Case Study: Halo Creative Media
Growing Creative Impact Through Smart Start Brentwood
Halo Creative Media is a growing creative agency helping to strengthen brands through professional design, digital marketing, websites, and video content. After joining the Smart Start Brentwood Business Support Programme, the business gained valuable guidance and a business grant that helped improve operational capacity, invest in upgraded creative technology, and build greater confidence for future growth.
Based in Brentwood Borough, Halo Creative Media offers a suite of marketing and creative services including branding, website design, graphic design, digital marketing, and video content, helping its clients to communicate their messages clearly and connect more effectively with their audiences.
Working predominantly with small businesses, charities, and organisations, Halo Creative Media focuses on delivering creative solutions that strengthen visibility, improve communications, and help clients present themselves professionally across digital and print platforms.
“I’ve always had a passion for creativity and storytelling and so I started Halo Creative Media so that I could use it to help organisations make a greater impact through design and digital media.”
Before Smart Start Brentwood
Before joining the Smart Start Brentwood programme, owner of Halo Creative Media Judith Barretto Punwani faced several operational challenges linked to growth and increasing client demand.
As more businesses sought high-quality video, animation, and digital content, the agency’s existing equipment began to limit productivity and efficiency. Outdated technology struggled to keep pace with the demands of modern creative software, leading to slower rendering and processing times and reducing the ability to take on larger or more complex projects.
At the same time, the business recognised a strong opportunity to expand its services, strengthen its reputation, and increase visibility within the local business community.
Discovering Smart Start Brentwood
Judith heard about the Smart Start Brentwood programme through communications with Brentwood Borough Council. The programme appealed because it offered a combination of practical business support as well as funding opportunities designed to help local businesses strengthen operations, improve future capacity, and support sustainable growth.
“One of the most valuable aspects of the Smart Start Brentwood programme was the balance between practical guidance and financial support.” It helped me to build confidence in my business and reinforced the importance of investing in the business to support long-term success.”
The programme provided early-stage businesses and entrepreneurs access to business advice, resources, training opportunities and a grant programme which supported and encouraged participants to think strategically about long-term business development and future growth opportunities.
Accessing the Smart Start Brentwood Business Grant.
Applying for and being successful for a Smart Start Brentwood Business Grant, Halo Creative Media was able to purchase of a new high-performance laptop capable of handling advanced creative software used for design, animation, and video production.
This investment has significantly improved workflow efficiency, reduced rendering and processing times, and strengthened the agency’s ability to deliver projects more effectively and professionally.
Upgraded technology has also positioned the business to manage increasingly demanding creative projects and respond more efficiently to client needs.
Looking Ahead
Halo Creative Media plans to continue growing as a creative agency by expanding its services in branding, digital content, animation, and video production.
“Our long-term goal is to work with more businesses and organisations across Essex and beyond, while continuing to build a strong reputation for high-quality creative communication.
The support we received through Smart Start Brentwood has improved our operational capability and given us greater confidence in scaling sustainably and pursuing future opportunities.”
Advice for Other Entrepreneurs
For other businesses and entrepreneurs considering starting or growing a business, Judith’s advice is:
“Stay consistent, remain open to learning, invest in the areas that will strengthen your business long term, and remember that strong relationships matter. People buy into people, so stay connected.”
To find out more about Halo Creative Media visit the website https://halocreativemedia.co.uk/