Catherine Frankpitt has a 20+ year career working in PR and communications. In 2020, she decided to launch her own business. Strike Communications works with organisations that are doing something positive in the world, such as delivering education, creating cultural opportunities and supporting disadvantaged communities.
Catherine launched her business just a few weeks before the start of the first coronavirus pandemic lockdown. A year into her entrepreneurial venture, she joined Bristol Creative Industries.
She tells Dan Martin about starting a business during the pandemic, how it has grown and the benefits of being part of the BCI community.
“I started out at the Mail on Sunday’s You Magazine as a 21-year-old. They had regular features called ‘My Last Good Read’ and ‘My Last Good Buy’. I phoned up celebrities to interview them. I spoke to Lloyd Grossman, Carol Smillie, Ulrika Jonnson and others
“I had a media degree and didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do although I knew it was on the editorial side of things. At the magazine most of the stories were coming from press releases and the copy was just rewritten. I decided that I wanted to go into PR because they were the ones actually having the fun writing the stories and coming up with the ideas.”
“While working at a big agency, the clients that I was really interested in were the likes of charities who had lean in house teams and were not able to maximise the opportunity to do bigger and better things, reach more people and get more funding etc because they hadn’t got the capacity and resources to do it. They need the support, but can’t afford the bigger agency fees.
“I’m motivated by working on communications that I think people need to know about. I work on a lot of causes, charities and culture where the comms plays more of a role than just selling. It’s not just a transactional thing. It’s reaching people that benefit from knowing about it.
“That’s why I decided to set up Strike Communications, to provide a full service agency offering but keep the costs leaner than a bigger agency.”
“I was director of communications at UWE. There are some brilliant people doing great things at the university, but while managing a big team, I missed being hands-on. I like to get stuck in and ask ‘what’s the problem?’, ‘what are the objectives?’, ‘let’s get creative’.
“I wanted to do my own thing so I went from running a department with 85 staff to running a business on my own during lockdown in my spare room!
“I’ve been a single parent with a single income for a while and I’ve always been careful with money. I took out a loan in advance of starting the business just in case something went wrong. That was the best decision I could have made. I very quickly needed it because I launched the business with two anchor clients but within a few weeks of lockdown, everybody went insular.
“It was scary to start with because I didn’t qualify for any of the support that the government introduced. All of my network was in Bristol and that’s where I had planned the work to come from but I had to rethink the plan and widen my reach.
“Eight weeks or so into the first lockdown people started realising that they needed to communicate more than ever. A previous boss once said to me that in a crisis, the first thing to go is the comms and marketing and the first thing to come back is the comms and marketing. She was absolutely right.
“Suddenly people were knocking on the door and saying they needed extra support. I worked with two London universities because their comms teams were so busy doing internal activities and keeping the students informed.
“My networks changed almost overnight and I teamed up with people in the same situation. My experience during lockdown shaped the business in a way that I didn’t expect. We were working with organisations in Devon, Basingstoke and London which we probably wouldn’t have done without the pandemic and everyone being online.”
“There are now three of us full time and two associates who work with us regularly plus a few others we bring in as required.
“In March, we celebrated our third birthday and appointed Scott Fletcher as our new creative director.
“I got some advice from a business coach who said in year one, you do anything for anybody. Year two, you start working out the things that you don’t want to do. Year three, you work out who you are. That’s absolutely what I’ve found.
“In terms of reasons for success, I’ve got a really good network because I’ve worked with a lot of organisations and that has been really helpful.
“Also, I very much operate on gut instinct and my idea for the sorts of organisations that I wanted to work with that I thought needed the help at a certain price point has proven to be true. Whether it’s dealing with COVID-19 or the cost of living crisis, there is always a need for support at a certain level and a certain price. While there are plenty of creative people in Bristol we have created our own niche.
“I find it very hard to do anything other than be honest and transparent. I have strong values and the people that work with us, whether it’s staff or clients, buy into those values. People look at how we talk about ourselves and see that we’re authentic. There’s an appeal to that. There are certain organisations that we just wouldn’t work with because it wouldn’t be right for us. There are others that we really care about and want to help.”
“It’s important to be part of an organisation that is championing your sector, listening and supporting you. It’s also very useful for learning, networking and meeting people.
“I love the Friday morning Wake Up Call webinars with bite-sized advice. The members’ lunches have also been very helpful and I’ve made interesting connections. You can’t underestimate the importance of peer-to-peer support and solidarity, particularly for the founders of smaller businesses like mine. By talking to others, it makes it feel less overwhelming and less of a lonely place.
