The TMPR team grows: welcome Mollie!

Say hello to TMPR’s new Marketing & PR Assistant!

TMPR are thrilled to welcome recent Marketing Management Graduate, Mollie Britton, to the growing team. Whilst studying at university, Mollie discovered an enthusiasm for public relations and a keen interest in B2B marketing.  As well as expertise from her degree, Mollie brings marketing experience from third sector organisations and e-commerce businesses to TMPR, along with a passion for writing and a hunger to learn.

“University has provided me with so much knowledge in various areas of marketing, from consumer psychology all the way over to project management. During my final year, I studied PR in more depth, and found a real passion for the craft. My new role at TMPR combines everything I loved about my studies and previous marketing jobs, so this is a really exciting new venture for me.”

Outside of work, Mollie is an avid lover of all things music, attending gigs up and down the country on an (almost) weekly basis, collecting vinyl records, and discovering new music at festivals every summer. Mollie’s other interests include film photography, tattoo art, and her pets/best friends Reggie the Italian Greyhound, Rudi the Greyhound, and Flynn the Ibizan Hound.

“TMPR believes in nurturing home-grown talent,” says Louise Morgan, TMPR director. “Mollie shows great promise and brings a positive attitude and enthusiasm to the team. We are really looking forward to helping her develop and giving her graduate career a boost.”

“Starting a new job is always daunting, but I couldn’t have asked for a better first couple of months – I’ve been so busy getting stuck in to the role I’ve only just found the time to post this blog!” Mollie laughs. “Everyone has been so supportive and encouraging, and I have learnt so much already. It feels like a really exciting time to be joining TMPR. There are big things happening behind the scenes and I can’t wait for it all to come to fruition in the new year!”

Welcome to the TMPR team, Mollie!

Glass making: TMPR’s fun day out!

TMPR are huge champions of ongoing professional development, but also believe encouraging personal growth is the key to nurturing a brilliant team. Alongside regularly attending industry events, every quarter TMPR have some fun away from the desks and learn new skills.

This quarter we visited Glass By Design, fellow Vale of Glamorgan Business Award’s finalists and only a stone’s throw away from our office in Penarth, for a glass making workshop. The team were taught a variety of brand-new skills by the expert teachers including how to make fused glass hangers and coasters from scratch, how to apply coloured glass to form a custom design, and how to fire their creations in the kiln to create a long-lasting ornament. The team also had a great time learning new technical terminology (we are a technical marketing agency after all!) including Confetti, Stringers, and Frit.

Rachel, who loves to craft in her spare time says: “The glass making away day was fantastic. Crafting is a huge passion of mine so learning about a new form of crafting and getting to be creative with my new team was a real treat, we had a lot of fun that day.”

“I had a great day at the glass workshop. I liked learning about the process and seeing my ideas come to life,” Oliver adds. “A highlight for me was learning about the kiln and how it makes the colours permanent, it was really interesting. The whole day was fun, and I would definitely do it again.”

“It was great to get the chance to be creative at the glass workshop and have some fun doing something a bit different,” Tom recalls. “It was intriguing to compare how the colours on the glass looked before and after they had been in the kiln as there was definitely a change. My favourite part of the day was seeing what designs everyone came up with.”

As we head into the final quarter of the year, next activity is destined for a seasonal theme… watch this space!

 

Meet Rachel, new member of the TMPR team!

TMPR are pleased to welcome Rachel Cole to the team, whose newly created role will see her assist our recently promoted office manager, Charlene Lau. Rachel brings over a decade of experience in administration to TMPR, along with her positive attitude and a love for creativity.

“I spent years as an admin assistant in a local university organising seminars for research institutes and making sure they ran smoothly. I joined TMPR after sadly being made redundant, but it has turned out to be a bit of a blessing in disguise as I am really happy in my new role.”

Outside of the office Rachel loves being creative and spends a lot of her time completing crafting projects. Rachel loves water colours, sequin art, and building Lego with her son. They have recently begun a new Lego endeavour – building a massive Baby Groot from Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy films – and are currently around a third of the way through! Rachel also enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends, and visiting some of the fantastic local restaurants The Vale of Glamorgan has to offer.

