Tracey Barrett MCIPR

This article in PRWeek UK Evie Barrett is a great leveller for leaders in our sector. NoTurningBack2020 has been championing and educating 18-25 year olds about the many and varied career paths in PR, Communications and Marketing since 2016. Our Early Careers Outreach programme is delivered by young people working across Comms & Marketing in our sector. They speak at 6th form colleges, Academies and non Russell Group universities across the UK. Their key messages are beautifully voiced in this piece by some of PR Week's 30 under 30. 1. Shine a light on the many and varied careers in our sector "I would love for people to have a deeper understanding of what it means to work in the industry,” said Natalie Phillips Marks and Spencer. Amy Moore account director, influence, Weber Shandwick “When I was at school, I didn’t even consider PR as a job option.” 2. You don't need a degree to get on 'Degrees should no longer be a barrier to entry, argues Lucy Somers, group deputy director of digital PLMR, who reflects on starting her own career and not wishing to go to university, but struggling to find comms apprenticeships. 3. The sector needs more cultural competence Tani Fatuga, Hard Numbers 📈 “It’s crucial for PR and comms professionals to develop a deeper understanding of different cultures and communities if we want to effectively communicate campaigns to a diverse target audience. 4. The sector needs more socio economic diversity Méganne Tillay account manager Byfield: “I think there is a systemic issue around privilege in relation to socioeconomic diversity in some elements of the comms industry, particularly at the larger agencies and in the City [of London]. Get in touch with NTB2020 Ambassador Early Careers Outreach team to find out what you can do to help change the face of the marketing communications sector for good. [email protected] Sarah Bishop Adrian St Clair Walcott powered by f1 Recruitment Limited Brands with Values James Hewes Avril Lee https://lnkd.in/eqhhXmGE

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What's the biggest threat to your agency as you scale past £1 million? If you're thinking cash flow, market competition, or even a recession... You're dead wrong. The real killer? Death by managers and "professionals". I've seen it happen time and time again... An agency hits that magical 7-figure mark, and suddenly they think it's time to "grow up". They start hiring fancy executives with impressive resumes from big corporations. And before you know it... Everything. Slows. Down. The scrappy, nimble agency that used to move at lightning speed? Gone. Replaced by endless meetings, bureaucracy, and "strategic planning sessions" that go nowhere. It's like watching a cheetah transform into a sloth. But here's the thing... It doesn't have to be this way. The cure? STAY SCRAPPY. Keep that startup mentality that got you here in the first place. Here's how: - Hire doers, not managers. You want people who roll up their sleeves and get shit done, not those who just delegate. - Focus on high-impact players. Look for the one-man armies who can wear multiple hats and make things happen. - Keep your team lean. More bodies doesn't equal more productivity. Quality over quantity, always. - Embrace healthy tension. Encourage strong opinions and heated debates. That's where the magic happens. - Stay customer-obsessed. Never lose sight of who you're really serving. Remember, you can keep this scrappy mentality all the way up to £10 million (and beyond). So, if you're approaching that 7-figure mark (or even if you're already there)... Don't fall into the trap of "corporate thinking". Stay hungry. Stay scrappy. Stay successful. Want to dive deeper into scaling your agency without losing your soul? I recorded a free masterclass where I broke down my exact blueprint for scaling to 7-figures (and beyond) while staying lean and agile. Link in comments

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WARNING **RADICAL HONESTY POST** 😅 So today marks the second day in my new journey of reducing my screentime. But you work at a computer, I hear you say! Yeah but that's the thing. I have been looking at my job as 'separate' to any screen time consumed in the morning or evening and in the endeavor of radical honesty, this became a pretty big issue for me! Those of you who know me will know I'm raw-dogging life without ADHD meds (a personal choice) and there are pros and cons to this. One of the cons is that even though I am an absolute Pro with a capital P at masking, sometimes my impulses take over and I form really bad and unhealthy habits that are hard to break. For what it's worth, when I'm with my kids, it's rare I look at my phone unless it rings but that means that when I'm not I have a million notifications and end up getting sucked in. I also love ❤️TV and film❤️ so many evenings are spent devouring HBO's latest offering or maybe a Prime Home Premier if I'm feeling spicy. I started feeling really low recently and when I thought about it, the amount of hours that my eyes were focused on a screen were really totting up😅The thing is, when you have ADHD you kind of live your life with racing thoughts every waking moment of the day and I realised that my recreational screen use was me trying to self-medicate my exceptionally busy brain, which for obvious reasons isn't great. I mean, what therapist ever recommended more screentime as a means to treat ADHD symptoms? 🤣 Ironically, I've always been really strict on my kids using devices (they only have the telly or laptop for schoolwork) and my 11 year old only has a burner phone as I don't want his social development to be stunted by a screen and internet use, which surprisingly, he's cool with. So I'm owning my shit and making a decision to reduce my out of work hours screentime down to an hour a day and TV is going to become a treat after the gym or at weekends once my kids are in bed. I want to rediscover my creativity away from a screen and I'm hoping this will only enhance the passion and ideas I already bring to my job, which I love! Is anyone else out there just feeling that we are all spending way too much time looking at screens or is it just me? 😅😂 #partialdigitaldetox