“The Bristol Creative Industries jobs board has been really useful when recruiting.”
Watching Wake Up Call webinars, attending free member lunches and unlimited job postings are some of the benefits of Bristol Creative Industries membership. Find out more.
“You need to know what it is that you’re trying to achieve, who it is that’s going to help you get there, what they are going to be interested in hearing to help you get there and where you will find them. Your comms should frame around that.
“People get really bogged down by saying things like ‘we need to be on TikTok’ and ‘we need to be on Twitter’ but they are being led by the activity. You should take a strategic approach and know what you are trying to achieve and how the comms can support you to get there. It’s about working out who your audiences, stakeholders or customers are and where they are, whether that’s online, the media they read or where you can physically find them.”
Fancy joining Catherine Frankpitt as a Bristol Creative Industries member? Benefit from industry expertise, training, leads, curated news, kudos and more. Sign up here.
We all know that the shorter working week has had proven success in other countries. 86% of Iceland’s workforce, for example, have either moved to a shorter working week or have the right to request shorter hours. So as Bristol tentatively dips its toe into the sea of change with a pilot scheme rolling out across businesses in the city, here we are five years into our four-day working week with some (hopefully) helpful reflections.
Why did we do it?
Life is short and we want it to be excellent. Every bit of it. We’ve found that since allowing more space for our brains to process, stray, absorb and even rest (what a thought, we know) this has enabled better ideas to flow, calmer attitudes to influence the team and ultimately a higher level of productivity during the time spent at our desks. Don’t get us wrong, we believe in working hard to deliver excellent, refined work – the only difference is that we think it can be achieved successfully within four days. No extra hours, just four normal days.
How does it work for our clients?
From a client’s perspective, you wouldn’t know any different. At the start of every project we create a timeline that our clients are happy with and that’s the timeline that we work to. Emails are answered from Monday to Thursday and we’re here to chat over the phone on any of those days too!
How does it work for the team?
Every team member works the same four days which allows for collaboration and efficiency. What each team member does on Fridays is completely up to them. And then after a year of working for Studio Floc, all staff get paid the equivalent of a five-day working week for just four days. It’s our way of saying thank you for the hard work that everyone puts in.
A win-win
Excellence can be achieved in so many ways. For us, a four-day working week helps us accomplish this – and we don’t just mean in the workplace – but in every aspect of our lives. we would consider that a win-win.
Driven by purpose, we use creativity to enable the makers, equip the innovators and empower the world-changers. We specialise in branding, print and digital design.
Have questions about our four-day working week? Looking for help with branding, print or digital design work? Let’s chat! Get in touch at hello@studiofloc.com
All companies must pay corporation tax on the profits that they make. From April 2023, the corporation tax rate will rise from 19% to 25% (for companies that generate over £250,000). This means that instead of paying 19% of profits to HMRC, you now must pay one-quarter of profits if your profits are over the £250,000 threshold. However, the current rate of 19% will still apply if your company generates £50,000 profit or less.
So, the main rates are rising from 19% to 25%. Pretty straightforward…however, smaller companies will not have to pay the full rate. It will completely depend on your level of profits for the fiscal tax year. If your company profits are £50,000 or under, the old rate of 19% will still apply. Larger companies with profits of £250,000 or over will pay the 25% rate. Between these two rates, a system of marginal relief will apply.
This new system of ‘marginal relief’ is actually not entirely new, as it will work in the same way as the 2014/2015 tax year (the last time marginal relief was applied to corporation tax). With this in mind, you can use the following formula to calculate your corporate tax liability.
Let’s use the example that your annual profit figure is £100,000.
In this example, the corporate tax liability is £22,750. This represents a tax increase of £3750 and means the rate of corporation tax is 22.75%.
The changes implemented from 1st April 2023 impact the amount of relief that can be claimed, the types of activities that will qualify and the way in which businesses can claim relief. These changes have been introduced to ensure “the UK remains a competitive location for cutting edge research”, “the reliefs continue to be fit for purpose” and “taxpayer money is spent as effectively as possible”.
So, what are the numbers?
| Pre-April 2023 | Post-April 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| Loss-making SME |
Enhanced deduction: 130% R&D credit: 14.5% Benefit: 33.35% |
Enhanced deduction: 86% R&D credit: 10% Benefit: 18.6% |
| Profit-making SME |
Enhanced deduction: 130% Corporation tax rate: 19% Benefit: (up to) 24.7% |
Enhanced deduction: 86% Corporation tax rate: 25% Benefit: (up to) 21.5% |
| RDEC Company | RDEC credit rate: 13%
Corporation tax rate: 19% Benefit (after tax): 10.53% |
RDEC credit rate: 20%
Corporation tax rate: 25% Benefit (after tax): 15% |
It’s important to remember that the rate of Corporation Tax will differ depending on the number of profits your business generates in a fiscal tax year.
