Communications agency TMS Media beat off seven other companies to win a contract to promote a £6million regional grant programme encouraging innovation in offshore renewable energy.
Great Yarmouth-based TMS will use its skills in publicity, social media, video, online marketing, events and exhibitions to promote the SCORE programme, which provides grants of up to £50,000 to businesses developing innovative technologies.
Steve Scott, managing director of TMS, said: “We were extremely pleased to have been awarded this contract against very stiff competition. SCORE is an important programme that’s designed to encourage small and medium sized companies in Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk to solve problems and drive innovation in the burgeoning offshore renewables sector.
“It’s a significant pot of money and our job is to ensure that eligible companies operating in offshore wind, wave, tidal and other renewable fields know that it’s there to help them bring their great ideas to fruition.”
The new SCORE programme is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and delivered by OrbisEnergy, the renewables innovation and incubation centre in Lowestoft, Suffolk, and in partnership with enterprise specialists Nwes, energy industry experts Nautilus Associates, and the national Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult centre. It aims to support 200 innovative businesses and create 100 new jobs. The previous £2.5million SCORE programme, which concluded last year, invested in 40 projects, supported more than 50 companies and helped to generate 70 new jobs in the region.
Johnathan Reynolds, of OrbisEnergy, said: “TMS Media pitched for this contract against some very strong competition. They have a great deal of experience in the energy sector and an in-house team that can deliver every aspect of the SCORE contract, so we are confident that they will be successful in helping us get our message out there.”
TMS Media was formed in 1989 and has a broad portfolio of clients. In the energy sector these include Fred. Olsen Windcarrier, Sembmarine SLP and the East of England Energy Group. The agency also works with companies and organisations such as New Anglia LEP, Nwes, Bateman Groundworks, Britannia Fire and Norwich Inns. Earlier this year, TMS was commissioned to provide publicity services for Great Yarmouth tourism.