John Rushton

Becoming Carbon Literate: THE key responsibility for marketers in 2024 https://lnkd.in/eg5JmxNE with a little help from Cambridge Marketing College #mindfulmarketing (certified The Carbon Literacy Project training, in association with The Mindful Collective)

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Over the last three years our web design and build business has grown threefold, alongside a rapidly growing digital marketing portfolio of clients. So much so, that our specialist digital services now account for almost 50% of our turnover. I’m especially proud of our team here, as many ‘traditional’ advertising and creative agencies have struggled to make the switch to the digital world, especially for more complex technical delivery. (And we were no exception, starting out as a pure-play ad agency in 1996.) Thanks to a team of really smart people here (plus some who are no longer with us) we are now breaking through to a higher level of technical capability, where no project is too big or too complex for us. An example of this was the Traffic Scotland website [https://lnkd.in/e3P77giA] which was awarded a Silver at last year’s Marketing Star Awards. With a huge volume of data feeds and integrations, complex mapping and filtering, and the top level of DSSS accreditation required, the two-year project was a significant challenge. But our team took it in their stride, supported by a wonderfully collaborative client. The last six months or so have been especially productive. We have launched or relaunched no less than 14 websites - the production line has been at full capacity. From time to time our Technical Director had moments when he went all Scotty - “She canna take any more, Cap'n! She's gonna blow!” as the team juggled and worked extra hours to keep to deadlines. I’m proud to showcase these sites, in no particular order: https://www.rzss.org.uk; https://lnkd.in/eFpfm-rn ; www.edinburghzoo.org.uk ; www.homeenergyscotland.org ; www.parentclub.scot ; https://www.lostshore.com ; https://lnkd.in/e8NCGS3C ; https://www.rhspt.org ; https://www.jacobite.co.uk ; https://lnkd.in/eUsEBwBW ; https://lnkd.in/ewycMGuf ; https://www.software.ac.uk ; https://childlight.org ; www.pensionmirror.co.uk . This level of productivity and quality could not have been achieved without the combined skills or our account and project management, strategy and insight team, UX specialists, designers, SEO specialists, copywriters, front and back end developers, and our systems administrator. And of course, the clients who a) put their trust in us and b) worked so openly and productively alongside us. Forgive the cliche - teamwork really does make the dream work. We have another batch of sites ready to roll off the production line in the next few weeks. Watch this space. #webdesign #UX #SEO #webdevelopment

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In almost 30 years of business The Union has worked on several hundreds of clients across all business sectors, including public sector and charities. There's no doubt that the buzz I still get from my work is the opportunity to learn from such a wide range of clients - from tourism to whisky, manufacturing to food, financial services to B2B. Everyday's a schoolday. However, I can say with certainty that, in a career spanning over 40 years, I have never felt so viscerally motivated than when we are working for Childlight - Global Child Safety Institute. And it's not hard to understand why. Shockingly, over 300 million children globally experience online sexual exploitation and abuse. And up to 1 in 9 men admit sexually offending online against children. (Yes, these stats take some digesting.) We helped the incredible Childlight charity by building and supporting their website and are proud to be involved in such important work. Set up by Paul Stanfield, a visionary law enforcement professional, who served as the Director for Interpol’s Global Organised Crime programme, and supported by generous philanthropists, this charity works with partners worldwide to understand the prevalence, nature and scale of child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA). Sophisticated tracking and data is used to support governments, law enforcement and organisations in taking action to safeguard children. (All from the charity's base at University of Edinburgh, together with a global team of experts.) No child should live their life in the darkness of sexual exploitation and abuse. After a couple of years of preparation, the Childlight team is now able to unveil the world’s first estimate of the scale of online child sexual exploitation and abuse. There are still enormous data gaps, but this is a landmark step in the global fight to fight against CSEA. You can find the report here: https://lnkd.in/eeYXRUYz It goes without saying that this report should be a wake up call to everyone, especially those with power on influence, to tackle this horrendous issue. Please share to spread the word. It's an uncomfortable subject, but one we can't afford to brush under the carpet. Thank you. #childrencantwait  

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Need a Doncaster Web Design Partner? Discover 5 tips for small businesses choosing the perfect web design agency. Learn more about how to find the right partner for your needs. https://lnkd.in/eBCXgNSD

