Panels, planning and Postgraduate Awards - all in a weeks work

By Sarah Hampton - Marketing Manager

Well firstly I do apologise for the late blog posting - it's been very busy within the Marketing team lately and since our last posting there's been lots going on that we can share with you. So do bear with me whilst I rattle through and bring you up to speed...

After all of our efforts over the past few months, our Clearing campaign for this year has finally come to a close. Freshers' Week is now just a stones throw away and so we're excited to see our campus get filled up with this years' new cohort of students as we start to see them settle in to their new surroundings and breathe new life into our campuses, after the last few months of summer seeming like a ghost town. But, as one job finishes another begins, and so it will be no surprise to hear that we're already straight into our 2014 marketing campaigns.

Failing to plan is
planning to fail!

I've been busying myself with meeting colleagues from our Digital Marketing, Telemarketing, Market Research, and Recruitment teams to discuss our plans and activity for the next academic year, as well as changes we'd like to make, and looking at ways that we can, as a team, implement some new and exciting ideas (more on these in future posts). It's all in the early stages at the moment and still quite hush hush, so I'll be able to share more with you as ideas progress.

Getting ahead of the game
with our Sports webpage

Some information that I can share with you is the success of our recent Postgraduate Sport campaign which ran between June and September. Working with our Sport departments based at our Bedford campus, we devised a marketing plan which involved trialling some promoted tweets for the very first time, direct marketing, as well as course features on Prospects and Masters Compare.

I hope to have the report on this activity finalised shortly, but some interim highlights include a 42% uplift to our PGT Sport applicants (post campaign), and a 65% uplift in applications compared with the previous year. A job well done if we do say so ourselves!

Role reversal with many candidates
posing some interesting questions to
the panel 

I'm always quite amazed at how much we're able to plough through, considering the amount of time I've actually spent at my desk in the last week or two. For the last week in particular I feel as though I could give the X Factor a run for their money as I don my interview attire and sit on panel after panel to meet new candidates as we interview for some vacancies within the wider MARC team. First up was a two-day stint to support the Recruitment team in their search for a new Recruitment Assistant. Candidates delivered excellent and insightful presentations into our many Postgraduate audiences and how we can better target them. With Postgraduate marketing being quite close to my heart I really enjoyed hearing what everyone had to say and what challenges they felt we faced. Over the last two days I've been on another panel, this time we've been recruiting to a role within my own team - Marketing Assistant. I found it fascinating to hear what questions we were asked at the end of the interviews, which definitely kept us all on our toes. From: "Why do we work here and what do you enjoy about your job", to "How will you manage my performance and development" to some out there questions such as "Tell us about the strategy for the next year".

Roll on Monday! It's prospectus
pitches time

Coming up next week are the 2015 prospectus pitches which we've been waiting for, for a long time (don't believe me? Scroll back through the blog posts to recall our excitement!). Well the time has finally arrived, so we'll be heading on over to our Putteridge Bury campus next week to form yet another panel, and meet with a number of agencies. I always enjoy seeing how our 2015 publications begin to take shape. Read more about this in next weeks post! We'll give you all the exclusive details right here.

The Postgraduate Awards will be the first event in the UK to celebrate and showcase marketing excellence in postgraduate recruitment.
— postgradawards (@postgradawards) April 2, 2013

Although we've been incredibly busy I've still managed to squeeze in some time to submit another awards entry; this time for Prospects' very first Postgraduate Awards. We've entered for Best Postgraduate Prospectus, alongside some entries from the Digital team, so keep everything crossed for us, and we'll keep you posted on whether we're lucky enough to have another awards dinner on the cards. After the hectic week that we've had I definitely think we deserve a treat or two!

Playing by the rules and the pike syndrome

A guest blog post from the freelancer!

Well, they’re keeping me busy here, working on, among other things, forthcoming Open Days, UCMK and PG Life, our monthly newsletter for those interested in postgrad education.
I’ve even recorded and edited (with a lot of help from Lauren!) my first YouTube video – an interview about our PG tourism courses.
As someone with a background in B2B marketing and sales it’s great to be talking to a different public in the form of potential, current and former University of Bedfordshire students. Whilst the audience is different the principles of communicating useful information to make informed purchase decisions are the same. 
Or so I thought … until… the traditional view of Marketing was called into question in a very entertaining way at a Knowledge Network event that Sarah, Rehanna and I went to at Putteridge Bury.

