MONDAY: 10.15am – I meet with Peter Payne of FORCE on behalf of my Chartered Accountant clients Haines Watts. Peter tells me about the plans for a new extension to the building and the works the charity are carrying out. He wants to see how FORCE can be considered to become the next ‘Charity of the Year’ for Haines Watts.
12 noon – I walk to Southernhay for the monthly marketing meeting with the partners of Haines Watts which I chair. As always it is a very full agenda and today the two main topics are marketing plans for the Budget and the press day I’ve organised on Wednesday at ‘The West of England School & College for young people with little or no sight’ in Topsham Road. WOE were ‘Charity of the Year’ in 2011 and through a series of networking events carried out over the year, Haines Watts raised c. £2,000. The monies have been utilised to create and refurbish a much needed new and fully equipped sensory room with wheelchair access for use by the pupils aged 4 – 15.
2.30pm – Meeting with Ronnie Halden of Peninsular Onesource to discuss costings for new folders for Radio Exe (formerly Exeter FM) following their re-brand. We also discuss the design of the new bespoke Peninsular Linx stand and promotional merchandise be is providing for my major client C G Fry & Son Builders who are exhibiting at the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) event at The Palace Hotel, Torquay in April.
4.00pm – I catch up with the dynamic Deborah Clarke of Southernhay House. She has generously donated an auction prize at the fabulous Burgh Island for the “Look Good – Feel Great” event I am organising on behalf of Nuffield Health Exeter Hospital and Dr Grant Cosmetic Dentist in aid of The Lady Taverners and Hospiscare. This unique ladies’ event compered by BBC Radio Devon’s Judi Spiers is being held on 8th March at Exeter Audi with the opportunity to meet some of the top Consultant Surgeons in the South West, a fashion show by John Lewis and makeovers and skincare advice from Purity Spa. Event management is very labour intensive but I find it highly rewarding, particularly when it is in aid of charity.
TUESDAY: A busy day catching up in the office. In the morning I liaise with JonPaul Hedge, Torquay Herald Express business reporter on behalf of my client Vehicle Save Contract Hire & Leasing. Last week Jane Knight, the General Manager and I drove to Newton Abbot for a photo-shoot with Andy Shout of the expanding company ‘Shout for an Electrician’ who has taken delivery of four new branded vans. I create a press release and edit the photographs to send to JP. I the afternoon I concentrate on all the areas of organisation for the ‘Look Good – Feel Great’ event. This includes collating quotes and images to send to Sue Kemp of Express & Echo for her main Health & Beauty feature for next week and also put together the running order for Judi Spiers.
WEDNESDAY: 9.15am – I arrive at WOE to meet Caroline Burkie Fundraising and PR Officer and Mark Campbell of ‘On The Mark Photography’ to discuss interviews, set up for the press together with photographic brief. John Andrews from ITV Westcountry Tonight arrives at 10am together with Ben de Cruz, Senior Partner of Haines Watts. Caroline takes us to the new sensory room which has been made possible as a result of funds raised by the Haines Watts team. The filming takes place over two hours with three of the children, Brooke, Jordan and Chloe demonstrating the new equipment with Sara Cross the Occupational Therapist. Mark takes a number of behind the scene shots throughout including a staged group photograph for the Express & Echo to accompany my press release. I then record a number of interviews on my I-Phone as requested by Mark Tyler, Head of the news team at Radio Exe.
1.30pm – I take on my role as the Business Development Manager for C G Fry & Son and all afternoon I follow up planning leads, speaking to architects and Quantity Surveyors across the South West.
6pm – I meet my son Oliver in town and we go to see the Muppets Movie – totally brilliant!
THURSDAY: 9.00am – I jump in the car and head for Hendford Care Home in Yeovil to meet my clients Michael Lawson and Sue Aldworth of Aurora Care. I carried out a one year PR/marketing campaign for the home; from the cutting of the turf to organising press for its opening in March 2010. Today we are discussing the second anniversary even tand also potential PR for the acquisition of a third care home for the group.
12 noon – I meet a former colleague from my Camelot days for lunch and catch-up in the pub next door to Hendford Care Home before driving to the office.
3.30pm – On my way back I stop-off at Radio Exe to transfer the interviews taken at WOEC from the voice recorder on my I-Phone before dashing off to Exeter Audi to meet Catherine Petherick to collect pens and inserts for the goody bags for the Ladies’ Event.
6pm – I attend a networking event by WBW Solicitors at RAMM which is really enjoyable.
FRIDAY: A full day in the office working for C G Fry & Son. The award winning company has an excellent reputation for producing a high quality build across the South West. Locally they built the Wyvern Park development located in Barrack Road. There are three areas to the business; Development, Contracting and Social Housing. During the morning I liaise with Chris Band of ADG Architects on the new brand for the partnership housing. I also create the text for a new company profile; project profiles and leaflets ready for the CIH event. In the afternoon I’m back on the telephone following up on planning leads and sending out expressions of interest for projects that we wish to tender for.
4.30pm – Amanda Bailey from Dr Grant surgery calls round to collect all the goody bags and inserts for the Ladies’ event.
5.30pm – I interview a graduate from Bournemouth University who wants to do some work experience with me during the summer as part of her Internship.
8.00pm – I get ready to go jiving at CEROC at St. Thomas Cricket Club for four hours of dancing. Naturally I’m on water all night as I never drink and jive!
