We’d like to introduce our new ‘Featured Member’ series – a monthly article where we showcase the amazing businesses and individuals within our member community by sharing their stories and experiences.
To kick it off, we caught up with the team behind Social Media Week Bristol, AMBITOUS PR, to find out a little more about who they are and what they’re up to…
Hi AMBITIOUS! So, tell us, what do you do?
We’re a PR agency delivering integrated strategic communications. Our focus is corporate and business-to-business. This is our strength; it’s what we do best.
Our clients include global private healthcare providers, education institutions, property companies, tech platforms and workwear. We work nationally and internationally from our office based in Bristol. And, our services include strategy & planning, reputation management, content creation, media relations, influencer engagement, social media management, events – online, offline and everywhere in between.
For us it’s about the thinking. It’s about the execution and it’s about the commitment to never being boring. Like our manifesto ‘If it’s boring it’s not AMBITIOUS’ our aim is always to slice through the white noise and deliver stand out work.
Who’s in the team?
Our fab team of 12 is led by three hands-on directors and includes PR consultants, digital and social media experts, copywriters, event manager, former journalists and a junior content apprentice.
When did you join Bristol Media?
Over six years ago…
What’s your favourite place in Bristol?
We’re a social bunch, so regular team lunches are always favourite places. Our office is just off Whiteladies Road, so we’re spoilt for choice. Bosco, Souk Kitchen, River Cottage and the Lido tend to get the votes.
What are you most proud of as a business?
For the second year running AMBITIOUS have been awarded Best PR Agency of the Year at The Drum’s RAR Awards. Last year was the first time we entered and so were thrilled to pick up the top national award. It’s the only award that is 100% client rated, so real testament to the clients we work with and how they value what we do for them.
We’re a big fan of gadgets, what’s your favourite office gadget?
Definitely our Alexa! We have our apprentice Izzy to thank for bringing that joy into our daily lives.
What exciting plans have you got coming up this year?
We had our busiest year last year and 2019 is looking to top that. We’re investing in growing the team this year so excited to welcome new additions to AMBITIOUS.
As the organisers behind Social Media Week Bristol we’re gearing up for a packed schedule of over 40 events next week. And, we’re finalists in a few awards (The Drum & PRCA) so some fun nights out too.
Whose work do you admire and why?
We’re loving what the guys at Tiny Giant are all about. Creative AI, voice & bots – it’s an exciting space and they’re right here in Bristol. They’re set on combining ideas with technology including a recent project creating the world’s first AI-created cupcakes!
What’s the best tip/trick you’ve learnt as a business?
We’ve reflected much of what we’ve learnt as a business into our values as they best reflect what’s important to us.
One of those is ‘People Matter Most’ and so we put being human at the top of our priorities. We’re talking empathy, understanding and kindness. To everyone. It’s about creating a culture that values opinions, nurtures talent and listens. Ultimately all work is about relationships. And, when you get it right, it can lead to great things.
If you could sum up Bristol in 3 words, what would they be?
Spirited, community, interesting
To find out more about AMBITIOUS or to contact them to discuss opportunities, visit their member profile.
Keep your eyes peeled for our next Featured Member, they’ll be talking about AI and bots, can you guess who it will be?
There’s still time to grab the last few tickets to SMW Bristol. With 40 events to choose from, the sessions cover everything from social media for small businesses, blogging and influencers, B2B social strategies and social trends to look out for. Plus, we’re founding event partners, so Bristol Media members benefit from 25% off keynote sessions at The Everyman when using the code: BRISTOLMEDIASMW.
Tuesday 16 July 2019, 12.30 – 14.15: Origin Workspace, 40 Berkeley Square, Bristol, BS8 1HU.
For our July keynote we’ll be joined by Steve Chapman with his new talk ‘You’re Beautiful Wonkiness: The rise of the outsider and the revolution towards non-sense.’ If you’re a fan of the weird, wonderful and downright wonky, this one’s for you.
Steve will talk about the role of the outsider, imposter syndrome, the pointlessness of labelling and the importance of counter culture. Keep your eyes peeled for his #FREEART which he’s letting loose into the Bristol community – and let us know on twitter if you find any.
TICKETS: £25+VAT for Bristol Media members // £35+VAT for non-members (includes a buffet lunch).