Business guru Grant Leboff, of Sticky Marketing fame, started off telling us about the ‘pike syndrome’ (go on - look it up on YouTube!) and used this analogy to educate us in the 3 (new) rules of marketing in the wake of the communications revolution and how we are all hyperconnected these days. (Except those of us who don’t have a smartphone yet but apparently I’m in a very small minority!!)
In a nutshell (because he talked for well over an hour, punctuated with examples ranging from the ‘Share a Coke’ campaign to Tesco weekly money-off vouchers and how Ford gave away Fiesta cars to prominent social media barons):

Rule 1. Marketing is no longer a means to an end-it’s an end in itself-no-one has a USP any more so Marketing must give value to the customer

Rule 2.  Marketing is no longer about products and services but about people, with information disseminated through virtual conversations ie  ‘online word of mouth’ such as Likes on Facebook or recommendations on shopping sites like Amazon

Rule 3. Marketing is no longer about getting customers (at least not directly) but about building communities and engaging with your public at different levels.

Perhaps I’ve added a bit of value with this blog post-especially to any marketers out there- by spreading the word about this ‘Marketing revolution’.

What do you think about how we communicate with you –can we give you ‘added value’?

In fact, is anyone out there reading this?!!

Actually that makes me reflect on that old philosophical chestnut –if a tree falls in a forest but nobody hears it did it actually make a sound? If I write something online, but no-one reads it, did it exist or has it disappeared in the ether?

Whoa!!... this is getting way too serious-I should be blogging about the latest piece of vintage jewellery I bought off eBay to add to my stunning collection-or whether to up the weights I’ll press in the gym tonight.  Or whether my beloved St Helens will get through to the Super League Grand Final…now, in view of this season’s poor form (they're playing like that pike), that would take some new rules!

Happy Monday!

by Rehanna Khan, Marketing Assistant

Hello again

As we usher in the seasonal terrible twosome - rain and wind - we wave a reluctant goodbye to the glorious summer of 2013. Since we're so accustomed to a British summer lasting a 'debatable' week, the two months of 'unseasonal' sunshine have indeed been glorious! See you next year... *eveything crossed* And although Summer takes a break, it's business as usual in the Marketing team...


We officially kicked off the 2014 open day cycle in July. With our upcoming Open Days one month after the other, it's fun times ahead. The next one is Wednesday (11 September) 10.30am - 3pm at both Luton and Bedford campuses. If you're interested in a course at Bedforshire or just want advice on university study and life in general then come along. You can talk to an academic about specific courses and areas of interest, explore the fantastic facilities and talk to students past and present about life at the University. Register here.

I'm not sure if you recall but I mentioned working on a collection of subject guides along with Lauren and Scott a few posts ago. I'm glad to report most are now signed off and online with just Sport, Nursing, Education and English awaiting the final touches.

What's more, we'll be starting the Undergraduate Propsectus 2015 in a weeks time. So early you say? Absolutely! Producing one prospectus can take up to five months to complete and even then, it's a real challenge. So if you see me and I don't see you, please forgive me.We'll be starting the process with creative agencies pitching for the creative design and management of our suite of prospectuses (undergraduate and postgraduate). Will keep you updated.

On another positive note, we have a new addition (albeit temporary) to the team in the exuberant form of Gaynor Bray. Since Scott left a few weeks ago, Gaynor has been gracing the team with her creative mind, great eye for detail and fantastic taste in jewellery! She has helped the team progress jobs and projects and is a pleasure to have on board. We'll be interviewing for the Marketing Assistant job very soon so watch this space for more additions to the team...

On a personal note, I've been on air. In my spare time, I've been sharing the air waves with Dr Fiaz (also from the University) on Inspire FM, the local community radio station. We've been hosting 'In my humble opinion' which airs every Friday's from 6-7pm. Discussing religion and social perceptions to political issues, we talk about anything and everything that our listeners want to hear. So tune in and feel free to call or text - we'd love to hear from you. Tune in here.

