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