A NEW website has been set up to kick-start a £300,000 marketing campaign to boost Swindon’s image and attract more companies to the town.

Forward Swindon, Swindon’s economic development firm, has set up the website, www.swindon.uk.com, to promote the town to a UK and international business audience and bring investment.

The website represents the first stage of a three-year campaign and provides a range of information about Swindon as a prime location for business.

The whole campaign has a budget of about £100,000 a year, representing about 10 to 14 per cent of the overall budget of Forward Swindon, which is funded by Swindon Council. The website cost about £20,000.

The key sections of the site offer details on the economy and workforce, industry sectors and big brand names already based here, a property search for both domestic and commercial property, and an idea of Swindon’s lifestyle for those looking to move their families.

There is also a section on growing your business, which provides detailed listings of business support organisations in the area. Enquiries can be posted via the site, which will reach the business investment team within Forward Swindon.

Julia Falcon, head of communications and marketing, said: “We’ve brought together the information any company thinking about relocation might need – all in one place.

“We are hoping that the existing business community will back the campaign as it develops, helping to raise the profile of Swindon.”

The website was built by Swindon firms Reuben Internet and Jazzbones and will be promoted through PR and other communications media during the course of the campaign. Forward Swindon is also considering using other online marketing tools, such as a blog and LinkedIn.

Chief executive Ian Piper said: “It’s not the only tool that we have got and it’s not the only means of promotion but it’s a really key information hub, where people can come and find out about Swindon, which is why there’s so much information.

“And clearly, in a world now where somebody could be sitting across the other side of the world in China looking at investment options, the website is a fundamental way for them to be able to find out about a range of places. It means as much as they can find out about Swindon, they can find out about anywhere in the world.

“So we’ve tried to get the right balance between providing information and something that is a marketing and promotional tool.”