Luton Council Celebrates Success of Two-Year Digital Marketing Programme for Local Businesses
Luton Council is celebrating the success of the Luton Online Digital Marketing Launchpad, a two-year programme that has supported hundreds of local businesses to strengthen their digital presence, build confidence and grow sustainably.
Delivered by Let’s Do Marketing, the programme was tailored to meet the needs of Luton’s diverse and entrepreneurial business community. Following a highly successful first year, the Council extended the programme for a second year in recognition of its strong impact and high levels of engagement.
Luton is home to one of the youngest populations in the UK and a thriving microbusiness community. Many business owners balance their ventures alongside other employment and face barriers to digital engagement. The Launchpad addressed these challenges through flexible, accessible and practical support, ensuring no business was excluded due to time constraints, language barriers or lack of digital confidence.
Across the two-year programme:
220 local businesses were supported
71 new jobs were created
79 businesses adopted new digital technologies
Workshops reached 313 attendees (online and in person)
55 hours of one-to-one support were delivered
Support included daytime, evening and weekend workshops, on-demand training, translated resources and personalised mentoring. Promotion extended beyond digital channels, using door drops and local advertising to reach businesses not yet active online.
The programme strongly supports Luton Council’s long-term vision for 2040 by unlocking local talent, driving inclusive economic growth and strengthening high streets. By improving visibility and customer engagement, the Launchpad has contributed to increased footfall and online sales for participating businesses.
Spotlight on participating businesses
Several local businesses who engaged with the programme highlight the diversity and ambition within Luton’s business community:
Mrs Johals Fish & Chips, run by Kay Johal, is a traditional takeaway located on Salisbury Road in Chapel Langley. A staple of the local neighbourhood, the business serves classic fish and chip shop favourites, offering affordable and familiar meals to the community.
JJ Coaches LTD, led by Imran Rafique, provides private coach hire and transport services across Luton and the wider UK. The company supports group travel, tours and general passenger transport, operating as a modern and flexible travel provider.
Flying Start Luton, represented by Laiba Qazi, is a community-focused early years programme supporting families from pregnancy through to a child’s fifth birthday. It offers parenting support, developmental guidance and early learning activities, helping give children the best possible start in life.
Story Box Drama, founded by Sian Thomas, combines storytelling, drama and speech and language expertise to support children’s communication development. Services include school and nursery sessions, SEN-focused classes and interactive storytelling experiences.
By Michelle Bianca, founded by Michelle Finlayter-Oki, is a creative brand specialising in bags, homeware and original artwork. The business also offers a personalised alteration and repair service, combining craftsmanship with a strong focus on customer experience and community connection.
Feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive, with business owners highlighting increased confidence, clarity and practical skills gained through the programme.
“Stacey and Kerry are brilliant, delivering quality information on all the courses they provide. Every single time I’m going away with a lot of new and very well structured information.”
“Stacey gave me such helpful advice and strategy tips—it helped build my confidence and gave me a clear direction for marketing my business.”
“The trainers are very friendly and deliver the course in a way that is easy to understand… very informative.”
“A great initiative. The trainer matched her knowledge to the audience, from younger to older non-tech-savvy members. Very disability friendly.”
The success of the Luton Online Digital Marketing Launchpad demonstrates how locally rooted, flexible business support can deliver meaningful economic and social impact.
“Over the last financial year, Luton Online has been essential in identifying and closing digital skills gaps for our local businesses. This aligns directly with the Economic Growth Strategy for the town, as ensuring that the local economy becomes more productive is a core mission backed by the support given to organisations. As a Council, we want to build a fair and inclusive economy that creates opportunities for all, and this programme has been a great step towards that.”
Luton Council remains committed to working with trusted delivery partners to ensure local businesses have the tools and support they need to thrive.
To find out more about business support initiatives in Luton, visit: https://stepforwardluton.co.uk/