Visit Helmsley launches new online identity
An exciting new website and brand identity has been launched for the town of Helmsley in
the North Yorkshire.
The work was undertaken by York-based United by Design (UBD), which was tasked to
create an engaging, useful and inspiring website and brand for Visit Helmsley, following a
brief from the Helmsley in Business group – a group of independent business representatives
based in the town. The website, which is fully responsive on desktop, tablets and mobiles, is
now live at www.visithelmsley.co.uk
Helmsley in Business (HiB) was set up in 2012 by two business owners who felt that
organisations in the town needed to work more collaboratively to ensure the town continued
to thrive. It now has over 50 local businesses and organisations as members, and puts on
regular large scale events in the town, as well as actively marketing Helmsley’s unique
qualities to both a tourist and local audience. Following the work HiB has undertaken, the
town is currently shortlisted for a Great British High Street Award, in the final three for the
market town category.
The cost of the website was part funded by HiB membership subscriptions, along
with a Local Distinctiveness and Tourism Fund grant from the North York Moors
National Park Authority, which works closely with the group to help build visitor
numbers to the area. Helmsley is as an ideal base from which to explore the North
York Moors National Park, as the only market town within its borders.
Tony Webster, Helmsley in Business committee member and owner of Scotts Fish and Chips
in the town, said: “United by Design has given us a really exciting online identity. The
website provides a strong platform for the businesses and organisations within Helmsley to
compete online locally, regionally and nationally and attract a wider audience. It expresses
the uniqueness of Helmsley, and its location within the National Park, and the diverse range
of businesses within the town, giving visitors a brilliant representation of what is on offer and hopefully encouraging them to make a physical visit! The website will also be a useful
source of information for local residents, keeping them up to date with news and events.
We’ve already had compliments on it from senior people at the Great British High Street
Awards and Google Retail, which is fantastic for a small town in North Yorkshire!”
Owen Turner, managing director at United by Design, added: “We are passionate about
creating unique, creative solutions that produce results. Having grown up in and around the
North York Moors the whole team really got behind this project. We worked hard to
represent Helmsley to the best of our ability, creating a strong brand that will have standout
and longevity and developing a site that will compete nationally with other
strong ‘destination’ sites around the UK – in fact we think we have raised the bar! It was vital
it was a fully responsive site, giving the same experience on a smart phone as it does on a PC,
as the way people access information is changing all the time. We have exciting plans ahead
to continue to work closely with the Helmsley in Business team to innovate and really push
engagement and interactivity.”
More work by United by Design can be found at www.unitedbydesign.co
Ends
For further media information or images please contact: Shona Nutter on 07714 953919
or shonanutter@googlemail.com
Notes to editors:
Helmsley in Business is a group of 53 businesses working together to ensure the continuing
success of the North Yorkshire town of Helmsley. Members include: Antiques and Interiors;
Auntie Anne’s Bakery; Bella di Notte; Bisca; Black Swan Hotel; Bondgate Antiques; Browns
of Helmsley; Castle Stores; Carters Country Wear; Celebrate Country Cake Design;
Claridges; Country Dogs; Crema Coffee Shop; Cut Price Bookshop; Duncombe Sawmill;
Duncombe Park Gift Shop; Duncombe Park Estate; Elijah Todd; English Heritage;
Feversham Arms Hotel and Verbena Spa; Helmsley Art Centre; Helmsley Brewery;
Helmsley Galleries; Helmsley Natural Health Clinic; Helmsley Post Office; Helmsley
Town Hall; Helmsley Traditional Sweet Shop; Helmsley Walled Garden; Helmsley Wines;
Honeysuckle Cottage; Hunters of Helmsley; International Centre for Birds of Prey; JEB
Taxis; KVA Planning; Lazenby Visuals and Framing; Libby Butler Jewellers; Look Gallery;
Marleys Butchers; No. 54 B&B; North York Moors National Park; Pennita Fashions; Porters
Coffee Shop; RED taxis; Saltbox Gallery; Scotts of Helmsley Fish and Chip Shop; The
Feathers; The Stickman; Think Fresh; Thomas of York; Thundercliffes; Tulchan; Viva Hair
and Yorkshire Gifts.
Helmsley is a beautiful market town in the Ryedale District of North Yorkshire, with
something to offer everyone - and a great place to explore the North York Moors
National Park. It is popular with tourists for its characterful Market Place, historic
architecture, the wide range of quality independent shops, and the excellent selection of
accommodation, pubs, cafes and restaurants, many of which are award-winning. There are
also plenty of interesting activities and attractions available on the doorstep including The
International Centre for Birds of Prey, Helmsley Castle, Rievaulx Abbey and The Walled
Gardens. Helmsley also marks the start of the Cleveland Way, which is popular with walkers
and loops round the National Park to end up at the coast near Filey.
For more information log on to www.visithelmsley.co.uk