Parker PR

I gave a marketing presentation at the BT Convention Centre in Liverpool at The Big Event http://www.in-control.org.uk/bigevent and could not help but be struck by the apparent waste of resources in the exhibition hall.

The event was aimed at people and organisations working in the predominantly public and not for profit sectors who provide personal care services. My presentation was on preparing a marketing strategy that takes account of the changing face of service provision thanks to the introduction of personalisation budgets - my PowerPoint presentation is available from me via email.

Our commitment to supporting our local communities was recognised last week with the presentation of another award for our PR work.

In the very first Pride of Mansfield and Ashfield Awards Mansfield's Heroes Memorial Fund was presented with the Best Fundraiser Award by the town's Mayor Tony Egginton.

How many times have you been introduced to a new company on the web or in a flashy brochure only to be switched off by the poor copy? The product or service may be first-rate but the company has undermined the offer with dreary or technically written copy. Add a couple of spelling mistakes, a typo or two and a failure to focus on the benefits to the customer and you have a marketing failure; it's one of the biggest self-imposed hurdles businesses put in the way to making a sale.

If we are to believe the majority of the press in this country there is not a single public service left that is worthy of being called so. Each and every service is derided for its poor service, lack of customer care, inept and burgeoning levels of bureaucracy, red tape and tardy management practices. 

Pick up any of the papers on a given week day and you will find people being lambasted for doing next to nothing in the name of their service, whether it be the NHS, Police, schools or the Local Authority.

Anyone wishing to dine out on negative stories could gorge themselves to within a chocolate mint wafer of Mr Creosote's waistline. In which case, let me offer you a refreshing, healthy, positive low-fat salad meal to balance the weight gaining vitriol.

Four weeks ago we discovered that the offices we had occupied for two and a half years were to close. We were given less than three weeks to effectively secure a new home. Seeing this as an opportunity to effect positive change we decided to leave our city based HQ and head closer to home.

We contacted Mansfield District Council to see if they could help find accommodation. They presented us with a choice of four community based business centres. All are geared up to support a mixture of small and medium sized businesses. They have everything we could need. 

On the 25th of January we put in our application to tenancy - on the 1st of February they gave us the keys and we moved in. Now that is first class public service.

As result of the move we have dramatically cut overheads, have an opportunity to reinforce our presence in the East Midlands, have gained a day a week with less travelling and have seriously reduced our carbon footprint.

There's no real need for us to be in a big city as we can deliver our services from anywhere. Thanks to Mansfield District Council we will be doing that a matter of minutes from our front doors - and the Mayor popped in to say welcome as well!