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The wait is over... Meet “Nature’s Business”.🌳 Nature's Business (powered by Motion Manor!) is a fortnightly newsletter that collates time-sensitive and must-know information from the South East Wales Sustainability Community To begin with, each issue will address the following questions: 📌 What are the upcoming events you should know about? 💸 Is there any funding or opportunities in the region at the moment? 🎉 What local success stories haven't you heard of? My goal with this newsletter is to share with you all the information that I wish I knew or had access to on a more frequent basis... whilst sprinkling in some local spotlights and success stories for the burst of positivity we all need in a space that often feels doom and gloom. The newsletters that are out there are either hidden behind paywall memberships, or too infrequent to share regular and up-to-date information. If demand grows we are planning to increase frequency to weekly, as well as cover a broader region (Nationally?).   In the next couple of months, we'll be giving subscribers the option to receive each issue in English and/or Welsh. We'll then be looking to expand sections to potentially include academic research reports or even exciting job/collaboration opportunities. I may write Nature's Business, but it will be shaped by you. So if you have any events, suggestions or feedback... please get in touch. The official launch is Thursday 3rd October. Want to join the waitlist? Click the link below and subscribe 👇 https://lnkd.in/ezitina3 Owen Balmont Sullie Burgess Claire James Briony Latter Dan Read Ffion Spencer Tom Wantock Sarah Strickett David Rees #sustainability #newsletter #nature #business

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Come and join our webinar # Behavioural Science

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Why a picture isn't always worth a thousand words. THE PROBLEM What's the first thing you'll typically see in a planning consultation? A very nice looking CGI image. Digital ads will have them, so will exhibitions and websites. "People will *love* this when they see it - how could they not?" But here's the thing: What if they actually drive opposition? THE SOLUTION A lot of planning debate centres around design, which is perilous for developers because you're dealing with personal taste. Entirely subjective. If you put lots of CGIs in a room full of objectors, chances are they will fixate on what it looks like. "Oooh I don't like that colour" "They'll never keep that clean" (These are real comments I overheard recently) Here's an idea: What if you *removed almost all imagery*? Perhaps one CGI, for transparency. Maybe some basic architectural plans. What if, instead, you focused your communication material on 1) the housing problem and 2) the real & specific benefits arising from the development? Now, maybe the objectors would then turn their fire on your claims. But at least then the debate would be about the benefits, not about how it looks. And yes, building more homes IS a benefit (and one the pro-housing majority is definitely interested in). So the next time you're doing a consultation, try cutting down the CGIs and see how it works. You might be surprised.... #planning #development #housing #communications

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"How many of you have set a net zero by 2030 target?" Loads of hands from the audience. "How many of you use electricity in your business?" Loads of hands from the audience. "Who thinks the UK will have a net zero electricity grid by 2030?" No hands. Reductive sure but therein lies the problem. Well, one of many problems. Bracketing out grid issues, we also have to ensure we're encouraging the innovation necessary to meet net zero. And when I say encouraging, I mean addressing the massive regulation problems before we lose our brightest startups to the US. It was a pleasure for Hex Digital to sponsor the Institute of Government & Public Policy Achieving Net Zero In the Public Sector event. A fine collection of talks and many many stimulating conversations from across the public and private sector. Let's convert that conversation to action! #IGPPNZ #netzero #sustainability

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At last the UK's creative services industry is getting the recognition it deserves. It's on a list of eight industries the UK government considers ‘growth driving sectors’ and is included in a new #industrialstrategy, published on Monday. (The strategy is contained in a document called ‘Invest 2035: The UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy’.) Call me thin-skinned, but I've always been frustrated our industry has been overlooked by previous governments, who have not recognised that it’s world class and a significant contributor to our economy. That fact is acknowledged by the government in its report that notes, ‘According to the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre, the creative industries accounted for 67% of the UK’s digital exports in 2021’. HMG’s plans for the industry include ‘unlocking private investment, boosting exports, and developing its highly skilled workforce’. So far, so big yawn. What’s more interesting is the government’s recognition that ‘the sector plays an important role in driving growth across regions and nations, through creative clusters and corridors across the country that spread opportunity and prosperity in communities’. For those of us with long memories, we’ll recall that regional creative clusters is not a new idea and in some areas, such as Brighton or Bristol, these have happened naturally without government encouragement. But. The government has included our industry in its Magnificent 8 and so we should be thankful. Other countries, notably Germany and Japan, have better track records when it comes to national industrial strategies. It may be because they're culturally more comfortable with the  ten year plus time frames involved, whereas our political time frame of minus four years hold sway. And a top down, centrally driven plan may sit uncomfortably with an industry that has ‘creative’ in its title. But the demand is there. You only need look at the giant Shinfield Studios - a hugely impressive 18 stage, film & TV studio complex in Reading and the even bigger one planned for Sunderland to see that international investors have already given our industry a vote of confidence. And the jobs are there too. A scan of online jobs board, indeed, shows there’s 3,000+ social media jobs currently open. I can't vouch for the quality of these jobs, but if they’re in agencies I'd like to think they’d be in a benevolent working environment with an emphasis on respect, collaboration and personal development. The government’s strategy is in a Green Paper that’ll be upgraded to a White Paper after a consultation period that ends on November 24th. By then it wants to hear from the industry and I’d urge anyone in my network who’s involved in a professional trade association to lobby their body to submit something. It doesn't have to be long; a single side of A4 will suffice providing it’s cogently written. But we have an opportunity here to help further shape a world beating industry. 