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Wondering when your social posts have the highest engagement rates? Don't miss out on our free roundtable where you'll discover why timings matter in order to maximise ROI on social platforms. Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/ecfgd_SZ #socialmedia #recruitmentnetwork #recruitment

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A confused mind does nothing… As marketers you know only too well how even the slightest setback , complication or frustration can lose a customer in a nano second .. It’s the same with a CV. I’m still seeing too many CVs from senior marketers that are quite frankly .. CONFUSING 🫤 The main offences ⛔️ Over complicated formats - Charts, graphs , vertical blocking etc ⛔️ Long-winded and over wordy intro/summary ⛔️ Poorly laid out career history . Yesterday I found myself scratching my head on several occasions and having to check in against profiles on LinkedIn in make sense of some CVs for a Senior Marketing Manager role . This doesn’t do you any favours in the current competitive market . If I get too confused/frustrated by a CV I put it to the bottom of the pile. In the meantime it’s highly likely that I’ll process enough, clear , coherent CVs, for a quality shortlist and crack on with those . 📣 Keep your CV simple ✅ Use a horizontal layout so it’s easy to scan read ❌ Ditch the graphics, logos selfies and formatting. Trust me it will increase your chances of your CV being read and so considered for a role . Anything to add ? Let me know in the comments 👇 #Marketingrecruitment #Recruitertips #CVtips #Marketingindustry

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"𝑶𝒖𝒓 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒆𝒛𝒆𝒅" This was a conversation with at least 3 of our agency clients last week. Marketing agencies are up against it. Trying to secure renewals when clients are wanting a reduction in costs and yet they're wanting more for their money. So as an agency margins are squeezed and therefore standards could be compromised. They know they need more people but the numbers don't add up. And yet very few agencies have a sales strategy or anyone responsible for new business. It baffles me every time. No business in any industry would survive without a sales strategy. If you're considering how to ensure a consistent flow of the right clients then drop me a note. I'd love to talk to you about the BDM's/SDR's we are currently working with who could be the answer. #BusinessDevelopment #MarketingAgency #PRAgency

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🌍 Charity CMOs: Are You Truly Harnessing the Power of Purpose-Driven Marketing? 🌍 As a CMO in the charity sector, your role goes beyond conventional metrics. You’re mobilising movements in a rapidly evolving landscape. With compassion fatigue rising by 30% across the UK (source: Charity Digital 2023) 📉 and competition for attention at an all-time high 📱, the real question is: Are you building lasting connections, or merely seeking conversions? 📊 Edelman’s 2023 Trust Barometer reveals that over 60% of people trust mission-driven brands more than traditional institutions—especially when they communicate authentically. Here are three ways to rethink your impact and connect meaningfully: ✨ 1. Shift from Data-Driven to People-Driven Storytelling Stats show that emotional engagement—especially through storytelling—can increase donation rates by up to 50% (source: Classy.org). Real impact stories resonate. Ask yourself: Are you telling stories that evoke empathy, or simply reporting numbers? 🤝 2. Make Authenticity Your Strategy, Not Just a Tactic People give to people, not brands. Research reveals that supporters are twice as likely to donate to organisations that showcase transparency and real faces (source: CharityComms). Are you allowing your organisation’s authentic voice to come through, or are you stuck in “safe” messaging? 💻 3. Use Digital Tools to Enhance, Not Replace, the Human Element Personalisation can boost engagement by 26%, but only when paired with human-centred outreach (source: McKinsey). Real transformation comes when digital tools amplify—not replace—human connection. Are you striking that balance, or is automation diluting your impact? ✨ You’re in a unique position to lead change by sparking genuine, enduring engagement. Are you fully embracing your influence as a catalyst for lasting impact, or are you settling for short-term results? 💬 Let’s drive this conversation forward. Share your experiences, and let’s collectively elevate our sector. Together, we can inspire more than donations—we can inspire movements. 💪🌱 #CharityCMO #PurposeDrivenMarketing #NonProfitLeadership #DigitalStrategy #CharitySectorUK #MarketingTransformation

