Public Relations and the Ethical Question

This morning the Thurrock Learning Shop welcomed 22 local business people to the Easy Steps into PR seminar hosted by Knowledge Thurrock Innovation Associates. Delivered by UEL's own Marketing Guru Ian Bathgate, the course was both challenging and insightful and raised several question of an ethical nature.

Not so long ago Lady Gaga caused controversy by sporting a meat dress to the Video Music Awards. Overnight, she had caused yet another media sensation and made herself more than half the planet's collective focus. Much has been made as to whether it was a comment on ageing and decay, a feminist statement, an anti-fashion statement or merely a platform to highlight the now-defunct "don't ask don't tell" American military recruitment policy. Whatever it was, it's amazing to think that something that occurred 6-weeks ago on the West Coast of the US was discussed and critiqued by a group of business people on a chilly October Friday morning in Thurrock. Surely, that's a PR success? Ethical? Well, that may be another question.

So back to the Learning Shop and we're thinking about our own PR. December 15th will be our 1st Birthday and having already welcomed over 5000 members of the local community through the door, we are thinking about ways in which we can engage with 5000 more. Whilst Thurrock's Friday market boasts a meat van and students from our Fun with Fabrics workshop might be able to run up a bacon frock, the thing with PR is that once it's been done, it's been done.

Monkeying around with social media

If you've been reading the tweets, following the blogs, trying to fathom facebook and wondering how social media is going to work for your business, chances are that you've been frustrated by a lack of human support. Sure, if you have a question you can post it on a forum, send a message to a "contact us" page or trawl through pages of faqs that don't quite cover the answer that you need. This Friday help is at hand at the Thurrock Learning Shop as two of the South East's biggest social media brains are hosting the second Lunch and Laptop session which aims to support South Essex Thames Gateway businesses.

Hosting the event is Barbara Saul, Internet Marketing Strategist ably assisted by Sarah Arrow who is without doubt one of the leading social media big-brains in the country. What's more both ladies are thoroughly good eggs, have a wealth of experience in the small and medium sized business sector and are able to deliver information, support and advice in a completely engaging manner.

Thanks to Barbara & Sarah donating their time and Debbie at the Thurrock Learning Shop donating the training room facility and coffee the event is free but delegates will need to bring their own lunch and laptop. This session's focus will be on Facebook and after Barbara has given her presentation, there is an opportunity to fire-up your laptop and put the theory into practical use. So if you want to stop monkeying around with Facebook and raise your profile on the interweb then don't delay, book today http://www.eventbrite.com/event/865461619/estwbreg

Easy Steps to Getting Started in PR

Now that the summer holiday are drawing to an end, it's a great time to think about how you are going to raise the profile of your business, remain engaged with your existing customers and identify and attract new clients. To help you, Knowledge Thurrock Innovation Associates are hosting an "Easy Steps to Getting Started in Public Relations" seminar on the 22nd October between 0830 - 1100hrs. The free interactive workshop is aimed at Business Owners and Managers, Marketing Executives and Social Entrepreneurs.

Delivered by the University of East London's own marketing and communication guru, Ian Bathgate, the session will include information on the components of a successful PR campaign, strategies that can help you connect with differing client groups and how this information can be employed to raise your business profile.

If you would like to reserve a place, please book online at http://www.rbsiseast.org.uk/EventMatching/Search/Details.aspx?e=22591 or call 0845 601 1000.

Back to School

For many of us, the start of September has signalled the end of the summer and the start of the new academic year, the return of our business clients from their holidays and a general gear-shift towards a busier period. At the Thurrock Learning Shop we've kept busy over the sunnier months hosting seminars helping members of the local community access employment and study opportunities, balloon-art events for the Thurrock Next Top Boss challenge and, as the top photograph shows, a Fun with Fabrics workshop where participants made their own bang-on-trend maxi-dress.

The first of this season's business events took place this morning with a session on Green IT and Cloud Computing for SMEs led by UEL's own Gaurav Malik from the School of Computing, Information Technology and Engineering. Due to accidents occurring on both directions of the A13 this morning, not all delegates could make it through the resulting traffic-jams but those that did come, featured in the bottom photo, enjoyed a lively session and learnt new ways to increase profitability through more efficient IT resource use.

