The Challenge
George Brown College sought to increase awareness of its cleantech online certificate programs and strengthen its reputation in a rapidly growing education sector. The challenge was to build visibility for these offerings and reinforce the college’s leadership in delivering accessible, industry-relevant training in the clean energy space.
Our Response
Tartanbond developed and executed a strategic communications approach to elevate George Brown College’s cleantech programs. We delivered targeted media relations, clear messaging, and proactive storytelling to highlight the accessibility and relevance of the online certificates. Through earned media outreach and strategic positioning, we helped increase program visibility and reinforced George Brown College’s role as a leader in cleantech training.
Impact
- Strategic Storytelling: We tapped into the momentum of the cleantech sector and the urgent need for skilled trades to meet growing demand. Through a dedicated storytelling session, we aligned messaging around the skilled trades labour shortage, positioning George Brown College’s programs as part of the solution.
- Earned Media: To maximize relevance and reach, we curated tailored media lists across national, regional, and trade outlets. Custom pitches were developed for each, emphasizing the programs’ value within the broader cleantech and education narratives.
- High-quality mass media coverage in 2025 secured across National Observer, Maclean's College Guide (Fall 2025), and CBC Metro Morning, marking a step up from prior years, which focused mainly on specialized trade media.
- Targeted trade media exposure through Daily Commercial News and Ontario Construction News, maintaining and growing the foundation laid out in earlier campaigns.
- Thought Leadership: We supported the development of an op-ed by the Dean of Continuous Learning at George Brown College, highlighting actionable solutions for modernizing trades education, with a focus on accessibility through George Brown College’s online and on-demand programs.
