Reasons to be cheerful!

The economy may have been piling on the pressure for many businesses this year, but it hasn’t dampened their goodwill towards great local causes, if our experiences in the last few weeks are anything to go by.

Last weekend the Target PR team ran a pop-up shop for the day in Cheltenham's Regent Arcade, with a mission to raise as much as we could for Sue Ryder. Our magnificent One Day Wonderland raised more than £800 on the day, but none of that would have been possible without the help of lots of local businesses.

Bev, Target’s office manager and chief blagger of freebies, led the sterling work inviting suppliers, local retailers, and friends of our business to get involved - and we were all overwhelmed by the positive reaction, even from companies with whom we had no previous relationship. 

These are all businesses led by people who care about the community in which they're based. Happy to do their little bit. And when you add it all together, that's a lot of positive energy. 

If you happened to be on the first floor of Regent Arcade on Saturday you may have seen some of that positive energy in action - the public responded with enthusiasm, and our team excelled at turning a disused retail unit into a hive of goodwill. (You'll find lots of photos on our Facebook page!)

If you missed it, however, don't worry - there's plenty of time to get involved between now and 18 January when our fundraising finale takes place - the Grand Balloon Race. Just £5 a ticket with a chance to win a fabulous overnight stay with dinner at the luxurious Cotswold 88 Hotel in Painswick.

Just email bigwigs@targetgroup.co.uk or donate online at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/TargetPR

In the meantime, what better way to finish this post than with a roll-call of all the fantastic companies that have supported us so far!!

I make that 36 reasons to be cheerful - have a great Christmas!

Regent Arcade

Brasserie Blanc, Cheltenham

Marks & Spencer, Cheltenham

Hobbs, Cheltenham

Grafx, Cheltenham

N3 Display, Bristol

Alpha Response, Gloucester

Typecraft, Cheltenham

Stu-art Design

Cheltenham Racecourse

SnowDome, Tamworth

Ellenborough Park Hotel, Cheltenham

Sutdio Fit, Cheltenham

The Entertainer, Cheltenham

Boots, Cheltenham

Sugar Loaf, Cheltenham

BHS, Cheltenham

Lakeland, Cheltenham

Cotswold88 Hotel, Painswick

Specsavers, Cheltenham

Travellers Finds, Cheltenham

Thorntons, Cheltenham

Waterstones, Cheltenham

5 Star Valeting Solutions

Brickhampton Golf Course

Cheltenham Town Hall

Venture Photography, Cheltenham

Toni & Guy, Cheltenham

Lakeside Chippy, Cheltenham

Bodyshop, Cheltenham

Calendar Club, Cheltenham

Little Bag Company, Cheltenham

Folk Dean Balloons

Underwoods Steel

QuoLux
SLG

Sarah Bryars

Chief Executive, Target PR

A way with words

It’s been a busy few weeks here at Target PR, from organising our upcoming ‘One Day Wonderland’ pop-up shop and balloon race in aid of Sue Ryder, to our everyday work, great things happen at 105-107 Bath Road and we'd like to share it with the world. Well, the world wide web to be precise!

In recent weeks you may have noticed that we’ve done more than just dip our toes into the social media swimming pool, we’ve been going all out giving you daily insights into what goes on here at Target HQ. But we didn’t just dive straight in, oh no, we put together a list of hints and tips to make sure everyone in the team was on the right track.

So if you’re stuck for words, or need help deciding whether that tweet about what you had for breakfast is really necessary (it’s not), why not take a look at our favourite top tips and let us know what you think:

1.    First and foremost be yourself, but be cautious. It sounds obvious but don't reveal information that you feel could be potentially sensitive or confidential – you don’t want to let the cat out of the bag!

2.    Internal issues can arise and disagreements do happen, but public arenas, including Twitter, Facebook and blogs, are not the place for these to be aired. Enough said.

3.    The best posts are the ones that signpost information available elsewhere and encourage conversations. Content is king and stuff that works includes: a behind the scenes look at a day in your shoes, insight on and responses to the latest and greatest industry news, or even a guest post from a client that’s benefitted from your help.

4.    If the post is related to a news story, link to it and respond to it, don’t spend time repeating it. After all, people are coming to you for your opinion and insight. As Baz Luhrmann once said, “Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off and recycling it for more than it’s worth”.

5.    Enjoy it!

Zainab Rahman

Account Executive

Shopping in a One Day Wonderland!