Louise Morgan, TMPR director says: “The administration team is relatively new to the business but has already become the backbone of our operations. The work behind the scenes sets the foundation for the wider team to deliver exceptional client experiences. I am really pleased to have Rachel on board who brings such extensive experience.”

“I’m really enjoying working at TMPR so far, I have an interesting range of tasks to get on with which keeps me on my toes,” Rachel adds. “I’m lucky to have joined a team of such lovely and supportive people. A highlight so far has to be the glass making away day we did at Glass By Design. I absolutely love crafting and creating new things, so it’s as if the day was made for me. It was great to get to know the team better and learn a new craft, I can’t wait for the next one!”

Welcome to the TMPR team, Rachel!

TMPR wins at Vale Business Awards!

Written by: Daisy Babbage

At the annual Vale Business Awards, Technical Marketing and PR were recognised as ‘Financial and Professional Services Business of The Year’.

Held at the Vale Resort on Friday 22nd September and hosted by the television and news presenter, Sian Lloyd, the Vale Business Awards recognises and celebrates entrepreneurial and innovative ventures of businesses within the Vale of Glamorgan constituency which are making a difference.

 

As the latest intern for TMPR, it was an honour to be invited to the event. This was the first official award ceremony I have attended, which made the experience all the more enjoyable. After some drinks, we were greeted with a delicious meal before the awards ceremony commenced.

The highlight of the night was most definitely TMPR winning big, celebrating the company’s growth and strong financial performance through our innovation and excellent customer service.

Although an intern, when you join TMPR, you are joining the team. Everyone at TMPR has been supportive with my learning of the marketing and PR world and have given me amazing experiences within the sector. Therefore, I was honoured to be invited onstage with the rest of the team for the award and photos.

 

“Winning the ‘Financial and Professional Services Business of The Year’ award celebrates the hard work the team has put in this year to maintain outstanding standards and relationships with our partners,” says Louise Morgan, Director, Technical Marketing and PR.

“This award is particularly special to the company as it is outside of our industry. We have had great success in the CIPR awards, but to win when competing against the whole financial and professional services sector is very rewarding.”

 

Congratulations to all the finalists and winners from the ceremony and thank you to the Vale Business Awards for hosting such a fantastic night. Finally, congratulations to the TMPR team for their well-earned award!

TMPR’s commitment to a real living wage

Written by: Daisy Babbage

We are happy to announce that Technical Marketing and PR (TMPR) has been accredited as a Living Wage Employer. This Living Wage commitment will see everyone working at Technical Marketing and PR receive a minimum hourly wage of £10.90, higher than the government minimum for over 23s, which currently stands at £10.42 per hour.

TMPR is based in Wales, a region where more than a tenth of all workers (11.8%) earn less than they need to get by, with around 144,000 jobs paying less than the real Living Wage.

 

Although TMPR has recently been accredited a Living Wage Employer, this is far from the start of the company paying its employees higher than the minimum wage. Even those on internships at TMPR earn a fair wage, as the business believes in nurturing and rewarding future talent. “We value all our employees at TMPR, and therefore believe this should be reflected not only in competitive salaries, but also wider benefits,” explains Louise Morgan, Director of TMPR.

“We’ve consulted closely with the team over the years to identify, above salary, what benefits are most valued. As a result of that, we now have private healthcare, flexi time, hybrid working, birthdays and Christmas shopping days off plus regular team building – the rugby always being a favourite!

“We want our team to be the best versions of themselves, so if we can help with that, then we will.”

 

The real Living Wage is the only rate calculated according to the costs of living. It provides a voluntary benchmark for employers that wish to ensure their staff earn a wage they can live on, not just the government minimum. Since 2011 the Living Wage movement has delivered a pay rise to over 450,000 people and put over £2 billion extra into the pockets of low paid workers.

Katherine Chapman, the Director of Living Wage Foundation, said: “We’re delighted that Technical Marketing and PR has joined the movement of over 12,000 responsible employers across the UK who voluntarily commit to go further than the government minimum to make sure all their staff earn enough to live on.

“They join thousands of small businesses, as well as household names such as Burberry, Barclays, Everton Football Club and many more. These businesses recognise that paying the real Living Wage is the mark of a responsible employer and they, like TMPR, believe that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay.”

