Ulster University | Enterprise Placement Year 2024–2025
Introduction
CraigMillar | Digital Marketing & Web Design, operating under CraigMillar Enterprises Ltd, is a creative digital agency based in Benburb, Northern Ireland. Specialising in website design, SEO, social media management, and branding, the business supports small to medium-sized enterprises across Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and beyond. With a hands-on, founder-led approach, I’ve developed digital solutions for over 110 clients ranging from hospitality venues and trade suppliers to wellness brands and agricultural firms. Every client receives a tailored experience through tools like Squarespace, Shopify, Canva Pro, Google Analytics, and Meta Business Suite — supported by a dedicated client portal offering performance reports, invoice access, and content calendars. Over the past year, I’ve secured multiple grants, including the Ulster Enterprise Bursary and SWEF Enterprise Grant, while also being recognised as Ulster University’s Best Social Media Management & Web Design Company of 2023.
Founded on the mission of making digital marketing accessible, strategic, and personal, my vision is to become Ireland’s go-to digital partner for SMEs. I aim to continue expanding the business through monthly service packages, custom-built websites, and authentic brand storytelling. Whether designing a powerful online shop, launching a rural business into the digital space, or mentoring future entrepreneurs through programs like the UMD Summer Institute, my goal is to combine creative flair with commercial strategy. As I grow CraigMillar Enterprises Ltd, I remain committed to community impact, client results, and building a brand that puts people at the heart of digital success.
When I applied for the Enterprise Placement Year, I was already running a growing digital marketing business with 3 full-time staff and 5 freelancers supporting projects across web design, social media, and branding. On paper, things were going well — but I knew there was more I wanted to learn, refine, and achieve. I saw EPY as an opportunity to step back from the day-to-day grind and strategically work on the business instead of always working in it. My goal was to tighten up operations, formalise my processes, improve my financial planning, and position CraigMillar | Digital Marketing & Web Design for long-term sustainability. I didn’t want to treat EPY as a break from business — I wanted to use it as a launchpad to turn my growing brand into a scalable, structured company with clear goals, smarter systems, and an even stronger reputation.
💼 What my Business Does?
CraigMillar | Digital Marketing & Web Design is a multi-service digital agency focused on helping small-to-medium-sized businesses grow online through:
🌐 Website Design & Development
High-performing, SEO-optimised websites built on Squarespace, Shopify, and GoDaddy Website Builder, tailored to business goals.📣 Social Media Management
Strategic content creation, scheduling, and engagement across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok & LinkedIn, with a focus on local reach and real engagement.📍 Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
Local SEO strategies for Google My Business, on-page optimisation, keyword targeting, and backend improvements.🧾 Marketing Campaigns & Brand Development
From launch strategies to seasonal promotions, we build eye-catching visuals and brand stories that drive leads and loyalty.📊 Client Reporting & Portals
Clients get access to a custom-built portal to track campaign performance, receive invoices, and view their content calendars.
Craig Millar Representing Ulster University Business School at NI Social Media Awards 2024.
🔭 Vision Statement
To build a leading multi-brand creative enterprise that empowers businesses and individuals to grow online, tell their story, and connect with the world. What started as CraigMillar | Digital Marketing & Web Design has grown into CraigMillar Enterprises Ltd, a dynamic umbrella of ventures: CraigMillar (digital services), WebsiteIreland.co.uk (web solutions for Irish SMEs), The Journey to Self (a global self-discovery retreat), and the upcoming EasyWebsites.com — a revolutionary website editor powered by AI, created in collaboration with Stelios, founder of the easy® brand. Our vision is to make professional digital tools accessible to all, and to continue growing from a small village in Northern Ireland to global impact — one idea, one brand, and one voice at a time.
🎯 Mission Statement
At CraigMillar Enterprises Ltd, our mission is to inspire possibility and deliver practical, powerful digital solutions for businesses of every size. Whether it’s building standout websites under CraigMillar, helping Irish businesses (and businesses that just want an Irish Website!), thrive through WebsiteIreland.co.uk, guiding individuals through transformation with The Journey to Self, or launching lightning-fast AI-built websites via EasyWebsites.com, our work is driven by purpose. But behind every service lies a personal story — of resilience, belief, and gratitude. Coming from a background where university was never encouraged, and facing bullying in school, I found a place at Ulster University that changed everything. Their support, mentorship, and belief in me helped turn self-doubt into self-employment. Now, through every brand I build, I carry a passion not just for business — but for proving that with the right support, anyone can rise, create, and succeed.
💼 What my Business Does?
CraigMillar | Digital Marketing & Web Design is a multi-service digital agency focused on helping small-to-medium-sized businesses grow online through:
🌐 Website Design & Development
High-performing, SEO-optimised websites built on Squarespace, Shopify, and GoDaddy Website Builder, tailored to business goals.📣 Social Media Management
Strategic content creation, scheduling, and engagement across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok & LinkedIn, with a focus on local reach and real engagement.📍 Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
Local SEO strategies for Google My Business, on-page optimisation, keyword targeting, and backend improvements.🧾 Marketing Campaigns & Brand Development
From launch strategies to seasonal promotions, we build eye-catching visuals and brand stories that drive leads and loyalty.📊 Client Reporting & Portals
Clients get access to a custom-built portal to track campaign performance, receive invoices, and view their content calendars.
My Enterprise Placement Year Timeline
📘 Business Strategy & ABC of My Business Plan
During one of our first EPY workshops, we explored the foundations of building a business that reflects who we are and what we stand for. The session focused on the ABC of business planning — Audience, Brand, and Communication — and really encouraged us to think deeper about our values, our messaging, and the experience we offer clients.
We looked at how important it is to build trust early. As a digital marketing and web design business, I realised that clients aren’t just buying a website or a social media strategy — they’re buying the way I make them feel: supported, understood, and confident in their business. This session made me take a step back and re-evaluate my client journey, tone of voice, and how I communicate across every platform. I started refining proposals, redesigning my onboarding, and improving the clarity of my brand story across CraigMillar, WebsiteIreland.co.uk, and The Journey to Self. This workshop helped me position my business not just as a service provider — but as a partner to my clients' growth.
🔺 The Story Behind the CraigMillar Brand
One of the most impactful EPY workshops focused on personal branding — the idea that your business should reflect not just what you do, but who you are. It pushed me to look beyond colours and logos, and instead ask: what’s the story I want people to feel when they interact with my brand?
The CraigMillar logo tells that story. The bold triangle represents a mountain, symbolising progress, strength, and the journey every business takes to reach new heights — and it's a direct reflection of my mission: to lift brands upward through digital design, marketing, and strategy. But the design has personal roots too. The angled red line on the left is inspired by my first ever job at Spar Tree — a reminder of where it all began, and the work ethic that’s stayed with me from stacking shelves to building a business.
Today, that triangle also represents the three ventures under CraigMillar Enterprises Ltd:
▲ CraigMillar — Creative services in digital marketing & web design
▲ WebsiteIreland.co.uk — Giving Irish businesses visibility and voice online
▲ The Journey to Self — A transformational retreat program for personal growth
Together, they form a peak — a strong, ambitious, and unified brand that’s grounded in where I came from, and built to take others forward. For me, branding isn’t just visual — it’s personal. And this brand? It’s me, built from the ground up.