Feel-good shopping will be hitting Cheltenham’s Regent Arcade for a 'One Day Wonderland' in aid of Sue Ryder on Saturday 15 December, thanks to the fundraising efforts by the team at Target Public Relations.

We will be swapping our desk-jobs for the shop floor when we run a ‘pop-up shop’ – appearing just for one day – selling a wide range of gifts and stocking fillers with every penny going to the Sue Ryder charity to support its hospice services helping those affected by life changing illnesses.

It's all part of this year’s Sue Ryder Big Wigs Challenge, which invites businesses to raise as much as they can with a float of £50 to get them started.

The lovely people at Regent Arcade have gifted the use of an empty shop next to TK Maxx on the first floor for the day, and the Target team is sourcing donated gifts from businesses all over Gloucestershire, as well as privately donated ‘pre-loved’ books, DVDs, toys and accessories, and some hand-crafted items. We'll also be holding ‘Santa’s sealed bid silent auction’ on the day, with some great tickets and vouchers available to the highest bidder.

Shoppers can buy tickets to Target’s Grand Balloon Race, which will mark the end of the Big Wigs challenge on Friday 18 January 2013. Tickets cost £5 each and the balloons will be released from the roof of Target’s office on Bath Road. The person whose balloon travels the furthest will win a sumptuous overnight stay with dinner, generously donated by the luxury boutique hotel Cotswolds 88 in Painswick.

Christmas is just around the corner so we're asking everyone we can think of to help us raise some money while spreading a little festive cheer. Would you like to get involved? We're looking for more fabulous gifts, products, or tickets to sell in the shop or add to Santa's silent auction. Alternatively, you can make a donation online. And of course we'd love you to spread the word and come down to shop with us on 15 December!

The Big Wigs challenge is run by Sue Ryder every year and sees companies throughout the South West ‘competing’ to raise as much money as possible. The challenge runs from 18 October 2012 to 18 January 2013.

Sue Ryder provides free care to those affected by life changing illnesses through its care centres, homecare services and healthcare clinics.

One Day Wonderland will be open Saturday 15 December from 9am until 6pm on the first floor of Regent Arcade next to TK Maxx.

Donations to Target’s fundraising activity can also be made online at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/TargetPR or by emailing bigwigs@targetgroup.co.uk

Thank you and Happy Christmas!

Sarah Bryars, chief executive, Target PR

Shining the light on solar

This autumn Target PR is proud to be launching an innovation set to revolutionise the solar thermal market in the UK.



A unique patented adaptation of the standard solar thermal system could deliver savings of up to 45 per cent on fuel bills by heating the home as well as hot water.

Invented by experienced and time-served heating engineer Matt Lee, Solar 3C provides a simple yet revolutionary extension to a standard solar thermal system traditionally based on a twin coil cylinder. Advancing the technology by developing a unique and patented triple coil hot water storage cylinder, the Solar 3C system is able to deliver green and highly efficient space heating in addition to domestic hot water.

The additional capacity provided by the third coil in the cylinder also dramatically extends the potential annual solar gain from typically 10 weeks per annum to 10 months plus. Evidence provided by existing Solar 3C customers reveals possible savings of up to 45 per cent on heating and hot water bills.

Using its strong relationships with editors in the heating, plumbing and building sector press, Target is taking Solar 3C’s exciting messages to its key audiences for the first time, marking a key milestone in the development of this innovative, entrepreneurial business.

The bicycle fit for Bond

Land Rover has launched the world’s first Titanium Nitride coated mountain bike – NITRIDE.

Coated in the same material as the London 2012 Olympic torches, this bespoke premium bike, designed by Midlands-based 2x2 Worldwide, offers superior ride, ultimate durability and utmost sophistication, so it wouldn’t look out of place in Q’s laboratory.

Using military aerospace technology, the NITRIDE is finished in a Physical Vapour Deposited (PVD) titanium ceramic coating – which is applied in a controlled oxygen free environment. This finish is only three microns thick, that’s just one fifth of the thickness of a droplet of mist! The result is that the bike will not corrode, is virtually scratchproof, with a finish that is lighter than paint and gives unique rider quality.

With prices starting at £10k, the NITRIDE bike is exclusively hand built in the UK for its rider within 18 weeks, using personal sizing requirements supplied by its owner.

Excited? The team at Target PR nearly fell off their five-wheeled plastic framed upholstered office chairs when 2x2 Worldwide asked if they could help with PR for this and their full range of brilliant Land Rover bikes.