Don’t forget, Bristol Media members can take advantage of exclusive discounts on venue hire, weekend cocktails, waterfront suppers, and much more! Take a look at the member benefits or click here if you’d like to find out more about joining.
To access member benefits you’ll need to prove you’re a member, find out how to set up your mobile membership card here.
Pop in for a cuppa and claim 10% off at Caffe Clifton, an independent café set in the heart of Clifton. Find out more.
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Today is International Women’s Day, an annual day dedicated to celebrating the achievements of women all over the world. To raise awareness against gender-based bias, the theme this year is #BalanceforBetter.
While it may seem like a balanced world at times, with female prime ministers and CEO’s, the truth is women are often under-represented in business and their achievements can go unnoticed. At Bristol Media, we recognise the integral work women do within the creative industries in Bristol and feel it is important to celebrate and show our support. Fortunately for us, we have some inspiring women on our board of directors who want to highlight what International Women’s Day means to them.
For Kate Gorringe, Bristol Media Director and Creative Director at Mr B & Friends it’s about raising women up in opportunity and confidence to achieve the success they deserve:
“Not long ago I met a design director who quizzed me on how to make the leap from senior creative to creative director. I was taken aback that the more I talked to her about ‘putting yourself out there,’ the more she tried to talk herself out of it – ‘What if I can’t do the job?’ This just throws a spotlight on how we habitually doubt our own abilities. Thing is, she almost certainly can do the job already, she’s probably been doing it for years, but she’s shrinking back when we know the guys are pushing themselves forward, even if they’re less experienced.
“If there’s one thing I want women on this day to do, it’s apply for that job. You won’t be able to do everything on the job spec, you won’t get every question right in the interview – but guess what, neither will the men. Let’s redress the imbalance – apply for that job, we are all routing for you.”
Roberta Fuke, Bristol Media Director and CEO of Speed Communications adds: “Balance in all things just makes sense. And gender balance in business makes perfect sense. So why are women so under-represented and under-rewarded so often? Empowering, encouraging and enabling women to both effectively contribute to and benefit from their contributions, is not only good business practice, but critical to shaping a balanced and better world. Making gender balance a matter of fact rather than a matter of ambition must be the goal. I’m delighted to support #IWD2019 and #BalanceforBetter.”
Lis Anderson, Bristol Media Board Director and Director of AMBITIOUS PR: “Promoting gender balance in our business is something that we discuss openly and importantly act upon. The industry is changing, and we support that. At home, one of the challenges / opportunities I think about often is being a mother of a young son. I will never know what it’s like to walk in his shoes, as he’ll never understand what it’s like to walk in mine, but I take responsibility in my role as mum and a woman in helping him experience balance and hopefully playing some role in equipping him for his future.”
It’s not just the females on the board who are working towards achieving a better balance. Chris Thurling, Bristol Media Chair and Executive Chairman of Armadillo CRM, says “I have two daughters and don’t like the idea of them experiencing a gender-biased society. Women need to have the same opportunities as their male counterparts and I will support them at every step, so I pledge to celebrate women’s achievements, not just on International Women’s Day but in the future, too.”
What does International Women’s Day mean to you? Are you or your business promoting a balanced workplace? If so, we’d love to hear how! Connect with us on Twitter @Bristol_Media.
[Image: Roberta Fuke (top left), Kate Gorringe, Chris Thurling (bottom left) and Paul Appleby, Directors of Bristol Media]
Rebecca Steer runs Steer & Co, a small law firm specialising in the creative and tech sectors. Over the last few years Rebecca has run numerous successful workshops for Bristol Media members. This particular workshop is a must attend for Digital Agencies and developers who are involved in pitching for and delivering digital development and services projects. It will cover the traditional development models of agile and waterfall from a legal and commercial perspective and give helpful hints to ensure your pitch and associated contract negotiations are successful and minimise project risks.
The session will also cover other legal considerations around using consultants, freelancers and third party/open source software in your projects and is brought to you by award-winning lawyer, Rebecca Steer, who specialises in IP, IT and media law.
Who should attend?
Aimed at executives at Digital Agencies and individual developers who are involved in pitching for and delivering digital projects and who are responsible for the contractual aspects of projects.
