Benefiting from the Best and Brightest

The talent we employ is our greatest asset - indeed one of the founding principles of Barrett Dixon Bell is to find the right people and develop their abilities. So it was a natural step to participate in the Manchester Masters scheme and take the opportunity to review the cream of the city’s graduates.

As an international marketing agency, we employ graduates with languages – hence our recruitment process is rigorous and selective. The mix of marketing creativity with languages can be an elusive combination. While the scheme offered us the chance to work with one of the best and brightest, we wondered how our Manchester Master would fit into BDB.

Thanks to the thorough selection process, our Manchester Master ticked every box. Franziska Kohlisch slotted effortlessly into our team when we needed her most - in the run up to Europe’s biggest food ingredient trade show. Eleven of our international clients attended the event, which involved stand design and build and multi-lingual press support. Fran’s swift understanding and enthusiasm meant that we could give her real responsibilities, from taking client briefs and liaising with designers, stand contractors, exhibition organisers and trade media to managing direct mail and literature linked to the event.

Franziska at the Trade Show

For BDB, participating in the scheme was worthwhile. We gained a superb colleague for the length of the placement. And for those who don’t reach the final group of 10, we can offer a strong incentive to enter: we recruited one of the remaining 40 graduates for a permanent position.

~ Frances Ross

Go for it!

With the application deadline looming by the end of this week, there might still be a few of you out there that are thinking about whether to apply or not. After all it is a bit of effort and creativity required to make a video. Let me help you with that decision – go for it.

Last year the deadline was coming up quickly, I did not have a decent camera and no clue how I could make my video stand out. On top of all that there were essays to write and lectures to attend. My attitude then was – I can at least give it my best shot and see what happens.

And what happened was probably the best thing that happened in my career so far. I made it! And looking back, I probably did not even now how lucky I was when I got through. Don’t get me wrong I was thrilled to be one of the 10 Manchester Masters and also just glad to have a job. Nevertheless, having completed about half of the programme, I know that it has truly changed my career outlook.

In the last year I have learned how mobile applications are developed and produced a strategic marketing plan for a real company, which is now being implemented and successfully so. I have then worked in B2B communications and learned all about Pantone references and how exhibition stands, magazine adverts and other campaigns are developed. I have provided press support at an exhibition in Germany, taking my first official business trip abroad.

I am now working at Deloitte, which in itself still amazes me every day I’m going in the office. Don’t get me wrong – the past 6 months have been very challenging, and hard work. You are studying full-time and working full-time in quite challenging roles, but what you get out it is more than worth it.

I have learned a lot about myself - about the strength I have, how business savvy I am, that the stuff they teach you at University actually does make sense in a real life context (at least some of it). I have also got a better idea what I like about a job, what I am good at and what I don’t like. I know where my priorities are now and some of it has really surprised me.

Having this opportunity to ‘try – out’ four different jobs in 12-months is a great opportunity. So give it your best shot and good luck to all of you!

Fran

Hotels, Hotels and more Hotels...

 

So here it is my second blog... we're now 6 months in and half way through our Manchester Masters journey (How time flies...did I use that cliché in may last blog?... never mind!).

 

My second placement was with Expotel Hotel Reservations Ltd, a corporate HBA (Hotel Booking Agent.... get with it!). When I first arrived I was surprised to learn, (and they weren't shy about telling me), that they are the largest HBA in the UK, booking over 2 million room nights a year and managing big name clients such as Virgin Media. I worked as part of "The Commercial Team" which comprised of the Commercial Director, rates negotiation team and two commercial executives (one for Hotels and one for Travel). For my first two weeks there was no visible marketing function as the previous marketing manager had quit shortly before my arrival (At the time this seemed like a bad omen as to how fun/interesting my marketing experience was going to be at this company). A new marketing manager was hired however and it turned out to all contribute toward a very unique and rewarding experience. Because the new marketing manager had no prior experience of the role we both found our feet simultaneously and I learnt what she learnt because whatever questions I had, she did too!