So. Two months ago I invested in a cineworld unlimited card. I was all geared up to watch a minimum of two movies a week - I can solemnly report I haven't watched any! Hoping to report on a cinematic movie fest soon...

Until the next time, it's adieu from me.

Well deserved fun needed I think!

By Michelle Ramsumair, Marketing Administrator

Firstly, a huge congratulations to Sarah Hampton for her promotion to Marketing Manager! Truly well deserved and she is going to do a superb job I’m sure.  If you can’t tell already it’s all happening in our team.

If you haven't noticed us about with our Clearing advertising and appearances at various locations in Luton and Bedford, a summer holiday is not an excuse! It's pretty hard not to see us, and we have a number of events coming up.  

Wednesday 11 September 10.30am-3pm we have our first Open Event during the week for anyone interested in 2014 entry. It will be at both our Luton and Bedford campuses so a huge department effort is being made. If you or you know anyone who may be interested come along.

On Wednesday 18 September from 1-7.30pm the public will be able to drop-in to our new campus UCMK! With brand new facilities and academics there to talk to, it will be the perfect opportunity to find out what it would be like to study with us. There are full-time and part-time courses available, so if you are interested why not come see us. It’s a good excuse to have a snoop around too. For more information, visit www.ucmk.ac.uk.

At the moment you can tell it's rather manic, working on current campaigns and the beginning of our Part-time and Winter Campaign also. Now we are out and about we won't be going anywhere, so watch this space to see what's coming next. Obviously after a non-stop few weeks we deserve to let our hair down, so a group of us gorgeous ladies will be going out tonight. It could get a little messy but it's much needed indeed. Although summer is at an end why should the fun stop right? Have a great relaxed or lively weekend!

On the case

By Sarah Hampton - Marketing Manager

Arriving at the Case Conference

This week is my first week back in the office, and also my first official week as the new Marketing Manager, having been away at the Case Europe Annual Conference following on from the recent bank holiday. As my remit has now expanded to look after both Undergraduate and Postgraduate Marketing (In my former role as Marketing Officer my main domain was Postgraduate), I decided that I needed to refresh my knowledge, and what better way to reacquaint myself than by attending a three day conference dedicated to Higher Education!

Pen poised; fetching purple lanyard - that can only mean 1thing. I'm @mcr_central ready to begin the @caseconference @CASE_Europe #ceac2013
— Sarah Hampton (@Sarah_Hampton) August 27, 2013

Manchester Convention Centre

This years' Case Conference was held at the Manchester Convention Centre, and played host to more than 900 delegates from all areas of Marketing, Communications, Digital Marketing, Alumni Relations and Fundraising. It really provided a great networking opportunity, and in my usual sponge-like way, I was able to soak up lots of interesting information about what challenges other universities are facing, and how they are tackling them. It was also great to catch up with some companies that we've worked with closely over the last year including the Guardian, and Graduate Prospects.

Reputation, reputation, reputation!
One of the many sessions at Case.

The conference itself can be quite intensive, with back-to-back sessions lined up within each specialised area. For the duration of the three days I opted to follow the 'Marketing track' as closely as possible, attending sessions such as "We're all marketers now - engaging the organisation in the development of a marketing culture" and "Stand apart from the crowd - uncovering and proving your unique selling points" - both of which are quite topical and timely for us at Bedfordshire. I also attended a session run by the University of Reading, entitled "The 3 R's: Reputation, reputation, reputation" (see above image). Quite an insightful look into managing brands, and how not to - with a few humourous case studies thrown in there for good measure.

China Town, Manchester

To round up my experience in Manchester, I teamed up with our very own Alumni Relations Manager, Lucia Limb (who was also a delegate); and we did what any self respecting tourist would do: head on down to China town, and so that is exactly what we did! We were spoilt for choice as we took in the sights, sounds, and delicious smells; and promptly settled down for what was an incredible feast of food.

For some reading this blog, you'll be wondering why I'm not reporting back on the first evening in Manchester which was spent with my new found HE friends, well, in short it involved a fabulous rum bar, many cocktails, and a very slow start to the next day. But that's for another blog, another time. ;-)