The workshop will cover:
This workshop takes place at The Square Club from 4-6pm on Monday 4th March and costs £30.00+VAT for members and £50.00+VAT for non members.
Booking is via Eventbrite
Rebecca’s sessions are always very popular so book early to avoid disappointment!
On March 14th, Design/Build/Market is bringing together a panel of startup experts to discuss the most effective ways to build and launch an app.
The quarterly D/B/M event promotes collaboration between founders, designers, developers and marketers to devise better solutions in the tech industry. It’s run by CookiesHQ, an agency that turns innovative ideas into digital products.
Past events have focused on topics such as social media, VR and web performance – this D/B/M will feature specialists from the Bristol tech community tackling questions about research, development, release and everything in between.
The speakers will be TechSPARK’s Ben Shorrock, founder of Yena Ash Phillips, angel investor David Harris, technical director of CookiesHQ Nic Alpi, and a representative from startup hub We Are Growth. The event will be chaired by Briony Phillips, Associate Director and Scale-up Enabler at Engine Shed.
The CookiesHQ team will be giving away tips, tricks and insider knowledge – plus running a competition for aspiring founders to win a free discovery workshop.
Design/Build/Market: Building and Launching an App takes place on the 14th March, 6.30-9.30pm at Engine Shed, Bristol. It’s open to founders, developers, creatives, business owners, students – or anyone who’s curious.
Places are limited, so book your place now.
January is traditionally the busiest time of the year when it comes to looking for a new job and with the continued strength of the creative sector, there’s no reason for 2019 to be any different. Why not get ahead and treat yourself to membership of Bristol Media? If you’re a freelancer and you join before 5pm on Wednesday 9th January 2019 we will even give you 3 months FREE so you’ll get 15 months membership for the price of 12.
Creative companies regularly search our online directory and freelance database on SW Creative Jobs to find their next pair of hands for both freelance and permanent roles so give them a chance to find you with an online profile in our member directory. Your online profile is just one of the many ways that Bristol Media can help you connect with creative employers across the region. In addition we hold a variety of networking events and training workshops throughout the year to help inspire you and keep your knowledge and skills up-to-date. And if your CV is looking a little tired and in need of a revamp we can point you in the direction of our recruitment partners who will be more than happy to advise and help get you that all-important interview.
Here’s what some of our freelance members have to say…
“As an independent creative, membership of Bristol Media is a ‘no-brainer’ for me. A valuable asset in terms of the events and support they facilitate, but also a number of clients have found me through the website directory” ~ Carys Tait
“Sometimes being a freelancer can feel a little isolating, Bristol Media does a great job at connecting creative freelancers in the city, it’s a great platform to meet like-minded people” ~ Mark Sharman
“A number of businesses have contacted me after finding my freelance profile through Bristol Media. Happily, most of them are now regular clients” ~ Sam Tarbuck
At just £40+VAT, freelance membership will make you part of one of the UK’s biggest creative networks and could potentially open up limitless opportunities. It could be the best £40 you’ll spend this year! If you’d like to take advantage of this offer just sign up online here and we’ll add on your additional 3 free months and email you confirmation.
We’re delighted that Blair Enns will be back in Bristol in January 2019 to deliver a one-day workshop.
About the Workshop
‘Mastering The Value Conversation: Making Value-Based Pricing Real’ is a one-day workshop designed to help creative professionals increase their prices and their impact on their clients’ businesses through a shift to value-based engagements and pricing. The hands-on, exercise-driven workshop combines pricing theory with facilitator Blair Enns’ Win Without Pitching approach to new business development to deliver a unique learning experience designed to lead to immediate pricing wins.
“You cannot be an effective pricer if you study pricing alone and eschew some of the complementary skills of selling and negotiating,” says Enns, author of Pricing Creativity: A Guide to Profit Beyond the Billable Hour. The barrier to pricing success in the creative professions, he says, is not knowledge but skill. “You can intake most of what you need to know about pricing in about 90 minutes,” says Enns. “Then you need to apply it firsthand and practice having the conversations.”
Pricing Knowledge + Selling Skills = Value-Based Pricing Success
This workshop is relevant to any creative or marketing firm professional with P&L responsibility or the authority to set or negotiate price.