Along with being a great place to meet like-minded creatives, We’ll be screening the brilliant short ‘Swiped’ by Luke Collins & hosting guest speaker, Tom Brereton Downs!
This is an exclusive opportunity to:
February’s guest speaker is Screenology‘s Tom Brereton Downs. Tom dares you to take more risks, make more mistakes, do less of what you’re “supposed” to do, and more of what works! All within his purpose-built talk, “Ten Dangerous Ideas for Filmmakers”.
Find out more info and sign up here!
Like many businesses, Stuff has been through a lot of changes over the last couple of years. And this has led us to carefully consider the best way forward for the agency.
We’ve seen a shift in the way clients work with creative agencies, with an increased demand for creative support and expertise and a reduced desire for account management.
That’s why we’ve restructured and gone back to our roots as a creatively owned and creatively led studio.
Our clients still get the great service they are used to, but they’ll be dealing directly with the people that ‘do’.
We believe this creates stronger relationships, which leads to better work and ultimately, better value.
Our ethos is simple – We get creative stuff done.
Our friendly team of hard working specialists use our creative and strategic skills to help brands shine brighter and make our clients’ lives easier.
We work across the three core areas behind all successful brand communications – strategy, development and delivery.
Whether we’re creating a new brand from scratch, refreshing an existing one or delivering tactical campaigns and assets, our pragmatic approach provides realistic solutions with minimum fuss.
You can find out more by visiting our new website – https://wearestuff.studio/
Cashflow is essentially the lifeblood of your business. When we talk about cashflow, we are referring to the money in and the money out of your business. By keeping a close eye on your cashflow, you’re able to ensure that you have funds available for unexpected expenses, or for investment in the future growth of your business. 82% of businesses that fail in the first 3 years of their life do not have a cashflow forecast – so you can see how important it is to understand your cashflow to protect your business’s future!
In order to see the full picture of your business, you should track all sources of cash inflows and outflows. Inflows are things such as loans, investments, and sales. Outflows include operating expenses, investments, and debt repayments.
There are some amazing software options available for financial management that can help you track the cash in your business automatically. Using tools like these will allow you to spend less time chasing paperwork and going through transactions manually, making it easier for you to monitor and make informed decisions.
Alongside monitoring your current cashflow, make sure you create a forecast for the future. Add predictions based on what you usually spend and what is upcoming. This gives you a reference point to compare your reality to. From this, you can see if there are improvements to be made and how you could cut or increase spending if needed.
Developing a budget for your business is an important step in terms of monitoring the health of your finances. A budget will help you track your actual cashflow against a projected cashflow (what you predict to be your inflows and outflows). This allows you to identify any areas for discrepancies or areas for improvement.
Your pricing strategy will have a significant effect on your cashflow. By regularly evaluating your pricing strategy, and making adjustments as necessary, you can help to ensure you’re generating enough revenue to cover expenses and support the future growth of your business.
Almost all businesses will face difficulties in getting paid at some point. Having a credit control process in place is key. This could be anything from using software to send an automated payment reminder, to hiring someone to chase your cash for you. Even if the forecasting and pricing is perfect, if people don’t pay you, you’re in trouble.
Lodging & hospitality public relations specialist, Abode Worldwide, has appointed experienced agency leader and former Fleet Street journalist Neil Millard as Managing Director.
Millard joins the agency from Rhizome Media, where he spent nearly six years working across industries with a particular focus on property. Before that, he was a news journalist for some of the UK’s biggest titles, from the Evening Standard and MailOnline to the Sunday Mirror and The Sun.
His property experience — covering student accommodation, residential sales & development, offsite construction, fractional ownership, property investment, development finance, and mortgage lending — will dovetail with Abode’s six key lodging, living and hospitality pillars as the agency targets rapid growth over the next three years. Its focus will continue to be on technology solutions and enterprise level operators across short term rental, hotels, multifamily/Build to Rent (BTR), student lodging, coliving, and senior living.
Abode Worldwide was founded in 2017 by Jessica Gillingham and currently works with brands across North America and Europe. The company’s mission is to supercharge the authority and credibility of global tech pioneers and their customers as they transform the way we work, rest, and play. The team – which is hiring for new roles –does this by combining deep industry knowledge and extensive media and influencer relationships with continual fresh insight.