Hello Daisy, the new Marketing Intern!

Written by: Daisy Babbage

Hot off the tail of our most recent hire is our new Marketing Intern, Daisy Babbage. Currently studying psychology at Cardiff University, she describes her interests as being in human behaviour and decision-making. “I’ve always wanted to go into marketing from a different perspective, thinking about why a marketing strategy is more persuasive than another, or what catches the attention of potential consumers, as well as wanting to understand how to implement it.

“Because of my degree, I am well versed in research and analysis. But what I am eager to expand on is my creative writing skills. As someone who loved English literature and creative writing during my A Levels, I’m excited to develop my written communication once again.” 

Alongside her internship and degree, Daisy enjoys keeping herself busy – whether that be through her retail job, running a weekly university radio show, or as a proactive member and publicity manager of an acting society. In what is left of her downtime, Daisy loves to paint, go on walks with family and friends, and listen to all genres of music.

“Everyone at TMPR has been so welcoming, friendly and helpful, making it feel like a really encouraging atmosphere to learn and develop my knowledge of the marketing and PR world. I can already tell how much of an impact this internship will have – not just for my understanding of marketing and PR, but also because of the people here.

“I love learning about the world, and ultimately, I would love to work in marketing for a technology company. I can’t wait to get stuck in and get hands-on insight into marketing, and I am so happy to be doing this with TMPR.”

Welcome to the team, Daisy!

TMPR ahead of the curve at FIREX

Written by: Mimi Deen

Attending industry events is crucial for keeping up with the latest regulation changes, product launches, and market trends. TMPR believes in ongoing professional development as this provides an excellent opportunity for on-the-job training and continuous learning to stay ahead of the curve. Earlier this year, we were fully engaged in EdTech at Bett which was held at the ExCel London Exhibition Centre.

TMPR returned to ExCel again last month, this time to learn more about the latest developments in fire safety and protection at FIREX. The three-day event was a great development opportunity as it brings together fire safety professionals and showcases the latest product, services, and technologies in the industry. Representing TMPR at the show were Tom Martin and Oliver Thorne. Having attended a fire safety event previously, this was their first time at FIREX. Despite having to navigate some tricky train delays on their way back, they both gained valuable insights and ideas to share with the wider team. 

“My first experience of FIREX was a very positive one. It was a brilliant opportunity to check in with the fire protection industry, and see a wide range of passive fire protection solutions up close, including product demonstrations and installs,” explained Tom.

Oliver also had the opportunity to visit various exhibitor stands and to learn about the latest products and services at FIREX. Here’s what he had to say about it:

“It was great to see the enthusiasm all around for fire safety from early on at FIREX. We attended a few live demonstrations on how to install fire-stopping solutions into various apertures, which was great viewing for beginners and experts alike.”

Tom was particularly excited to be there in-person, having supported a client with stand design and event planning for the show. Here are some of his highlights:

“We also attended some thought provoking seminars which will undoubtedly support our future projects. A particular highlight for me was checking in with our client, having been heavily involved with the preparation of their event planning and design. Seeing the stand come to life was very satisfying, and clearly resonated with its many visitors.”

What industry events are you looking forward to attending or hosting this year? If there’s a construction, manufacturing, or engineering related one you think we should know about, drop us a line at hello@technicalmarketing-pr.com.

Hwyl Fawr Carys!

Written by: Mimi Deen

We recently said goodbye to another one of our interns, Carys Williams, who joined TMPR for an initial three-month internship which was then extended. Here’s what she had to say about her journey of balancing studying and working with us:

“My TMPRship has been so insightful and I’m very grateful to Louise and the team for this invaluable opportunity. It was very important for me to gain experience in the industry, ahead of graduation. Completing my internship allowed me to develop my knowledge, experience and confidence, which are all essential to me, for when I enter the labour market after my studies. 

“Everyone within the in-house and wider team has been so patient and guiding, which I am really grateful for. My favourite tasks have been news round ups and blog writing, and I now even have tangible pieces of copy to add to my portfolio.

“I’ve also been lucky enough to become accustomed with tools used in this field of work; Cision, Smartsheet and WordPress, to name a few.”

