STUDENTS from Wiltshire College and University Centre will be collaborating with leading organisations in developing Salisbury's visual identity.

International brand consultancy specialist Heavenly was previously appointed by the creator and partners of the Salisbury Competitive Brand Positioning initiative to continue the recreation of the city's branding, which will now be working alongside Salisbury pupils and their designs.

Students whose ideas are taken forward will have the opportunity to work alongside the creative team at Heavenly, including joining lectures and courses.

Roger Pride, managing partner of Heavenly, said: "We are pleased to be able to continue working with the Salisbury team and the city of which we are so fond.

"Salisbury is a blend of tradition and originality, therefore we felt the need to come up with an original way of developing the new identity which is why we partnered with Wiltshire College and University Centre.”

Tracey Bullen, head of Creative Arts at Wiltshire College and University Centre, added: “We are very excited to be working on this project and delighted with the opportunity it gives our Wiltshire College and University Centre Creative Arts students to gain real world experience, considering a live design brief and working closely with a prestigious agency."

Salisbury's refreshed focus on branding was first announced earlier this year, with project leaders wanting to use the city's traditional and original themes as part of the brand's revival.

The project, led by VisitWiltshire, has support and input from Salisbury BID, Salisbury City Council, Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership (SWLEP), Wiltshire Council, Salisbury Cathedral, Salisbury Chamber of Commerce, Salisbury Journal, and Salisbury Purple Flag/Night-time Economy Group.

Amanda Snowe, project manager at VisitWiltshire, said: “We were clear that we wanted any new visual identity or marque for the city to have true local provenance and as we developed the competitive positioning for Salisbury, the need to give the young people of the city a stake in its future became clear."

Heavenly engaged extensively with local residents and businesses to gain input into the development of the Traditional Original Positioning, and as part of the ongoing project the agency will be issuing a 'toolkit' - enabling businesses and individuals to use the competitive positioning in a way which best meets their individual needs and express what makes the city, as well as their contribution, special.

In response to students taking part in the initiative, leader of Salisbury City Council, Jeremy Nettle, said: “This is the next step of an exciting project and we are delighted to see Salisbury’s young people so involved. Salisbury is on the move!”

Councillor Pauline Church, Wiltshire Council cabinet member for South Wiltshire recovery, said it is "inspiring" that students will be aiding the project, adding: "Salisbury is looking to the future and we have lots of exciting new projects on the horizon that will help the city be strong and vibrant."