The Marketing Agency
Research, brand and social media support from student teams. Free.
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From market research to digital strategy, get fresh thinking from students. It’s Free.
At a glance
Who it's for
Portsmouth-based businesses of any size, from start-ups to established organisations.
Cost
Free.
Timescales
September to May every year.
Best suited to
Marketing questions that need research and strategy, rather than implementation.
What's involved
A team of our undergraduate and postgraduate Marketing and Hospitality and Tourism students work to your brief, bringing current marketing theory and fresh eyes to a problem offering new insights and suggestions.
Helping you to:
- Carry out consumer and market research to inform a decision
- Improve content performance, engagement and platform choice through social media consultancy
- Develop clear buyer personas and define your target audience
- Understand how your brand is perceived and how it can stand out
- Analyse competitors’ positioning, digital presence and customer perception
- Explore SEO strategies to improve search visibility and organic traffic
Businesses we've worked with
Large organisations
Portsmouth Football Club, SHEIN
Local and independent
Portsmouth Grammar School, Croxtons, Gogglehedz, The Mary Rose, Right at Home, Keppel's Head Hotel, Seawolf, Atomik
Not-for-profit
Cash for Kids, Connor's Toy Library, Headway Portsmouth, Wetwheels
How it works
1. Tell us your marketing challenge
Register with the Portsmouth Business Support Services
2. Scoping conversation
If you’re a Portsmouth-based business, you’ll first need to register with Portsmouth Business Support Service. Our Shaping Portsmouth Marketing Agency Intern will then discuss your needs and identify the most suitable student project or module. The relevant module coordinator will get in touch to discuss the project further, and you’ll complete a brief outlining your marketing challenge for the student team.
3. The team works on it
Projects run from September to May
4. You get the work
At the end of the project, you’ll receive the students’ findings and recommendations. Depending on the project, this could include presentation slides or a written report. Some modules also include live student presentations, which you can attend to hear the findings and recommendations directly from the student.
Case study
Working with The Marketing Agency has been a truly positive experience. As a University of Portsmouth alumni, it’s been great to see the University and Shaping Portsmouth collaborate in supporting the growing business of sport. We’re all looking forward to the fresh thinking students will bring, particularly in helping grow the visibility of our women’s team at an exciting time for women’s football.
Before you enquire
The Marketing Agency runs from September to May, alongside students’ studies. If your need is urgent or tied to a fixed campaign date, this may not be the right route. Students can research your market and audience, analyse competitors and recommend an approach, but they won’t run your accounts or deliver finished campaigns. If your project involves confidential or commercially sensitive information, let us know when discussing your brief so we can advise on what information is appropriate to share with students.
Register with the Portsmouth Business Support Service
The Marketing Agency provides free marketing support to Portsmouth businesses as part of the Portsmouth Business Support Service. It is a collaboration between Shaping Portsmouth, the University of Portsmouth and Portsmouth City Council, helping to strengthen the marketing capability of Portsmouth’s business community while giving students valuable experience working on real-world marketing challenges.
Where next?
MBA Consultancy Projects
Leverage our students' knowledge and skills to benefit your business.
