Digital PR Luke Castle has joined the marketing and events team at creative and leisure community space SPARK:York. Castle joins the senior management team and will support both the marketing team and wider creative function.
Castle brings his experience from agencies such as Rise at Seven and more recently Manchester-based agency Jam, working with major brands like Capital One, Boohoo, Raisin UK, and charities like Manchester Pride to the role.
He will be working alongside newly appointed events coordinator Erin Byrne to showcase Spark and highlight the thriving hub of independent businesses.
The appointment follows continued business growth, with Spark York C.I.C having emerged as a community-driven initiative and idea, born out of a collective desire to revitalise an underutilised space in the city, back in 2016.
Castle said: “After working for agencies and really developing my knowledge with such amazing brands, I was drawn to Spark’s strong community position and talented team. I’m extremely excited to drive the marketing and events team, further showcasing the amazing independents that have built this city, but also working with amazing community groups that continue to make York a better place to live.
“Spark is an example of everything good about York. It’s the heart of a creative community, with traders looking to do something different and provide an experience that is unique to Spark. This is the place to experience York and its incredible community.”
Spark York C.I.C was founded by Tom McKenzie and Sam Leach in 2016, then two local 23 year olds. Both founders remain heavily involved in the project today, alongside the team. The pair were awarded Young Entrepreneurs of the Year in the CITI Microfinance 2019 awards.
