A NEW website and brand identity has been launched for Helmsley.

The work was undertaken by York-based United by Design (UBD), which was asked to create an engaging, useful and inspiring website and brand for Visit Helmsley, following a brief from the Helmsley in Business (HiB) group – whose members include independent business representatives based in the town.

HiB was set up in 2012 by two business owners who felt that organisations in the town needed to work more collaboratively to ensure the town continued to thrive.

It now has over 50 local businesses and organisations as members, and puts on regular large scale events in the town, as well as actively marketing Helmsley’s unique qualities to both a tourist and local audience.

Following the work HiB has undertaken, the town is currently shortlisted for a Great British High Street Award, in the final three for the market town category.

The cost of the website was part funded by HiB membership subscriptions, along with a Local Distinctiveness and Tourism Fund grant from the North York Moors National Park Authority, which works closely with the group to help build visitor numbers to the area.

Tony Webster, Helmsley in Business committee member and owner of Scotts Fish and Chips in the town, said: “United by Design has given us a really exciting online identity. The website provides a strong platform for the businesses and organisations within Helmsley to compete online locally, regionally and nationally and attract a wider audience.

"It expresses the uniqueness of Helmsley, and its location within the National Park, and the diverse range of businesses within the town, giving visitors a brilliant representation of what is on offer - and hopefully encouraging them to make a physical visit.

"The website will also be a useful source of information for local residents, keeping them up to date with news and events. We’ve already had compliments on it from senior people at the Great British High Street Awards and Google Retail, which is fantastic for a small town in North Yorkshire.”

Owen Turner, managing director at United by Design, said: “We are passionate about creating unique, creative solutions that produce results. Having grown up in and around the North York Moors the whole team really got behind this project. We worked hard to represent Helmsley to the best of our ability, creating a strong brand that will have standout and longevity and developing a site that will compete nationally with other strong ‘destination’ sites around the UK – in fact we think we have raised the bar.

Owen added: "It was vital it was a fully responsive site, giving the same experience on a smart phone as it does on a PC, as the way people access information is changing all the time. We have exciting plans ahead to continue to work closely with the Helmsley in Business team to innovate and really push engagement and interactivity.”

The website, which is fully responsive on desktop, tablets and mobiles, is now live at www.visithelmsley.co.uk