York agency helps re-open the city

York strategy and creative agency, Ideas Group, is supporting one of the UK’s best places to live and work re-open as COVID 19 lockdown eases.

Working at pace to respond to government guidance and prepare the city safely reopen in only a matter of days, Ideas Group delivered a transformational communication campaign for the City of York Council team to help businesses re-open and to encourage residents and ultimately visitors to safely return to the city to relax, shop, explore and work.

The work included creating a campaign theme – visual style and messaging – to inspire confidence that the measures the council and businesses implemented would help the city safely operate with infection control measures in place. Supportive online guides for partners, retailers, businesses and York’s residents and a range of informative and encouraging signage have been installed from Park & Ride carparks through to the city centre’s streets, snickets and public spaces, together with an animated video and social media content that spreads the word through all the communities. Aiming to encourage personal responsibility with visitors prompted to follow well promoted infection control measures, together with newly implemented infrastructure changes that make York’s footstreets and medieval paths safer through one-way or keep left guidance. The Let’s be York – safe, welcoming, considerate campaign actively seeks to challenge visitors and residents alike to consciously consider how to collectively help keep everyone safe .

“It’s been a real joy and a privilege to be working with City of York Council to re-open York for

businesses, communities and residents to enjoy safely.

“York has a rich history with over 2000 years of re-inventing itself and 2020 has been daunting, with the huge questions in everyone’s minds – how do we recover, how do we stay in business, and now, how do we reopen – safely and viably? We needed to create a campaign that could be informative and encouraging in equal measure and with a collaborative feel – very much with people and York’s values at the heart”, Nick Townend, MD Ideas Group.

“Over 420 businesses have already registered for their free support packs, with more registering all the time particularly as the hospitality sector prepares to safely open. The social engagement has been tremendous with the animated video already viewed 52k times and shared 94 times “, said Claire Foale, head of communications at City of York Council,

“By working together, the city will be safer, stronger and more resilient.”