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🔥 Burnout Concerns Among Marketers 🔥 New research from the Chartered Institute of Marketers (CIM) reveals that 56% of marketers fear burning out. The relentless pace of the industry, coupled with mounting pressures and roll out of new technologies, has left many professionals feeling close to overwhelmed. 💰 Budget Worries 💰 But that’s not all. 59% of marketers worry that brands will cut marketing budgets due to economic pressures. As companies tighten their belts, marketing departments are bracing for potential cutbacks. 💼 Salary Stagnation 💼 Adding to the stress, a significant 18% reported that their salaries remained unchanged. Meanwhile, just over a third (36%) saw modest increases ranging from 1% to 5%. It’s a delicate balancing act for marketers as they navigate both burnout concerns and financial stability. During recent conversations many professionals seemed to have lost some of passion and enthusiasm about their roles. Surely more needs to be done to help ease the burden on marketing professionals? I’d love to hear some thought about how people remain passionate about your chosen career in a tough economy. Feel free to share your thoughts below 👇 https://lnkd.in/ehn2zcy8 #Burnout #MarketingCareer #Motivation

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I love this initiative and I think it will make such a difference to the working culture in agencies. It also indicates how well research suppliers and buyers work together. Brilliant. #marketresearch #partnership #worklife

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Business partners or suppliers? I would wager most PR agencies would say they do some of their best work with clients that view and treat them as partners over suppliers. Those relationships that can be built so there is trust and respect and as the PR agency "supplier" you can genuinely offer insight and advice into getting the best possible results. You see yourselves as an extension of the client team and work together to deliver mind blowing work that have real commercial results. It might even go as far as those clients you feel really valued by as a trusted partner are the ones you are also most likely to go above and beyond for? I often have this discussion with the agencies I partner with on how important the same relationship works when the PR agency is the client side. Of course I often relate it to working with a recruiter and how the best work and results comes from developing a collaborative working relationship, however it is true for all suppliers a PR agency might work with. It is a principle we can all frequently remind ourselves of, but perhaps is even more important in a tough or stressful market. Treat others as you wish to be treated. It is a philosophy that can be hard to get right but one I try to stick to in both my personal and professional life. Do you think having proper commercial partnerships matter or is it better to just have a client and supplier relationship?

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Is your PR agency's climate policy a turn off for top-talent? In 2024, our PR salary guide showed that 60% of the PR industry care if their agency works with a fossil fuel giant, Havas were stripped of their B Corp status because of their work with Shell and the UN Secretary general called for creative agencies to stop greenwashing. Based on these points alone, having no climate policy (let alone working with fossil fuel giants) is affecting your talent attraction. Check out my article on CIPR Influence to gain tips on how to boost your talent retention (and attraction) with a climate positive policy. https://lnkd.in/ewFJ2GwH

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One of the features from my “blue print guide” to success as a Rec Biz Ldr Data is a key part of “top of the funnel” marketing success Here is a summary and some product suggestions we love Remember RDLC Pirates get deals on these tools and help plan the ideal stack for our members across soooo many sectors and styles of business Winning Olympic style

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📢 Calling all Directors of Communications who Job Share! I'm exploring the world of job sharing at a senior level, specifically within Communications, and I'd love to hear from those of you who have first-hand experience. I'd love to know, how do you make it work effectively and what are your top strategies for seamless collaboration? Do you have any tips on managing challenges? Please share your insights and tips as would be incredibly valuable for anyone exploring this path. #JobSharing #Communications

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What is PR’s role in the sales funnel? Recently Bottle | Digital PR Agency has put together research looking at how PR can contribute throughout the sales funnel. So I was delighted to chat to Bottle’s MD, Natasha Hill to give us an insight into that research. We spoke about examples of the type of contribution PR can make at the top, middle and bottom of an organisation’s sales funnel and more. Highlights include: – Bottle’s version of the sales funnel from a public relations perspective. – How you measure the impact of the various channels on the funnel in an integrated campaign – How can PR contribute at different stages of the funnel This was a great chat. I’d recommend having a listen if you’re thinking strategically about how your content can compliment your sales funnel. Have a listen on Apple Podcasts here: https://lnkd.in/e2TAAAwi As always, if you like what you hear, then please do leave a review or subscribe!

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5 Key Questions to Ask When Interviewing Marketing Candidates for Your Charity When it comes to finding the right marketing talent for your charity, asking the right questions is crucial. Here are five essential questions to guide your interviews: 1. How would you align our marketing strategy with our mission? - This question uncovers their understanding of non-profit marketing and their ability to connect strategy with purpose. 2. Can you describe a successful campaign you've run on a limited budget? - This tests their creativity and resource management skills, which are vital in the non-profit sector. 3. How do you measure the success of a marketing campaign in a non-profit context? - This assesses their grasp of non-profit metrics beyond just financial returns. 4. How would you engage and retain donors through marketing? - This evaluates their understanding of the importance of donor relationships in charities. 5. How do you stay updated with digital marketing trends, and how would you apply them to our charity? - This checks their commitment to continuous learning and their ability to innovate in the non-profit space. These questions will help you identify candidates who truly understand the unique challenges and opportunities in charity marketing. Happy interviewing! #CharityJobs #CharityMarketing #Interviewing

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Not sure where to start when looking for a PR agency? Read our latest blog for tips on what traits to look for...

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