for the second term will focus on creating a positive environment, making the city centre a better place to do business and generating a vibrant experience for all those who live, work, visit and enjoy their leisure time there.

A £2.5m business plan launch will take place on Thursday, July 6, at The Light Cinema.

BID manager Jonny Noble said the work of the BID will play a “crucial role” in preparing the city centre for its year in the spotlight as UK City of Culture 2025.  “It’s vital that we’re there to help the city centre, its retailers, its hospitality venues, its leisure attractions and the people who live and work here to make the most of the opportunity City of Culture provides, along with the other major developments that will be coming on stream.”

A BRADFORD technology provider was presented has been presented with a prestigious award.  BTL Group received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise (Excellence in International Trade) from the Lord-Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Ed Anderson CBE, on Tuesday (January 17).   The award recognises the firm’s success in the assessment industry and significant levels of investment.

Saltaire-based BTL, trading as Surpass Assessment, works with local education providers and won an award in 2021 for supporting Shipley College and young students taking T-Level qualifications.

Dr Bob Gomersall, founder and BTL Chairman, said: “I am proud that we have won a Queen’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade.  The technology we provide is used all over the world. Our people come from a very wide background, but they all have a passion for what we do and doing it as well as we can.  We have advocated and embraced remote working technology for over 35 years, and we’re delighted our technology has had a positive role to play in the Covid-19 pandemic by allowing exams to be taken at home in a secure way.”

The firm employs around 170 staff in the UK and US. In 2022, Surpass delivered more than three million tests to 78 countries around the world.

UNIVERSITY of  Bradford scientists have developed a pioneering ‘smart contact lens’ to test for eye infections in a quick and non-invasive way.  It is hoped the test could eventually be available to the general public – both in the UK and internationally – and it has been hailed the next big leap in the global fight against preventable blindness.  It could even prevent deaths caused by fungal eye infections in developing countries.

Professor of Chemistry at the University of Bradford, Stephen Rimmer, said: “We have produced a smart hydrogel which can detect two types of bacteria and fungus.  This device is made from materials similar to those used to make contact lenses, which would be safely applied to the eye. The microorganisms get stuck to the material and can then be analysed.”

Currently, detecting which bacteria or fungus is present in an eye infection is an invasive process where a tissue sample of the patient’s eye is taken under anaesthetic.  The sample is then cultured – which can take two days – before being studied under a microscope.

Professor Rimmer’s test would involve the patient wearing the lens for an hour, with the results determined soon afterwards.  “The current method is not a nice procedure and takes time,” he added.  “We are working on producing a visible colour change on the lens to show which bacteria or fungus is present. This could then be photographed and uploaded to a website for an expert to analyse.  The expert could then determine whether the patient needs antibiotics or further investigation.  Our goal is that someone on the street could do it with no training.”

Initial tests have yielded positive results and human trials will be carried out when further funding is secured.  The test could be vital in developing, tropical countries, where infections are often detected too late to save a person’s eye.

In India there has been a rise in deaths from mucormycosis, or ‘black fungus’, and people with diabetes and those who have been treated for Covid-19 with steroids have an almost 50% mortality rate.

Professor Rimmer is working with the world-leading L V Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad, India, as well as Dr Tom Swift, lecturer in polymer chemistry at the University of Bradford. “Eye infections in places like India can prove catastrophic,” Professor Rimmer said.  “We know our method works in the lab. What we want to do now is make it so someone can use it in a rural clinic in India.”

THE UNIVERSITY of Bradford marked 25 years of running its Executive Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Dubai by hosting a networking event at the city’s British High Commission.  The University was first invited to Dubai by Emirates Airlines in 1997 to offer its MBA to senior staff, and two-and-a-half decades later, the Dubai Executive MBA offer extends to the broader corporate world in the United Arab Emirates.

Founded in 1963, the University of Bradford’s School of Management is one of the oldest business schools in the UK.  The School has received several accolades, most recently being named Business School of the Year 2021 at the Times Higher Education Awards.

University Vice-Chancellor Professor Shirley Congdon, who led the event, said: “As one of the first UK universities to deliver an MBA in Dubai, the University of Bradford has already made a significant contribution to the socio-economic context of the UAE through developing responsible leaders.  Our senior management team and expert professors are working on plans to introduce new programmes to the UAE market, focused on supporting the region’s socio-economic priorities.”

