Martin Croft

A Brand & Creative Strategist specialising in place branding, civic engagement, and cross-sector cultural initiatives. Proven track record of delivering programmes that align stakeholders, shape narrative, and strengthen regional identity and engagement. Experienced in translating complex briefs into clear creative direction, strategic frameworks, and delivery.

Operates across brand, culture, and placemaking, collaborating with senior stakeholders across public, private, and voluntary sectors to deliver impactful, measurable outcomes.

Trustee for Brand Development - Mansfield Town Film Festival

(2026-04)

• Supporting the strategic development and governance of a BIFA-qualifying regional film festival.
• Contributing to brand positioning, audience development, and long-term growth planning.
• Working with trustees and leadership to strengthen cultural impact and regional visibility.

Founder & Programme Lead - Heartlands Creative Forum - Independent Initiative via Mansfield Place Board

(2026-03)

Conceived and developed the Heartlands Creative Forum as a cross-sector platform positioning Mansfield and North Nottinghamshire as an emerging centre for creative talent, investment, and cultural growth.

• Designed and led the strategic vision and programme, curating high-level discussions on creative economy, place identity, and regional development.
• Convened 60+ senior stakeholders across public, private, and cultural sectors, including civic leadership, financial institutions, universities, and regional authorities.
• Built and sustained a network of creatives, policymakers, and industry leaders, enabling early-stage collaboration and partnership development.
• Secured funding, managed delivery, and oversaw event execution and communications, generating repeat engagement, new partnerships, and ongoing regional momentum.

Brand, Creative & Programme Lead - Mansfield District Council & Mansfield Place Board

(2024-11 - 2026-04)

We Are Mansfield Brand Project. Led the end-to-end delivery of a £500k civic regeneration and place-branding programme designed to strengthen Mansfield's identity, visibility, and community pride.

• Directed brand strategy, positioning, identity, narrative, website and integrated multi-channel rollout across digital platforms, public realm signage, flagship events, campaigns, and cultural activations.
• Led a high-profile public launch securing BBC televised coverage and widespread media attention, generating a combined reach of 43.5 million and reinforcing the initiative's strategic regional impact.
• Negotiated and aligned strategic priorities for a diverse stakeholder group including, local government, public services, national media, regional institutions, and the private sector – including, council leadership, elected members, NHS Trusts, universities, Barclays, BBC, Linney Create, and regional authorities - securing long-term buy-in across public, private, and institutional partners.
• Oversaw external agencies, suppliers, delivery teams, and five-figure contracts across brand development, film, digital, and communications outputs, ensuring quality and consistency across all touchpoints.
• Aligned civic leadership, regional partners, cultural organisations, and community stakeholders around a shared place narrative and programme vision, building collective ownership and momentum around the brand.
• Established and developed a Place Ambassador Programme, engaging influential local figures, businesses, and organisations to champion and extend the brand's regional presence.
• Represented Mansfield within regional and national place-shaping networks, collaborating with councils and destination organisations to strengthen strategic partnerships and regional positioning.
• Activated the brand through major regional cultural events including Light Night 2025, Gaia, the We Are Mansfield Film Premiere, and the Heartlands Creative Forum, embedding the identity within public and cultural life.
• Helped shift public perception of Mansfield through a bold and cohesive civic narrative, contributing to growing recognition of the town's cultural and regional ambitions.

Founder & Director - DAO Branding Agency

(2020-12)

Founded and led an independent branding consultancy delivering brand strategy, positioning, and creative direction for emerging organisations across legal, architectural, creative, and civic-facing sectors including projects for Barrister Link, OSB Architects. Nominated in the 2022 Generation Next Awards for Inclusivity and Diversity.

• Managed end-to-end consultancy operations including proposals, onboarding, budgeting, invoicing, project oversight, and long-term client relationship management.
• Advised founders, SMEs, and leadership teams on translating business objectives into cohesive public-facing identity and communication frameworks.
• Led workshops and strategic development sessions focused on solving business and communication challenges through audience insight, competitor analysis, and strategic brand repositioning.
• Directed multi-channel creative delivery across brand identity & story, web design, campaigns, copywriting, and digital communications while managing multiple concurrent client accounts.
• Developed strategic expertise in branding systems, stakeholder communications, and integrated campaign delivery, later applied within large-scale civic place-branding programmes.

Marketing Executive - Quartz Barristers

(2021 - 2022)

Led marketing and brand development for a legal services firm, delivering a full rebrand, strategic marketing plans, digital campaigns, and stakeholder communications to support visibility and growth.

Branding & Marketing Executive - Hittboxx Studios

(2019 - 2020)

Supported the development of emerging brand identities and marketing activity across creative and commercial projects, contributing to brand strategy, content, and audience-facing communications.

Postgraduate Marketing Team (Work Placement) - University of Nottingham

(2018 - 2018)

Conducted a review of departmental branding and communications to assess alignment with student experience and institutional messaging.

Founder - Long Live 6!X

(2017 - 2019)

Independent Apparel & Visual Identity Project. Founded and developed an independent streetwear brand during university, using fashion and visual identity as an early exploration of branding, audience engagement, and cultural storytelling.

• Built formative experience in design, brand positioning, audience development, and creative entrepreneurship through self-initiated campaigns.

Master of Sciences - Marketing - University of Nottingham (2019 - 2021)

BA (Hons) - Film and Television Studies - University of Nottingham (2016 - 2019)

A-levels - Film Studies, English Language and Literature, Media Studies - South Essex College, Southend (2014 - 2016)