In addition to the traffic-jams that also delayed Gaurav, today's event was challenged by a power cut at the Thurrock Learning Shop which saw fit to knock-out the coffee machine and the data-projector - surely the two most important elements of any training session. Luckily, and with the true Dunkirk Spirit that is embodied by Team TLS, water was boiled in another part of the building and an emergency electric extension cord was purchased to power the projector. Leaks, floods, IT fails and false burglar alarms are what make working at the TLS that bit more interesting and at a push, I reckon that Team TLS could deliver babies. Lots of them.

Looking for a job this Autumn?

Maybe you've just upgraded your skills, maybe you are thinking about returning to work or maybe you are just thinking about refreshing your curriculum vitae; either way the Thurrock Learning Shop has a series of workshops which could inspire you this Autumn. Delivered by either Daphne or Kiren from our Information and Guidance Team, each workshop will last for a maximum of 2 1/2 hours and will take place in our newly refurbished training room at the Thurrock Learning Shop. Best of all, they are completely free. Dates for October include

• 19/10/10 - Computerised CV workshop
• 19/10/10 - Jobsearch techniques
• 26/10/10 - Composing your own Personal Statement
• 29/10/10 - Interview Techniques

Don't delay, book today! Call the Thurrock Learning Shop on 01375 485490 or drop into Reception Wednesday, Thursday or Friday to reserve your place or ask a question.

Cloud Computing and Green IT

At the Thurrock Learning Shop we are always keen on embracing new technologies - particularly when they save us money. One of the biggest developments in business IT of recent years has been the move away from mainframe computers towards a Cloud Computing environment which is Internet-based.

It's major benefit is the reduced capital expenditure required for businesses as billing works similar to a household utility system where you are only charged for what you use. There are many other benefits for business too and to explain them, Gaurav Malik from the University of East London will be hosting a free seminar on Thursday 9th September.

The interactive workshop will include

• an introduction to Cloud Computing and Green IT
• risks, threats and security in cloud based solutions
• getting the best out of the cloud
• empowering your users and customers
• taking the first steps in cloud computing deployment
• saving up for a rainy day
• funded support offered to small and medium sized businesses

The event is aimed at owners of small and medium sized businesses, Operations Managers, Sales Managers and Technical Officers and a complimentary breakfast bap and refreshments will be provided during the 2-hour session.

If you would like further information about the session or to reserve a free place, please contact me at r.a.snell@uel.ac.uk and I shall responsd as soon as I return to the office.

We Was Robbed

As the title suggests at yesterday's weigh-in of the Thurrock Potato Growing Challenge, victory was snatched from the Thurrock Learning Shop by TRUP. The 105-day competition reached the winning-line at the Second Generation headquarters located in the modernist landscape of the formed Bata Shoe Factory site in East Tilbury.

For Team TLS it had been a long journey and began with planting the seed potatoes back in early April in a compost including Brixham seaweed and chicken manure. Hopes were high due to the sunny location at the rear of The Old Post Office, the regular vitamin boost in the form of the tomato feed and Debbie's weekly pep-talks. Before long the growbag was being top-dressed and despite ignoring the moon-phase planting plan, the green-shoots appeared to be mapping Baroness Vadera's New Year prophecy.

The results of the competition were;

1st Place - TRUP - 7 kilos
2nd Place - Thurrock Learning Shop - 6 kilos
3rd Place - Thurrock Council Waste Team - 2.25 kilos

Of course, with a yield of such considerable weight produced by TRUP, allegations of compost spiking were levelled and the vague whiff of the 1988 Summer Olympics 100m looked set to descend amongst competitors. Standing strong however, Judge Lettie McKie of the Royal Opera House declared fair-play and allegations of clandestine Furazabol-abuse were dismissed.

The photograph above shows our 2nd-placed newly harvested potatoes after the competition - a great crop from the original 5 seed potatoes and a great way to introduce "growing your own" at work; at the TLS we now have chives, parsley, basil and next year we plan to have a whole lot more. As for the potatoes, this weekend sees them beginning the second part of their journey as they transform (in Debbie's garage) into Casa Correo's inaugural bottles of wine.