In the last year, for example, Abode Worldwide secured over 100 speaking opportunities for clients across podcasts, webinars, and conferences, in addition to hundreds more pieces of profile-raising proactive media coverage and thought leadership. To date, the agency has partnered with some of the biggest companies in the world of lodging, including ALTIDO, Bidroom, Breezeway, Boostly, Buoy, Guesty, Hostaway, Jetstream Hospitality Solutions, Key Data, Operto, PointCentral, Rentals United, Reside Worldwide, Revyoos, Safely, Uplisting, Xplorie and 3Sixty.
Jessica Gillingham, CEO & Founder of Abode Worldwide, said: “We’ve got big ambitions to be the premier global public relations specialist in the lodging, living and hospitality space, and Neil has been appointed to help us get there. He has a wealth of media know-how, fantastic leadership experience, and is a tremendous asset across the business and for our clients.
“He couldn’t join at a more important time, with the merging of the lodging, hospitality, hotel, short-term rental, and real estate sectors really picking up pace and we are excited to be at the forefront of this transformation for the technology solutions, operators, investors and their customers.”
Neil Millard, Managing Director of Abode Worldwide, commented: “The way we live is going to change dramatically over the next 20 years, and Abode Worldwide sits at an intersection where all these worlds collide. Whether it’s short-term rental technology, student accommodation, multifamily/Built To Rent, co-living or senior living — every one of these areas will see accelerating growth.
“This shift is happening globally, so it’s a magnificent opportunity for me to join an agency that looks beyond the horizon and already has more US than European clients. I’m really excited to join such a talented team. Jessica has massive ambitions for the company, and we’ll be winning business worldwide. A key immediate focus for me will driving our expansion and maintaining a laser focus on delivery for clients.”
For more information on Abode Worldwide, please visit abodeworldwide.com.
Boxworks is a unique workspace in the heart of Bristol’s Temple Quarter. Twenty shipping containers have been re-imagined into stylish, affordable private studios perfect for small teams. The studios, or ‘Boxes’, are super-insulated, come with superfast fibre and 24/7 access. Tenants get access to facilities at Engine Shed too, including lounge access, a communal kitchen, showers and meeting rooms
To celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit of Bristol’s creative community, Forward Space has teamed up with Bristol Creative Industries (BCI) and Circus Journal to launch Startup at Boxworks, a competition to win three months tenancy at Boxworks.
Aimed squarely at new businesses, sole traders and freelancers, the competition will provide much-needed support for the early stages of a business by giving the fledgling enterprise the space to grow and explore ideas, without the pressure of workspace costs.
The competition is open to all businesses with a turnover of £150,000 or less. To apply, entrants simply need to outline why office space would help take their business to the next level by submitting either a written statement, a presentation or a short video.
Full entry criteria is here. Deadline for submissions is midnight on Friday 24th February 2023.
Gavin Eddy, CEO of Forward Space, said
“I’ve loved seeing the countless businesses we’ve worked with over the years grow and find success after using one of our spaces. Helping to nurture the next generation of entrepreneurial talent in the South West is something I’m very passionate about too, so I can’t wait to see what interesting proposals we see over the coming weeks.”
Alli Nicholas, membership manager, Bristol Creative Industries, said:
“Bristol Creative Industries is thrilled to be partnering with Forward Space on this initiative. A three month Boxworks residency is such a brilliant opportunity for one of our members, particularly fledgling startups who may currently be working entirely remotely. Finding the right office space is key to the success of any business. Right next door to Engine Shed, Boxworks is the perfect place to get immersed in Bristol’s thriving ‘createch’ community; making new connections and exploring opportunities for growth.”
Simon Tapscott, co-founder and publisher, Circus Journal said:
“Circus is all about celebrating creativity and community in the south-west, and with a third of our readers running their own businesses discovering workspaces that inspire people to come together and collaborate is an important and recurring theme
“We are delighted to be supporting this fantastic initiative to enable the next generation of creatives in Bristol.”
Enter the competition by 24 February here.
Built environment-focussed comms agency MPC has revealed an overhaul of its brand identity, name, website and values, as it launches as Meeting Place.
Established in 2006, the business is one of the sector’s most established agencies, working with clients across the built environment to deliver positive change for new developments through planning comms and public relations.
On the back of several recent client wins, the rebrand coincides with record revenues for Meeting Place across its regional offices, a 28% boost in like-for-like revenues over the last six months, and a headcount growth from 26 to 37 over the last year.