To find out more visit the Land Rover bikes website

Social networking with a side order of beer

Part of the Sapa Group which employs 14,600 people worldwide, Sapa Building System offers architects and specifiers a range of innovative aluminium systems for curtain walling, doors, windows and specialist applications. Recent contracts include providing windows for the Welsh Assembly in North Wales (pictured).

Target PR’s role as Sapa Building System’s UK press office is to deliver its core messages to local authorities, the architectural press, building titles and specialist magazines, helping to build its profile and engagement with prospective customers.

So, it was perfectly fitting that Target organised Sapa’s recent sponsorship of an event with the Architect’s Journal celebrating winners of the prestigious RIBA Awards. A panel discussion involving architectural critics, professionals and commentators at RIBA headquarters created the draw for an invited audience of more than 100 architects.

With plenty of great content to share through social media with those who couldn’t attend the event, as well as powerful coverage in this leading journal, this was a great example of client/media partnership.

The occasion saw Sapa Building System’s sales team networking with some of the UK’s most accomplished architects, rounded off by an informal chance to chat further over drinks and tapas at a neighbouring bar. Now that’s what we call social networking!

The Force is strong with this one

Target celebrates 35 years in business this month.

Formed in 1977 – when the Queen celebrated her Silver Jubilee and Star Wars was the cinema blockbuster – the company has experienced a multitude of changes, most recently in 2011 when the firm consolidated its focus on public relations as its core specialism, appointed Sarah Bryars as chief executive, and moved to its current premises at 105-107 Bath Road, Cheltenham.

“Target is living proof that quality beats the test of time, whatever the economy throws its way,” says Sarah Bryars.

“Our industry, like many others, has had its ups and downs. But by concentrating on quality and high standards, we’re very proud to be celebrating 35 years in a very competitive business where only the best will do.

“We’re a very different business to the one that opened its doors as an advertising and design agency in 1977. The creative industries, and the businesses we serve, have changed immeasurably – even in just the last five years.

“Quality is Target’s enduring characteristic, and today our team of 11 directs all its energy and creativity towards PR-led solutions that enhance the reputations of our clients so that they can grow their businesses, meet potential customers or sell more product.”

Target PR’s diverse portfolio encompasses B2B and consumer clients, in sectors from heating and plumbing (ADEY Professional Heating Solutions) to beauty (SLG), aluminium curtain walling specialists (Sapa Building System) to equestrian athletes (British Equestrian Federation), and one of the best known names on the high street (Specsavers) – to name but a few. Targeting national, local, specialist, online and social media, it’s this diversity that Sarah credits as part of Target’s success.

“Sharing ideas and experience among a team working on such different clients is a great way of maintaining a fresh perspective,” says Sarah. “But it’s also really exciting to see the depth of knowledge and contacts that each client team generates, and how they use those sector insights and relationships to benefit the client.

“Everything comes back to quality performance; it doesn’t just keep our clients happy it gives each of us a buzz, which breeds confidence, enjoyment, and our performance just gets better, which benefits the client, and so the positive cycle continues.

“That’s not to say it’s always a smooth ride! We’re in a very tough trading environment. But we’re determined, fiercely loyal to our clients, to each other and to Target, and we’re full of ambition for the future.”

Olympic spirit alive at Target PR

It’s been a quiet couple of weeks at Target. No, not quiet in terms of us sitting at our desks twiddling our thumbs – there’s plenty of work to be done, but an eerie silence has replaced the ohhs and ahhs of the fortnight of the Games.

No more shrieks, words of encouragement or gasps of despair (mainly due to buffering broadband) as we watched Team GB make it their most successful Olympics in more than 100 years. And while we were all caught up in the whole buzz of the Games, it was Greenwich and the equestrianism which was a particular favourite. Through our work with the British Equestrian Federation and its World Class Programme, we’ve been lucky enough to work with, and visit, a number of the 2012 riders’ yards, so we eagerly followed our equestrian stars on their glorious road to victory.

And what a road it was. Team silver for the eventers, team gold for the showjumpers – their first medal since 1952 and gold for the dressage team too, another record - Britain’s first in this event. Meanwhile ‘golden girl’ Charlotte Dujardin made it a double, with gold in the individual dressage (with a score that set a new Olympic record), while Cirencester based Laura Bechtolsheimer picked up the bronze. Even those of us less familiar with the four legged athletes couldn’t help break a sweat when it came to those final tense moments; the last jump, centre line or cross country time.

