Barrhead Travel will launch a Dragons’ Den-inspired competition next year, and has challenged its branches and head office departments to pitch ideas worthy of marketing spend and special projects funding.
Sales and marketing director Nicki Tempest-Mitchell told delegates at the Barrhead conference in Ibiza on Tuesday (1 October) that people "from all levels of the business" were invited to pitch ideas, with the winners poised to share a £50,000 prize fund to bring them to life.
Pitches will be judged by a panel featuring Barrhead head of PR and communications Karen Musgrave, finance director Stuart Taylor, product and commercial director Caroline Donaldson, and head of marketing and e-commerce Paul Whitters.
“You’ll need to be persuasive, understand your market, and tell us why you think the funding will make your team thrive in 2025,” Tempest-Mitchell explained.
Tempest-Mitchell continued: “Perhaps you’ve got an idea for an eye-catching advertising campaign in your local area or maybe you have an event you’d like us to invest in. More details will be shared soon, but I cannot wait to hear your ideas.”
The competition will be one of a number of initiatives marking the Scottish independent’s 50th anniversary next year, after it was founded in 1975 in the Glasgow suburb of Barrhead by Bill Munro.
“The legacy of Barrhead has always been about carving our own path with the industry and supporting our people,” added president Jacqueline Dobson.
The agency will also overhaul its branding next year to "propel Barrhead into a new era", one that will see it sharpen its focus on sustainability and accessibility.
"We’re here to ensure our business not only survives but thrives in 2025," said Tempest-Mitchell. "To do that, we always want to ensure we stay relevant as a brand and we have the right infrastructure in place.
"The project is going to really propel Barrhead Travel into a new era, [as we recognise] that stronghold brands attract new opportunities for growth and new customers.”
Barrhead will work with Brighton-based advertising agency Designate on the rebrand, which it said would deliver "a new look and feel" while maintaining its strong brand identity.
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