Target comes up trumps for Sue Ryder in Leckhampton

(L-R) Sue Ryder fundraiser Pam Sewell,
Target Chief Executive Colin Spencer,
and Target PR Managing Director Sarah Bryars.

Target rounded off a year of support for Sue Ryder with a £100 Christmas bonus.

The company has raised almost £1,500 for the hospice so far, and decided to make a donation to its favourite charity instead of sending Christmas cards.

"Hospice care touches every family at some time in their lives, and we're lucky to have the Sue Ryder hospice in Leckhampton on our doorstep," said MD of Target PR, Sarah Bryars.

Fundraiser for the hospice, Pam Sewell, was grateful for the cash. "The ongoing support from companies like Target is invaluable. We couldn't survive without them,"  she said.

The hospice in Church Road has to raise £1 million a year.

Target takes up Echo and Citizen's Apprentice Challenge

Target is taking up the Echo and Citizen's challenge and hiring its first apprentice.

The PR and marketing company in Cheltenham has teamed up with Cirencester College to create a new position for a full-time Apprentice PR and Marketing Assistant who will spend a day a week studying.

It is the first year that Cirencester College has run a marketing apprenticeship, leading to a Chartered Institute of Marketing CIM certificate and a Level 3 NVQ in marketing after 12 months.

The MD of Target PR, Sarah Bryars, said: "We were spurred on by the Echo and Citizen's Apprenticeship Challenge. It's a great idea and, thanks to the college, it's the first time we've been able to consider offering a trainee the chance to study marketing."

She added that marketing is traditionally a graduate profession. "But with young people increasingly looking for alternatives to university, it was time to re-think our approach to recruiting new talent.

"It's up to businesses like ours to make sure we open the door to trainees as the costs of going to university become prohibitive and there are so few other options.

"We're pretty sure there are bright people out there with a genuine interest in media, a good work ethic and a creative spark.

"It's a great opportunity for someone who wants to get on to the first rung of the PR and marketing career ladder with a top company."

Richard Ashwood, Director of Business Training and Development at Cirencester College, was pleased to team up with Target.

He said: "Cirencester College has a strong media department, so when we learned that Target was interested in creating a Marketing apprenticeship we saw it as a great opportunity – and quite a coup to work with such a prestigious agency.

"This is a first for Target and a first for Cirencester College, and we hope it will fill a void for young people keen to pursue a creative career."

The hugely successful 100inONEHUNDRED Apprenticeship Challenge was launched by the Gloucestershire Echo and Citizen with Gloucestershire College to create 100 apprenticeships in 100 days.

When 123 apprenticeships were registered, the campaign was extended.

The Challenge is up for a PRide award, organised by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, on October 29.

Romanians reign at Gloucester Rugby quiz night

The first Gloucester Rugby Sports Quiz Night was hailed a great success by the 11 teams who pitted their wits against each other – with the 'Burleigh Romanians' aka Burleigh Travel taking home the trophy.

The teams, who were aided and abetted by members of the Gloucester Rugby first team squad, battled it out during seven rounds of sporting brain teasers set by Colin Spencer, and delivered by Quiz Master Graham Spring.

Colin Spencer, Chief Executive of Target, put his love of sport to good use by compiling the new fundraising sports quiz.

Competition was fierce, resulting in a tie breaker between four teams but the Burleigh Romanians, whose team comprised Ana Piciorus, John McLellan, Lucy Huggett and Ryan Barnett, scooped first prize.

Their reward for emerging triumphant was 8 hospitality places in the 1873 club restaurant, match tickets for a game of their choice and a glass trophy.

The raffle on the night raised funds for Wooden Spoon, one of Gloucester Rugby's chosen charities, and its success is sure to be repeated in the future.

Move over Statto – Colin knows his sporting stuff

Want to know who won Olympic gold for pole vaulting 1964? Or which team won the FA cup in 1956?

Just ask Colin Spencer.

The Chief Executive of the Target Marketing Group is a walking encyclopedia of sporting knowledge.

And he has put his expertise to good use by compiling a new fundraising sports quiz for Gloucester Rugby Club.

Colin, 50, admits that sport is a lifelong obsession. His bookshelves groan under the weight of Wisden's almanacks, and old match programmes. And if he's stuck for a reference manual, he digs into his own records.

"I started a sports diary in 1983, and 27 years later I'm still doing it. It only takes 10 minutes a day," said Colin, who trained as an accountant and joined Target in 1994.

"I've also got a good memory, which helps when it comes to quizzes."

His finest hour was when he reached the semi-final of the BBC Brain of Sport competition in 1986.

Colin is now an avid Gloucester Rugby fan.

Clare Reader, from Gloucester Rugby Club, was delighted that Colin offered to compile the quiz, and also volunteered his PR and marketing teams to spread the word about the new event.

The first Gloucester Rugby Sports Quiz Night takes place at Kingsholm on September 22.

Fifteen teams, including Gloucester players, will battle it out. And Colin will be there to inspect the answers to his brain teasers.

"There'll be jacket spuds, a bar and lots of head scratching – it's going to be a great night," said Clare.

Anyone who wants a table can contact Clare Reader on 01452 872274 or clarereader@gloucesterrugby.co.uk