 

My main role at Expotel was to keep on top of their newly developed website which went live two days after my arrival. The aim of the site was to increase functionality in terms of the amount of users the site was capable of handling at any one time, but also to give Expotel a platform on which to launch into the highly competitive and extremely value led world of consumer leisure travel. – One of the best experiences I gained from working for Expotel was my visit to World Travel Market 2009. I suggested that Expotel should be participating in more of these types of events in order to grow their client and partner base. I then went on to organise our trip, which involved; booking a stand at WTM, organising the design and build of a stand and, most importantly, getting 7 employees (including the CEO) down to London for a week. All in all it was a fascinating week in which I learnt the 'Hard Sell' of business, met numerous new contacts and had a lot of laughs (especially with our biggest rival Expedia on the stand across from us – see picture of Dave our commercial exec below). The biggest perk of working in the hotel industry has to be the free hotels – during WTM I got to stay in a four star hotel for a week and we went on numerous "Fam Trips" which basically involved free food, drink and room. All we had to do to keep the hotels happy was to have a look round the hotel and chat to the sales/hotel manager for the night – good times!

 

So bring on 2010! – it's saddening to think two placements have gone, but exciting to think i've got two still to go! – Next up, Creative Spark a Branding and Web Design agency in the city centre... who knows what the next 3 months will bring...

 

Cheers,

 

Tom

 

Arriba Arriba!

As we near the festive period and because we're midway through a hectic week in our social calendar and today's my birthday (all presents and donations accepted) I feel it's about time to tell you about the social aspect of being a Manchester Master.

On this course never has the old adage of 'work hard, play hard' ever been truer. When the time comes to leave work or the library, the Masters do enjoy a civilised drink – we are students after all. In this line of work you need to be capable of socialising with the best of them. Six months in and we've bonded into quite a cohesive little unit who stay together and play together. I could share many a story about each and every Master. There's been birthday parties, Christmas parties, Mexican parties, parties for the sake of having parties and the occasional impromptu party when four beers turns into five beers on a Friday evening.

For some reason it's our flat that seems to be the setting for most of these parties. Perhaps it's because we're the apartment in the middle, perhaps it's because Chris (the one that looks like Sideshow Bob) and I are the most entertaining, or perhaps – and probably most likely – because no-one else wants to do the clean up operation in the morning.

Aside from the parties we've also had to socialise for the good of Manchester Masters. The lengths we go to! We've been for dinners with our mentors, attended mingling events at the University and even wangled invites to the opening of Piccadilly Place. The common factor in all of these is the free wine. As a result, much like last night, it's often the 10 Masters who are the last to leave the functions. Naturally we all conduct ourselves in a very professional manner at these events and we are generally the focal point of them so we do ensure we're not too well lubricated but it never stops us having a good time. Anyway, i'll leave this instalment for now, the MD's taking us all off to sample a new restaurant on Deansgate now.

It's a tough job but someone's got to do it!

- Iain McFayden

We have our Manchester Masters!

Well the wait is over – after months of planning the inaugural year of Manchester Masters, we’ve chosen our final ten students.

Manchester Masters is funded by the Innovation Investment Fund (which in turn is funded by NESTA, NWDA and Manchester City Council) and aims to retain the top student talent in Manchester. For too long the city’s graduates have gravitated towards London or abroad after completing their education at Manchester. However, with an abundance of renowned and world class companies based here in our own city we felt it was right to ensure that Manchester seeks to keep hold of its universities’ best business brains.

Following the launch of the scheme over seventy-five Manchester businesses expressed an interest in taking part. We were overwhelmed by support from some of the city’s most eminent business people, who pledged much of their own time and effort to the initiative.

With the support of Manchester Metropolitan University we processed hundreds of student applications and selected a shortlist of the fifty brightest applicants. These students went on to take part in a two day boot camp event in which they carried out a series of tasks and challenges in addition to being interviewed by the judging panel. 
As Project Director for the programme I was very impressed with the creativity of the students involved; it was extremely difficult to whittle down so many high calibre candidates to a final ten.

However that had to be done and we now have our first Manchester Masters - you can watch the videos of them here.

We’re busy finalising arrangements for the graduates’ placement year in order to maximise the benefits of the programme for all involved. After that, we’ll be launching the 2010 intake – so do keep checking the website if you’d like to be involved!

- Sandy

MEN Article: Bid to stem brain drain...

Manchester Evening News: 16th April

THESE are the 10 elite Manchester graduates who have been plucked from obscurity and will be given the opportunity to shine within one of the country's most vibrant marketing communities.

Hundreds of students applied to become a Manchester Master and join a new scheme aimed at keeping the best marketing talent in Manchester. The 10 lucky winners will now spend a year being mentored by some of the biggest names in the industry. Read the full article here...

The Final Ten

Don't forget that you can watch the videos of the ten chosen Manchester Masters by clicking here...