And so the drama is over, but only for now. Next week (29 August) sees the start of the Paralympics, where Team GB aims to bring home 103 medals. Our para-equestrian dressage riders will also take to the world stage, including the nine-time gold medal Paralympian Lee Pearson, who with a 100 percent success rate, aims to make 2012 the Games where he proves he’s the most successful Paralympian ever.

Target's Colin shares finance experience

TARGET PR’s Chairman, Colin Spencer, has become an Associate Director of SouthWestfd.

Maintaining his role at Cheltenham-based Target, Colin joins a team of 12 highly qualified executives who offer interim and part-time financial director services to businesses with a turnover of £1-£15m all over the South West.

They provide a safe pair of hands and experience at the highest level in a wide range of industries at a fraction of the cost of employing a full time person. The company is based in Exeter.

Colin, a chartered management accountant, worked for Saatchi & Saatchi from 1983 to 1991. He joined Target, based in Bath Road, Cheltenham, as Financial Director in 1994 before taking over as Chief Executive and then Chairman.

“Being part of SouthWestfd is a new venture for me,” said Colin, 52, who was lives in Ross-on-Wye.

“I’ve been involved with growing businesses all my career and know how hard it can be to take a burgeoning company to the next level, especially in a recession.

“MDs can’t do everything alone and working with a financial expert with years of experience is a huge asset. They can get on with the operational side of the business, whilst we help them to keep a real grip on the financial complexities.”

www.southwestfd.co.uk

Target Public Relations boosts new business

James Wood has joined Cheltenham-based Target Public Relations as New Business Manager.

The former Sir Thomas Rich pupil takes up the new role after eight years with Brunswick Home Loans in Gloucester.

“I have a strong sales background, but the PR industry is a new departure for me,” said James, 35, who has a degree in Business Management.<

“It’s all about building and maintaining relationships and getting the Target name out there. PR can be the most cost-effective way of adding to a company’s marketing mix, but it is sometimes overlooked. It’s my job to help change that and make sure businesses know about Target’s breadth of expertise.”

Chief Executive Sarah Bryars welcomed James to the team, based in Bath Road.

“We created this new role as we shift focus to what we do best – public relations. We have strong experience in the field of trade PR for building materials and services, as well as consumer markets in health and beauty, and we are going all out to capitalise on those strengths. James’ sales experience will be invaluable as we go forward,” she said.

The award-winning company’s current clients include Specsavers, ADEY Professional Heating Solutions, Sapa Building System, and SLG Beauty.

Sapa Building System hands press office to Target

Sapa Building System Ltd in Tewkesbury has chosen Target PR to handle its public relations.

From its new state-of-the-art premises in Tewkesbury Business Park, Sapa Building System offers architects and specifiers a range of innovative aluminium systems for curtain walling, doors, windows and specialist applications.

Sapa has 140 staff in Tewkesbury and is part of the Sapa Group which employs 14,600 people worldwide and has an annual turnover of $4.9 billion.

Sapa’s Commercial Director, Jon Palethorpe, said taking on Target was a major step forward in the company’s bid to consolidate its position in Gloucestershire.

“Our new building enables us to merge our two existing operations in the county at a single site with great access to the whole of the UK. We now want our sales and marketing messages to get out there as efficiently as our products can travel up the M5,” said Jon.

“We have class-leading products and wanted a class act to help us shout about them. Target has all the contacts we need in the building sector, and the company is local which is hugely important when it comes to communication.”

Sarah Bryars, Chief Executive of Target PR which is based in Bath Road, Cheltenham, is delighted to be working with Sapa: “It’s a privilege to be working with a global brand with high standards and a reputation as a major force in the UK fenestration industry.”

The Account Director is Rachel Meagher who has been with Target for more than six years. She will be putting Sapa’s core messages out to local authorities, the architectural press, building titles and specialist magazines.

Sapa Building System’s recent contracts include providing windows for the new Welsh Assembly in North Wales and a unique unitised curtain walling system for the new Co-op HQ building in Manchester.

Award win that stemmed from someone else's great PR

The team at Target PR is still basking in the glow of pride at winning the Small Business category of the first Gloucestershire Apprenticeship Awards, held last week.

Run by The Citizen and Gloucestershire Echo with the sponsorship backing of some great Gloucestershire businesses, the night was impressive on many levels. The Princess Royal was the guest of honour among 340 attendees there to celebrate the skills and talents of local young apprentices and the businesses that support them - as employers and training providers.

For some of the big businesses attending, apprenticeships are nothing new. Engineering, manufacturing, construction - these are all sectors that have long understood the benefits of training on the job, blending theory with practice and a living wage.

