Rian Bailey-Weir

Rian completed his undergraduate business and public relations degree with LJMU in 2014 and went on to gain an MSc in Digital Marketing in 2017. The skills and knowledge he learned from his studies, coupled with several years of working in social media, propelled him into creating his own business, A&B Marketing based in Liverpool, an innovative content marketing agency. Leveraging his expertise and experiences, he assists business owners, and senior leaders achieve remarkable results through effective marketing strategies.

Not content with his own success, Rian wanted to give back and nurture the next generation of students looking to forge careers in marketing upon completion of their studies. Knowing the importance of gaining meaningful work experience alongside study, Rian started to work closely with the LJMU Graduate Futures project, providing expertise and opportunities for our amazing graduates to seamlessly find work after they complete their studies and gain experience at A&B Marketing.

One student Rian mentored as part of the project is Abbey Davies, who graduated in 2021 and is now a Creative Content Coordinator at A&B Marketing.

Graduate Futures is supported by the European Social Fund (ESF) and connects ambitious students and graduates with dynamic SMEs based in the Liverpool City Region. The initiative has already generated over 200 graduate-level positions in various high-growth sectors, from creative and cultural to digital, biomedical, and professional services.

Thanks to industry professionals like Rian, opening the doors of their businesses to LJMU, nearly 2,000 students have engaged with the programme, ensuring that they will be one step ahead after university and will stand out in an ever-competitive job market. And similarly, businesses like A&B Marketing have been able to see the immense potential that lies in collaboration with higher education institutions.

Aside from supporting LJMU students, Rian is also a keen advocate of empowering businesses, working collaboratively to achieve greatness, offering training to businesses large and small – from freelancers to global conglomerates. For more than four years, he has been delivering Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) recognised training courses, upskilling business professionals, keeping them ahead of the curve in the ever-changing world of social media and content marketing.