UCLan appoints BJL and Mediacom
The University of Central Lancashire has appointed BJL and Mediacom North to handle its complete range of marketing services, bringing to a close a five-month tender review.
The wide-ranging three-year brief, with a budget understood to be in the region of £500,000 per annum, will take in everything from advertising, digital, media, through direct marketing.
Public documents reveal that eight agencies tendered for the business, although the identities of those who made the final pitch have not yet emerged. Phil Chapman, head of marketing and communications at UCLan, confirmed the appointments and explained what the university had been searching for. "We were impressed with the new team’s understanding of our consumers and marketplace which they transferred effectively into compelling, creative work. “As the higher education market becomes more competitive we also need agencies with strong credentials across the channels students engage with – from cinema to social networking.” The agencies’ first task will be to instigate an undergraduate recruitment drive. UCLan has over 32,000 students across its 500 undergraduate courses and 180 postgraduate courses, making it one of the largest universities in the country. BJL director Charlotte Thompson (pictured back left, with team) said of the appointment: “We are delighted. UCLan is an amazing place, their facilities and teaching are second to none and they have an impressive record on both access and graduate employment. Winning this contract gives us great opportunities across channels and the team can’t wait to get started.” Mediacom marketing director, John Marshall added: “We're obviously really pleased to be appointed to help develop UCLan's advertising plans - it's an exciting brand and we've got some great ideas to support it." Grisdale Lesniak Swann formerly held the creative account, with John Aylings responsible for media buying.