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What fantastic news for two iconic and outstanding brands in the Scottish creative and digital space! LEWIS, founded by David Lewis, has acquired Tayburn in a six-figure cash and equity deal that will combine almost a century of creative and digital expertise.  ✪ Richard Simpson ✪, Ambassador in our WeDO Scotland Executive Team is joint Managing Director of Tayburn alongside Malcolm Stewart. Huge congratulations to you both, to David and to all your teams, what a powerhouse this will be. Both LEWIS and Tayburn will continue to operate in their current form, but will now sit as part of a newly formed Group Company, Limitless Innovation Group. The deal will bring together the two firms to offer clients a creative partnership, focused on today’s evolving business needs. The new business will develop a unique agency model where individual expertise is fostered, and clients can work directly with experts in the areas they need support. They’ll deliver a fully streamlined service covering strategy and insight, brand development, creative design, packaging, multichannel campaigns, and web development. Given that their expertise is backed up by a combined 95 years of experience in the industry, their commercial mindset will continue to help guide their clients well when it comes to business decision-making and planning. They’ve been placed in the top 5% of the most sustainable businesses worldwide. Together, they’re committed to maintaining their strong ethical position and growing their Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) accreditations so that their partners are confident of their investment in being a “business for good”. Read the full article 👉 https://lnkd.in/ewexq6AA #entrepreneurship #scottishbusiness #smes

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I find that many marketing managers or businesses feel stuck when it comes to making the most of limited marketing budgets. 💬 I have found that balance is key. For a recent NHS campaign, we managed to mix video stories, posters, and infographics. Each medium served different audience needs, creating deeper engagement. The trick is to prioritise your outputs and match them with your audience’s preferred platforms. 🔑 My tip: Personal videos often have the most emotional impact. #MarketingStrategy #Storytelling #Impact #Brand #Messaging #Branding #Design

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Continuing this conversation that so many of us are becoming ever more infuriated about. It’s simply perplexing. #creativeindustries #ukcreativity #uksuperpower #ukpowerhouse #gdp Rishi Sunak Why is the importance of investing and protecting the creative industries and creative thinking in the UK so hard to understand?

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#aitraining #promptengineering #copywriting #digitalmarketing #artificialintelligence. Are you looking for advice and consultancy about AI and content? Or need an award-winning copywriter to help with your next campaign? Please get in touch.

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When it comes to amplifying our clients' #brand messaging during key events... 💪 ✅ increased webpage traffic by over 70% ✅ Largest share of voice 'v' all competitors ✅ LinkedIN follower growth 83% #b2bmarketing #healthcarecomms #events

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Inclusive design isn’t just about providing legally required accessibility. It’s a practice that benefits everyone. Use our latest Marketing Checklist to help welcome the broadest possible audience to engage with your brand. Free, no-form download >> https://lnkd.in/eNTWpaf #digitalmarketing #accessibility #inclusivedesign

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I'm just 24 pages in to Antonia Wade’s book Transforming the B2B Buyer Journey and I have to say it's an absolute must-read for anyone who wants to understand how PR and marketing can truly drive business growth. 🎯 All I can say is I won't be passing this book on. Every page is entirely covered in my scribbles! Why does this book stand out? 🤔 Her book showcases clear thinking, practical examples and is eloquent writing 🖋️ Every page offers new insights with a practical roadmap to transform marketing into a strategic growth engine. The emphasis on how earned media and marketing create a multiplier effect is especially relevant for building standout B2B brands. And It perfectly mirrors our Pathway approach to comms strategy. For CMOs and sales leaders in tech this is one book you really DO need to read. Has anyone else picked this up? I’d love to hear your thoughts 📚👇 #PublicRelations #Marketing #Business

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I’m delighted to have been commissioned to write for the next issue of ‘Centrum’ the @PSMGLLP magazine. I’ll be turning my attention to -  Canva: The good, the bad and the ugly Canva is widely recognised for its user-friendly platform and diverse range of templates, making it accessible to individuals without graphic design training. However, its popularity raises the question: is this accessibility a double-edged sword? Just as we can all use a calculator without being accountants, the ease of Canva may have its drawbacks.   For organisations with non-designers utilising Canva, there exists a hidden cost. Enthusiasts may unknowingly transition from creating simple online graphics to unintentionally diluting their organisation's brand. In today's digital landscape, platforms like Canva have revolutionised design, granting individuals with a computer and internet access the ability to craft visually appealing content without formal design training. While this empowerment is commendable, it also highlights a significant issue.

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