If you’re a student or recent graduate looking to gain experience in marketing and PR, give us a shout at hello@technicalmarketing-pr.com or visit our LinkedIn to connect.

Welcome to TMPR, Mimi: ‘Selamat Datang’

Written by: Mimi Deen

April is blossoming to a positive start with Mimi Deen joining us as our newest Marketing Intern. She was born and raised in Malaysia, but her family once lived in Cardiff in the 90s, making it a walk down memory lane when she decided to pursue her MA at Cardiff University.

As a postgraduate student, Mimi juggles her time between work while pursuing her International Public Relations & Global Communication Management degree at the School of Journalism and Media Communications. She was then connected to TMPR via the Career Confident programme, leading her to work for us where she will support the team with regular marketing, PR activities, and client projects.

Before TMPR, Mimi was heavily engaged with corporate stakeholder engagement while working within a CSR organisation’s planning team. Mimi is passionate about enriching life with a sustainable approach to things as she believes in the long-term impact of it. She starts from home by educating her family about the simplest green alternatives, such as DIY-ing nature-friendly household solutions. Moving forward, she hopes to instil the habit within the working environment at the office. We value her keen interest, as sustainability is a key theme for TMPR and its clients.

Mimi had the opportunity to join the team, visiting screen-printing company and TMPR supplier, Screentec, on her second day. Upon seeing the printing house, she was thrilled to witness something close to her heart. “We travelled to Ferndale and I was especially interested when the Managing Director mentioned their business recycling approach. I thoroughly enjoyed the trip as it was also my first time going the Welsh valleys”. Adding that her transition into the workplace went seamlessly, “I felt comfortable since the first day; the team were very friendly and ensured to give me that sense of belonging from the get-go”.

We look forward to working with Mimi and seeing her develop skills and expertise in the PR industry. On behalf of all the team, we wish her a warm welcome and congratulations on a great start!

So long, and thanks for the fish, Charlie

To quote Douglas Adams, it may be time to say goodbye, but farewell is by no means forever… Charlie says hello to a whole new adventure!

Marketing Assistant Charlie Buckland joined us last June as a Marketing Intern, fresh from her studies at Cardiff University and finding her feet in the working world. She quickly established herself as a member of the TMPR team and was promoted to Marketing Assistant by the end of the summer.

From jumping straight in to support a national PR campaign, to finessing her copywriting skills crafting client blogs, case studies and press releases, Charlie has come on leaps and bounds from the graduate who first entered our doors.

While we’re sad to see Charlie leave, we look forward to continuing to cheer her on from the side-lines as she pursues her passion in Journalism.

But don’t just take our word for it, Charlie took the time to look back upon her time with the TMPR team:

Although my time at TMPR might be ending, the lessons I’ve learnt from my experience here will always stay with me. I’ve been put at ease since my very first day, the team could not have been more encouraging and it’s with a heavy heart that I leave them. To commemorate all that TMPR has done for me this past year, here are some of my highlights…

Crafting new copy

My role at TMPR has involved developing copy on a daily basis, from short and punchy social posts to more weighty case studies. It’s been an iterative process, but I’ve become self-assured in my writing and the experience has allowed me to grasp more about the world of technical marketing and public relations.

CIPR Training

TMPR prides themselves on investing in regular training to gain new skills and motivate new ways of approaching tasks. During my time at TMPR I underwent two training courses with the respected Chartered Institute of Public Relations, both in mastering the art of copywriting and press releases. The courses were so insightful, and the skills learnt reinspired my approach to writing and will transpire beyond the world of PR.

Growing in confidence

When I first joined the team, I had limited experience working within the business world, but TMPR soon showed me the ropes. Through 1 to 1 support with Director Louise Morgan and on-hand assistance from everyone in-house, I never felt like I was left high and dry.

From sitting in on meetings to now leading case study interviews for clients, I’m positive that I leave TMPR confident in my capabilities. It’s been so great to learn from applied experts within the industry who I am now fortunate enough to consider friends.

So finally, diolch yn fawr pawb at TMPR, for your constant guidance and encouragement. I truly could have not wished for a better team to mentor me through my first graduate role – I’ll be an onlooker forever in your favour.

And Charlene…I will always share your banana with you!