According to Meeting Place’s Managing Director, Nikki Davies, the changes underpin a new direction for the business as it sets its sight on growth across streamlined core services – planning communications and public relatio
Meeting Place’s new website outlines how its planning comms team will utilise public affairs, social value and digital campaign experience in an effort to bring communities together to recognise the potential of the built environment.
And combining its sector knowledge with an integrated approach to PR, its public relations team will shape client campaigns to build awareness and understanding
Nikki said: “We’re thrilled with the outcome of our new rebrand, which coincides nicely with a period of growth across our teams, as we start the year on a strong footing
“Our new values – insight, inclusivity and courage – dovetail with our clearly defined mission to use the built environment as a catalyst for positive change; whether that’s environmental, social or economic benefits.
“We believe our streamlined approach of planning comms and PR will serve as a key differentiator in the industry, and one which champions best-practice and delivers for communities, clients and the media alike
“Whether we’re gaining support for a new hospital in East Anglia, homes for first-time buyers in Devon, establishing a housebuilder’s ESG strategy, or driving awareness through PR – we’re on a mission to use the built environment as a force for good.”
Meeting Place’s client roster, which includes Legal & General and Places for People was recently strengthened following several client wins, including Regal London, Longfellow Real Estate and several solar energy providers. Headquartered in Bristol, Meeting Place has staff working remotely in locations across England and Wales following a move to a flexible working model.
The agency’s Regional Director for Midlands, Western & the North, Helen Goral, said: “Having bolstered our public relations, digital and design offering, our expanded teams will be central to the company’s growth targets this year. Across the region, we have seen a significant increase in demand for planning communications expertise and we are working on numerous high-profile projects which have contributed to a 20% like-for-like revenue increase year on year.
“The range and calibre of our recent wins underpin our ability to deliver return on investment and impactful comms for clients. Despite the recent economic situation, we’re still seeing a lot of confidence across the built environment, with our breadth of services allowing us to take a holistic, integrated view of client needs
“It’s incredibly exciting to be starting the year on a high, with record revenues, project wins and a vibrant new brand. We believe the built environment has so much potential as a force for good and we can’t wait to see what 2023 brings.”
For more information on Meeting Place, please visit: www.meeting-place.uk
There are lots of brilliant events and other opportunities for creative businesses this February and March. See the full list below.
Events are either free or discounted for Bristol Creative Industries members. Some other opportunities are exclusive to members. Not a member? Join today.
However big or small your business, nothing has more commercial impact than fame. Join us in Bristol to hear Pete Bracegirdle share the incredible story of ‘Fearless Girl’ and what she can teach us about how to make your brand more famous. Book your ticket here.
Join Inkwell founder Chris Goodfellow for advice on how to create your own high-quality videos.
Wake Up Call is an online event exclusive to BCI members. Book your ticket here.
Join Rebecca Steer, Steer & Co’s award-winning lawyer, for this talk at Watershed in Bristol on data privacy laws in the UK and Europe and how they affect creative, digital and tech businesses. Book your ticket here.
Join Mette Davis for top tips on how to deliver a great workshop experience for your team and clients.
Wake Up Call is an online event exclusive to BCI members. Book your ticket here.
BCI members can book a free 30 minute call with Rebecca Steer, an award winning business lawyer. Book your call here.
The free BCI members’ lunch at The Square Club in Bristol is an opportunity for members to build connections while enjoy a delicious buffet lunch. Book your ticket here.
A networking event with a difference! A great opportunity for BCI members to make some new creative industry connections whilst exploring the countryside. Book your ticket here.
Come along to our freelancer networking drinks at The Square Club in Bristol to widen your networks, make new connections, discuss common problems, and discover potential opportunities for collaboration. Free for BCI members. Book your ticket here.
Ruth Clarke discusses six new big trends and ideas for how we look after our people.
Wake Up Call is an online event exclusive to BCI members. Book your ticket here.
The free BCI members’ lunch at The Square Club in Bristol is an opportunity for members to build connections while enjoy a delicious buffet lunch. Book your ticket here.
BCI members can book a free 30 minute call with Rebecca Steer, an award winning business lawyer. Book your call here.
Forward Space is offering BCI members with turnover below £150,000 the chance to win a free office for three months in Bristol’s Boxworks. Find out more.
Our friends at The Wow Company have launched BenchPress 2023, the largest survey of independent agency owners in the UK.
It’s the perfect opportunity for Bristol Creative Industries members to benchmark themselves against their peers and build a picture of the latest trends impacting agencies across the country. Find out more.
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