Small business of the year finalist teams up with Firstport to provide in-kind marketing support
Edinburgh based tech start-up, FUTRSM.PL, have launched a new partnership with Firstport to provide free marketing support packages to Social Enterprises across Scotland.
Announced last week as a finalist for GBEA Small business of the Year, FUTRSM.PL is an online marketing strategy builder designed to help for-purpose companies, 2-3 years into their business journey, be more efficient and targetted with their marketing efforts.
Filling a gap between bringing in an experienced consultancy and onboarding a recent graduate, the platform empowers growth businesses to develop their own marketing strategies through a series of online tools, with the added benefit of consultant support available via video call for sense checking and team support.
For every 10 sign-ups, Futrsmpl will provide 1 free support package for Firstport to allocate to a social enterprise in need of marketing support.
Lucinda Bray, Founder of Futrsmpl said: “Supporting companies with a social purpose has always been a key driver, however as a consultancy it just wasn’t viable, the time required linked with the cost of living meant we were having to charge more than was affordable to this kind of business. With these online tools, we can provide more targetted cost-effective support and we are delighted to be able give back where we can. This, along with being announced as a finalist for GBEA Small Business of the Year Scotland and our progress towards becoming a BCorp is a fantastic statement of our team’s commitment to purpose.”
“Through our Futrsmpl Brand Canvas and Online Strategy Builder our aim is to give business owners more confidence in their own skills and knowledge, to demonstrate how integral good marketing is to the wider business and to educate them on how focusing on customers is always key. Factors that are now even more important for businesses following lockdown”
Josiah Lockhart, CEO of Firstport said: “Marketing is one of the biggest areas of need for Social Enterprises in Scotland, the tools developed by Futrsmpl provide an affordable way for businesses to better understand and communicate their brand. As well as their generous provision of in-kind memberships, we are looking forward to training & recommending Futrsmpl’s tools to our latest Launch Me Cohort.”
Futrsmpl have also announced partnerships with both AAI-employability and Start-up Grind Scotland demonstrating the need for such tools within the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Joy Lewis, CEO of AAI-employability said: "We see a need for this in the entrepreneurial ecosystem almost daily. So many businesses struggle with getting their marketing proposition right in the early stages of growth, and this platform empowers both Founders and their team to take ownership of their message in one comprehensive and accessible platform."
Founder of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, Francesca James, said: “Given what we’ve seen over the past few months, the 2020 edition of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards is arguably the most important. Now, more than ever, it’s vital that we celebrate the achievements of the country’s entrepreneurs and their determination in the face of such adversity.
“So many entrepreneurs will have been fighting to keep their business afloat over the past few months, and indeed will be over the coming months. That’s exactly why we launched the Pivot category; to recognise those that have managed to adapt and thrive throughout this period.
“I want to send my congratulations to each and every single entrepreneur who has made it to the shortlist this year, and I wish them the very best of luck for the regional finals.”
Anne Boden, founder and CEO of Starling Bank, said: “These entrepreneurs have gone above and beyond in order to allow their businesses to flourish in extremely difficult times and it is a true honour to congratulate each and every one of them.”
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Notes to Editors:
1. Images attached: Lucinda Bray, Josiah Lockhart
2. Interviews available on request contact Lucinda on 07903320785 or lucinda@futrsmpl.com
3. Lucinda Bray, 15 years experience marketing with the likes of Redbull, Tesco, & Tui founded Futrsmpl as a consultancy in 2017, over the past year the company has pivoted to provide an accessible affordable online alternative to the traditional consultancy model.
4. GBEA- Great Britsh Entrepreneur Awards and sponsored by Starling Bank. Regional finals will be held online on the 23rd of September
5. Josiah Lockhart is Chief Executive at Firstport, Board Chair of FirstImpact, Committee Member Scottish Land Fund.
6. Firstport is a registered charity and started work in 2007 to help social entrepreneurs across the whole of Scotland bring forward their ideas and to make them happen. Since then they have grown and evolved, supported thousands of individuals and distributed millions of pounds of start-up funding.
7. AAI - Employability is the ethical alternative to expensive, online (and thus faceless) recruitment agencies. With people, relationships and cultural fit at the core of their work, they have a 97% successful placement rate.