The Ofsted Outstanding Slough Grammar School came to us with a specific brief and after a fascinating research and insights phase to inform the renaming and rebranding project, it will reopen after the summer break as Upton Court Grammar School.
The research was overwhelmingly conclusive that a name change would be a positive step for this already very successful state school and the students especially were central to the creative direction of the new logo. The school is located very close to historic Upton Court in the Upton region of Slough and it has even been previously named Upton Grammar School during its 100-year history. One of the influencing factors in the creative approach was to communicate the school’s heritage while also building in its strength, Grammar School values and its welcoming culture.
We look forward to seeing the brand being rolled out through the school from September and establish itself as part of the school’s exciting progression plans.
As budgets become more scrutinised than ever, it is a pleasure to work with forward thinking clients who are prepared to see the real value of insights programmes. In these challenging times, some may focus more on the literal cost rather than the potential benefit. But investing even modestly on an insights programme can easily self-fund itself from savings made on marketing spend while also generating additional sales; and this is where the real benefit is!
We’re pleased to say that after a winter filled with insights programmes for a number of clients, running focus groups, telephone interviews and surveys with students, teachers and parents all over the country, they are now reaping the rewards. Their marketing campaigns are proving considerably more effective than previously because the right information is hitting the right people in the right way. The research findings have highlighted how our ‘gut feel’ for what is a good use of marketing budget isn’t necessarily correct and have provided a blue print on which to base key marketing decisions. One client has gone on record saying the latest brochure mailing is the best performing they have ever had! All because we asked a few killer questions, listened to the answers and interpreted them properly.
These clients now know that the physical cost of research and insights is not the number to focus on. Instead, they look at it as an investment and are more concerned about any costs associated with marketing spend that isn’t based on customer insights!
On behalf of Pharos Safety, Chris Gallant ran the Crisis Communications Planning element of a training day to Members of Activities Industry Mutual (AIM) insurance brokers and British Activity Providers Association (BAPA). Chris took delegates through the process of drafting a comprehensive Crisis Communications plan, while Julian Penney, MD of Pharos Safety, covered the key topics of a wider reaching Crisis Management Plan. Feedback from this event has been excellent with an average overall score of 9.6 out of 10.