You will learn:
What better way to kick off 2019 than by mastering the value conversation within the first couple of weeks of the year!
This workshop will take place on Tuesday 15th January in the beautiful new offices of one of our Approved Legal Suppliers, Foot Anstey, 2 Glass Wharf, Bristol BS2 0FR and is priced at £595+VAT for Bristol Media members and £795+VAT for non-members. Email [email protected] to book your place. A 50% deposit will be taken at the time of booking with the balance payable by 8th January 2019.
About Blair Enns
Blair Enns is on a mission to change the way creative services are bought and sold the world over. He is the founder and CEO of Win Without Pitching, the sales training and coaching organisation for creative professionals, and the author of two books on selling and pricing for creative professionals. He is the cohost, along with David C. Baker, of 2Bobs, the podcast on creative entrepreneurship.
Blair lives in Kaslo, British Columbia, Canada and lectures throughout the world. He has spoken to dozens of conferences and organisations on five continents.
Digital Cities is returning to Bristol with a week-long programme of free, inspirational learning and networking opportunities aimed at developing the skills of both the current and next generation of staff working in the creative industries. The project has run successfully in Bristol for five years, bringing industry partners together to boost their region’s digital and production skills and acting as a catalyst for exciting collaborations within the creative sector.
Starting on Monday 26 November, Skills West, a project delivered by Business West and Bristol Media are coordinating a series of free events designed to help your business face a competitive digital future, called Open Doors.
Open Doors
Open Doors is a brilliant opportunity to see behind the scenes of this buzzing industry. Companies from around Bristol will be opening their doors to small groups of guests and sharing an insight into their business which is not normally on show.
This year we have 20 businesses on board who are offering various opportunities, from tours of their workspace and career advice workshops, to question and answer sessions with experts in their field.
All of the Open Doors events are listed here: https://www.businesswest.co.uk/grow/digital-cities-bristol-2018
The Consumer Products division of ITV Studios Global Entertainment and Nelvana Enterprises have appointed Bath public relations agency Highlight PR to manage a consumer PR campaign to promote the 80th anniversary of Babarthe Elephant in the UK during 2013.
Whilst celebrating this milestone, the campaign aims to re-engage fans with this classic book-based character, build awareness amongst new consumers of all ages, and create a demand for ITV’s planned product roll-out.
Highlight will use a mix of media relations, social media and product placement to support the brand, leading up to a birthday celebration and retail event in Q3.
In 1931, The Story of Babar, the first book in the series by Jean de Brunhoff, was published in France, however it was not until 1933 that the books appeared in the UK.
After Jean de Brunhoff’s death in 1937, his son, Laurent continued creating the books. Over the years Babar grew into a worldwide brand, published in 17 languages, with film and TV adaptations. Babar: The Adventures of Badou is currently aired on CiTV. Laurent De Brunhoff is still alive today, aged 85.
Global celebrations leading up to the 80th Anniversary kicked off in Paris in December 2011 with a retrospective exhibition of artworks and memorabilia spanning eight decades. This was followed by a month of celebrations in New York in November 2012, which included in-store events at Saks Fifth Avenue and the eponymous bookstore, Books of Wonder, as well as the costume character closing the New York Stock Exchange.
Alison Vellacott, director of Highlight PR, comments:
“I grew up with the Babar stories and have always loved the character – like thousands of people across the UK. We are delighted to be working with Nelvana and ITV Studios Global Entertainment to promote this anniversary, whilst creating a platform for the first phase of the consumer re-launch. The new Babar vintage range reflects the essence of the beautiful artwork in the books, and chimes with the current trend for stylish, retro interiors.”
Maggy Harris, Head of Brand Marketing, Consumer Products at ITV Studios Global Entertainment said: “Highlight PR has specialist expertise and experience in promoting classic book-based licensed characters, which made the agency an obvious hire on this project. We look forward to working with them and Nelvana on an exciting re-launch of Babar in the UK this year.”
Antoine Erligmann, VP Licensing Europe, Nelvana Enterprises, said:
“Babar is an extraordinarily well-loved literary classic – not just in his native France but throughout the world. We believe there is great potential for the brand in the UK; this PR campaign aims to kickstart consumer awareness, prior to the product sell-through.”
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