Our story is a little different. PR and Marketing has traditionally taken the graduate route, drawing talent fresh from university or as a career change from journalism, and these will undoubtedly remain popular pathways into our profession. But two years ago, we had a little light bulb moment that started our apprenticeship journey.

I was attending the launch of the '100 in 100 Apprenticeship Challenge' at the Hotel du Vin in Cheltenham. It promised to be a handy networking opportunity, I thought, with some rather nice canapes. But I was hooked by a couple of great speakers sharing their personal views - an employer and an apprentice. That, plus a chance to chat to someone from the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) began the dialogue that led to us taking on our first marketing apprentice, Courtney (pictured here on the right next to me).

The launch was the start of a series of campaigns that Gloucestershire Media has taken to its heart, leading to the awards night last week. But the idea started in the PR team at Gloucestershire College, for which they deservedly won a CIPR PRide Award.

Taking a task as vast as 'growing apprenticeships' and giving it a campaign focus has been hugely successful in this county; targets of creating 100 apprenticeships in each campaign have been exceeded, and that has created a sense of momentum. The partnership with Gloucestershire Media has been pivotal.

The pace has been sustained, and more and more 'advocates' have got involved - some are advocates with direct interests such as training providers, others are simply businesses that want to be part of something positive. Positive for their own business, and for the business community.

So for us, winning an Apprenticeship Award has been a double whammy. Great for Target - a little bit of profile and a pat on the back always does us good. And great for PR, as something that probably started at a brainstorm somewhere deep within Gloucestershire College has sparked a chain of events that are contributing to real change and a life of its own.

Sarah Bryars

Minister to visit Gloucestershire Skillsfest

Target is part of a team of local businesses, training providers and apprenticeship experts gearing up for the first Gloucestershire Skillsfest, taking place on 9 February.

The Skillsfest, which is being held at Gloucester Rugby Club, is a day-long programme of events designed to inspire and inform businesses and youngsters to take up apprenticeships, part of National Apprenticeship Week.

"We're really pleased to get involved in spreading the word - not just to businesses who may have never considered taking on an apprentice, but to young people and their parents trying to figure out their next steps after school," says Target's chief exec Sarah Bryars.

Beginning with a Business Breakfast, smaller businesses will hear how the Apprenticeship scheme works with contributions from a local employer and apprentice, and from Ian Mean, Editor in Chief of Gloucestershire Media and a prominent advocate of apprenticeships.

A seminar for some of the county’s larger businesses will be addressed by Chris Grayling, Minister for Employment, Richard Graham, MP for Gloucester, and Terry Chappell from the National Apprenticeship Service.

There will also be opportunities throughout the day to “Meet the Apprentice” and a briefing aimed at parents/carers to help them understand more about apprenticeships.

Terry Chappell is part of the team responsible for the event. He says: “Last year we ran a very successful Apprenticeship Jobs Fair, but this year we decided to think bigger and embrace the ‘past, present and future’ of apprenticeships.

“We’ll have people who have already been training as apprentices and employers operating successful schemes giving their inside view; live current vacancies so that jobseekers can talk directly to employers that are seeking apprentices now; and we’ll be whetting the appetite of youngsters still at school, who may be apprentices of the future, encouraging them to ‘have a go’ at a new skill.

“Throughout the day there will be an exhibition from local training providers and employers who run apprenticeships explaining what’s involved, the process, funding, employer incentives, and plenty of opportunities to hear directly from apprentices and their managers.”

Chappell concludes: “Our aim is to inspire businesses to create apprenticeship roles in their organisations, inform them how to do it, and get them started on a path that can bring fresh talent into their company and stimulate long term growth.

“We also want to excite young people about the opportunities to learn as they earn. The scope of apprenticeships is vast and caters for every level of education from the equivalent of GCSEs to degree standard, across a diverse range of sectors and types of organisation.”

The Gloucestershire Skillsfest has been organised by a collaboration of local businesses, training providers, GFirst and the National Apprenticeship Service.

GFirst Chief Executive David Owen said: “Nurturing Gloucestershire’s young talent is at the heart of GFirst and we want to encourage more apprenticeships within the county. They can be very beneficial for the apprentice but can also be invaluable to businesses by bringing in another skilled member to your team and fresh ideas. The Skillsfest is a really exciting opportunity to find out more about apprenticeships and we are sure it will be a great success.”

For details of the day’s programme visit www.GlosSkillsfest.co.uk or email glosskillsfest@apprenticeships.gov.uk or call 01242 500 009.