Tourism marketing event for Babergh District Council

Bringing Tourism Businesses Together: A Brilliant Day of Placemaking, Creativity and Collaboration in the Stour Valley

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of facilitating a placemaking and tourism marketing workshop for Babergh District Council - and what a fantastic session it was.

Over 15 tourism businesses from across the Dedham Vale and Stour Valley came together: large attractions and travel lines, artisan makers, accommodation providers, galleries, studios, cafés, heritage sites and creative independents.

The energy, enthusiasm, and willingness to collaborate were exactly what this region needs as we head into some truly exciting cultural moments.

Why We Were There: Constable 250 & Gainsborough Celebrations

2026 marks 250 years since the birth of John Constable, and the region is preparing for a major cultural programme to celebrate the landscape, artists and stories that make this area so special.

Alongside this, there is also growing momentum around Gainsborough’s legacy — opening the door to a shared “artists’ landscape” narrative that could unite tourism businesses for years, not months.

The big question we explored together was:

Can we develop a shared artist/creative-led theme for the region - one that businesses, venues and partners can use collaboratively over the next few years?

The room's response?A resounding yes.

What We Covered During the Workshop

The purpose of the session was to guide businesses toward a shared direction while keeping the conversation practical, marketing-focused and rooted in what visitors actually want.

Here’s what we dug into:

✔ Placemaking through storytelling

Looking beyond campaigns and tapping into the deeper identity of the area — creativity, heritage, artistry, nature, and the Stour Valley’s unique sense of place.

✔ Collective marketing opportunities

How a shared theme could help individual businesses grow, while giving visitors a cohesive experience across the region.

✔ Audience trends & visitor personas

How today’s travellers choose destinations, and what they look for in cultural, artisanal and nature-led experiences.

✔ The potential for a multi-year theme or campaign

Inspired by Constable, Gainsborough and the area’s artistic heritage — without being limited to “heritage marketing.”

✔ A business cohort or creative collective

Discussing how a group of businesses could work collaboratively, share resources, and build a stronger tourism ecosystem.

The conversation was rich, honest and full of ideas. With the right support and structure, the Dedham Vale and Stour Valley could absolutely lead the way in creative placemaking.

My Role in the Day: Strategy, Prep & Facilitation

This wasn’t just a turn-up-and-talk workshop.I supported Babergh District Council with a full suite of strategic and creative services to make the event impactful, cohesive and visually engaging.

The services I delivered:

• Workshop facilitation — guiding the conversation, keeping energy high, managing the group, and drawing out practical outcomes.

• Slide preparation & narrative design — crafting a clear, engaging flow to take the group from context → inspiration → ideas → action.

• Initial consultations with the Council — shaping the workshop content, purpose, themes and desired outcomes.

• Developing a visual identity for the event — including a mini logo, colour direction and on-brand slide deck to set the tone.

• Creative direction — building a story that tied together artists, heritage, visitors and modern tourism demand.

This blend of strategy + facilitation + branding is exactly where my work thrives - helping places, councils and organisations turn ideas into action with clarity and personality.

Why This Work Matters

Regions like the Dedham Vale and Stour Valley are rich with culture, landscape and stories — but often the missing piece is joined-up marketing and collaboration.

A shared creative theme or multi-year campaign doesn’t just “look nice.”

It:

• attracts new visitors

• strengthens local businesses

• increases dwell time

• encourages repeat visits

• boosts the regional economy

• builds a strong sense of place

• helps small businesses feel part of something bigger

When businesses come together with a unified direction, the impact multiplies.

Next Steps for the Region

The ideas generated in the workshop were clear:

✔ There is appetite for a shared creative campaign

✔ Businesses want to collaborate, not compete

✔ Constable 250 is a huge opportunity - but the ambition should extend beyond it

✔ A creative/business cohort could drive this forward with support

And I’m excited to continue supporting Babergh District Council and the businesses involved as plans develop.

Final Thoughts

Days like this remind me why I love placemaking and tourism marketing. Every business in that room brought something different - yet together, a bigger, richer picture started to form.

The Dedham Vale and Stour Valley have the heritage, the beauty and the creativity. Now, they also have the momentum. And I’m thrilled to be part of it.