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Zahir Irani, added: “I am excited to lead our strategic plan for Dubai and look forward to working closely with colleagues in our Dubai hub and local stakeholders in the UAE to extend our high-quality education offer to a broader audience in the country.  Our Executive MBA is well respected and, indeed, has been undertaken by many who have gone into executive roles.  We are currently working with leading corporations in the region to extend the University of Bradford’s corporate social  responsibility agenda.   The University of Bradford has over 145,000 alumni in 180 countries. We have global reach, and a global outlook, both of which are necessary to meet the challenges of the modern world.”

Shahid Baloch, Executive Vice President at Commercial Banking at United Arab Bank, himself completed his Dubai MBA in 2001. “I recognise the significant value of maintaining professional development and this is my ambition for the alumni here,” he said. Together with my colleague Dimitri Savvaidis, we have initiated the ‘UoB UAE Alumni Group’ to provide a forum for networking opportunities, and to provide continued learning and development via a series of events, organised in conjunction with the university.”

Other guests attending the event included governmental institutions, staff from the University of Bradford regional hub in Dubai and senior staff from the UK.

BRADFORD business leaders say Chancellor Rishi Sunak has held out fresh hope of a new, through rail station in the city.  He met with members from Bradfod Breakthrough, which represents big business and organisations across the district, along with the district’s five MPs, three Bradford peers and the President of Bradford Chamber.  The delegation argued that dropping the proposed Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) station was a “huge mistake” that could cost the district up to £30bn in growth and investment – and 27,000 extra jobs by 2060.

GRAEME Scott has been appointed Executive Director of Development at Incommunities, a 22,500-home association based in Bradford.  He joins from Trafford Housing Trust where he held the position of Executive Development Director for the past three years. Graeme’s appointment strengthens Incommunities’ commitment to develop a pipeline of over 1,000 homes for communities in the next three years.

Mr Scott said: “I am delighted to be joining Incommunities at such a key time. My aim is for us to become a strong and attractive partner, delivering innovative solutions to the housing and climate crisis.”

Rachael Dennis, Chief Executive says: “This is an exciting time for Incommunities. Graeme’s experience in strategic development, relationship building and operational delivery, together with his collaborative leadership style, will be pivotal in ensuring we meet our strategic aims and continue to thrive as we deliver our ambitious development plans to build over 1,000 homes in the next three years.  This new role will be instrumental in driving forward our new strategic priorities and two-year plan and will provide leadership by building a team focused on fulfilling our development commitment to help tackle the housing crisis.”

Mr Scott will begin in his new role in April.

THE UNIVERSITY of Bradford’s business school has been recognised as the best in the country.

The ‘world renowned’ School of Management was awarded the Business School of the Year at the Times Higher Education Awards 2021, which is widely regarded as ‘Oscars of higher education’.

Members of the School, including Professor Sankar Sivarajah (Head of School), Professor Amir Sharif (Dean of the Faculty of Management, Law & Social Sciences), Professor Vishanth Weerakkody (former dean) and others, attended a celebration dinner at Hilton London Metropole Hotel on Thursday, November 25.

Prof Sivarajah said: “This is a real honour for our staff and everyone who have contributed to the successful development of the School and continuing to do so. Much of the work for this award was focussed on the period during the pandemic when we were actively engaged in supporting students and the community, launching a number of initiatives that really did make a difference to people. Business school should add value to society and so this award means a lot.”

Professor Zahir Irani, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic, Innovation & Quality) said: “I’m so proud of this award and recognition and absolutely delighted for the team – but I’m even more delighted for Bradford. This is a powerful recognition by our peers in the sector that we are doing the right thing for our students, our staff and our community. Many congratulations to everyone who contributed to this amazing achievement.”

The School was shortlisted in September – its application cited numerous innovations and initiatives from the last 12 months, including, an MSc course in AI and Data Analytics to help mature students gain new skills and a ‘career booster’ programme, designed to give industry knowledge to students.

The THE Award judging panel stated: “The University of Bradford’s School of Management has focused on becoming an engine of economic and social regeneration and focused on helping graduates from disadvantaged backgrounds.This was an impressive entry, showing a very clear strategy”.

The news comes just one day after the University was awarded the coveted Queen’s Anniversary Prize for its world-leading work in developing archaeological technology and techniques.

TWO Bradford restaurants have been shortlisted for a national “Curry Oscar”.

Aagrah, in Thornbury, and Mumtaz, in Great Horton Road, are both up for an gong at the British Curry Awards. The awards, which make an in-person return for its 17th year after being run virtually in 2020, celebrates the best curry houses across the country. They are recognised globally and were dubbed the “Curry Oscars” by former Prime Minister David Cameron.