Overview
The Glasgow Business Growth Framework is an ambitious initiative designed to accelerate the growth of selected businesses across Glasgow through tailored consultancy support in key areas. Operated by Glasgow City Council, the framework connects high-potential businesses with expert advisors to help them scale.
Genoa Black was successfully selected as a delivery partner, a testament to our expertise and growing reputation as a leading business growth consultancy in Scotland. Our role within the framework is to provide strategic consultancy to support businesses in relation to business growth planning, sales and marketing, and internationalisation.
This case study highlights four distinct projects delivered through the framework, demonstrating the breadth of our support and the tangible impact for our clients.
Raven Controls – Entering the North American Arena Market
Client Overview
Raven Controls provides real-time incident management software, enhancing situational awareness for major events and venues worldwide. Trusted by global arenas and stadiums, Raven Controls ensure events remain secure and well-coordinated.
The Requirement
Raven Controls aimed to expand its footprint in the North American major arena market and required a dedicated marketing strategy to support both customer acquisition and increased engagement with existing clients.
Our Approach
We conducted in-depth research and hosted strategic workshops with Raven’s leadership team to immerse ourselves in their business and understand the nuances of their North American market. The result was a comprehensive marketing strategy tailored to North American prospects and customers, focusing on:
- Customer segmentation
- Messaging and brand adaptation
- Marketing channels and tactics
“As a startup tech company growing into North America, we worked with Genoa Black to create our marketing strategy.
The approach the team took to understand our business and target market was excellent. The process of developing the strategy was not only insightful but also very enjoyable providing us with great clarity in our approach.
The output of the work provided us with a tangible and actionable marketing strategy enabling Raven to concentrate on the implementation to further enhance our visibility and market entry into North America.
I would be happy to recommend Genoa Black in developing a marketing strategy.”
Ian Kerr CEO, Raven Controls
Iconic Resourcing – Building a Business Plan
Client Overview
Iconic Resourcing is a recruitment firm that has quickly established itself as a significant player in the Scottish recruitment market.
The Requirement
With a vision to grow revenues from £2 million in 2024 to £10–13 million by 2029, Iconic needed a strategic growth plan to underpin its ambitions.
Our Approach
Genoa Black facilitated a series of in-depth workshops to validate Iconic’s vision and structure a plan for achieving it. This included:
- Development of a 1-3-5 year growth plan
- Financial modelling to validate growth targets
- Market feasibility research for UK and international expansion (including UAE)
“The strategic support and work undertaken with Genoa Black have provided Iconic Resourcing with a strong foundation, clear alignment, and a future direction that has propelled our growth.
We’ve got a clearer picture of opportunities across the wider UK and international markets, and have successfully launched into new sectors, including marketing, legal, and tech.
Furthermore, we’ve enhanced our service offering by introducing talent solutions – a talent advisory and consultancy service designed to assist businesses of all sizes with strategic advice, from education programs to early-stage recruitment foundations. The entire process was both enjoyable and invaluable, and we loved working alongside the team at Genoa Black.”
Lauren Jow
Co-Founder of Iconic Resourcing
Glasgow Film Theatre – Validating a New Marketplace Venture
Client Overview
Glasgow Film Theatre (GFT) is a cornerstone of Scotland’s independent cinema scene and organiser of the annual Glasgow Film Festival.
The Requirement
GFT sought to explore the potential of creating a marketplace alongside its annual Film Festival – a commercial platform where films could be bought, sold and new creative partnerships formed. This venture would position GFT as a global destination for filmmakers, investors, and distributors.
Our Approach
Genoa Black delivered a strategic scoping project, combining primary and secondary research to create an evidence base for the new marketplace. The final report included:
- Executive summary and strategic context
- Market overview and landscape
- Competitor analysis
- Stakeholder interviews with industry leaders and potential partners
- Proposed marketplace model and structure
- Impact assessment on Glasgow, Scotland and the UK film industry
Northern Light Microscopy – Positioning a Revolutionary Product Launch
Client Overview
Northern Light Microscopy is developing a revolutionary compact microscope designed to disrupt and democratise access to high-quality microscopy.
The Requirement
Ahead of a major product launch, Northern Light required strategic support in clearly defining and communicating the value of its new solution – a compact, powerful microscope set to transform usage across research, education, and commercial sectors.
Our Approach
Through a series of strategic workshops, Genoa Black worked closely with the team to build the foundations for a successful launch. This included:
- Defining the value proposition: clearly articulating the unique benefits and competitive advantage of the product
- Naming strategy: developing a name aligned with brand values and audience perception
- Messaging development: shaping core messages that resonate with target audiences
- Visual identity: designing an impactful visual system to support recognition and trust in the marketplace
The result was a coherent and compelling market-facing identity that positioned Northern Light Microscopy for a successful product introduction and long-term commercial success.
Genoa Black’s involvement in the Glasgow Business Growth Framework has enabled us to help ambitious organisations unlock new opportunities and grow.
From global recruitment scaling to creative industry transformation and life science product commercialisation, our tailored support empowers businesses to think bigger and execute with clarity.
If you are interested in applying for support through the Glasgow Business Growth Framework, please visit Glasgow City Council’s page here.
