ENGAGING AND SUPPORTING THE

COMMUNITY IN WHICH WE WORK

Our success will be defined, not just by the profits we make, but by the mark we make on the community in which we work.

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INTRODUCTIONHere at The Marketing Eye, we work with national and international clients, yet we are still incredibly proud of being based in Sussex and feel a strong sense of responsibility towards the community in which we work.

Our community involvement touches every aspect of our business and is hard-wired into our business objectives. We want to be known as a company that is responsible and caring, so we commit approximately 10% of our chargeable time to voluntary activity.

We have taken a conscious decision to go deeper than straightforward fundraising and donations. Instead, we have devised bespoke programmes to support the causes we have identified as important to us, namely:

• Creating opportunities for young people• Hospice care• Cancer research• Uniting the local business community

Stakeholders in the beneficiary organisations are always closely involved in the design of activities to ensure that they deliver wide ranging and long lasting benefits.

We have produced this publication to explain the projects we are involved with and the values we hold dear to us. You will see that all of our community projects are treated in the same way as a client project – with our team members sharing the responsibility, depending on their particular skills and expertise. This reflects in the professional manner in which our programmes are delivered and the success they ultimately achieve.

We hope you find it as inspiring to read about our activities as we do designing and working on them.

YOUNG BUSINESSMINDS Young Business Minds is an exciting competition, conceived and sponsored by The Marketing Eye, to provide Year 12 students with an insight into the business world. The competition gives students practical experience of: • Conceiving and developing a business proposition• Considering and managing the range of requirements needed to start and run a successful business• Acting in an economically responsible manner• Learning to meet deadlines and the importance of attention to detail• Presenting to leading local business people in a ‘pitch’ scenario and improving confidence andpresentation skills

With the Government’s commitment to enterprise under the ‘Start Up Britain’ banner, there can be no better or more important time for The Marketing Eye to be sponsoring this initiative.

Colleges that participated in 2014:• Uckfield Community Technical College• Uplands Community College, Wadhurst• Beacon Community College, Crowborough• Heathfield Community College• Tonbridge School for Boys• South Down College, Eastbourne

The competition

The students form themselves into teams of four and appoint roles and responsibilities.

These are typically:

• Managing Director - The project manager/team leader• Marketing Director - In charge of advertising, marketing and PR• Finance Director - Responsible for budgeting - predicted revenue/costs etc• Operations Director - Responsible for the organisational and logistical aspects of the business

The teams agree on a product or service idea and develop their business plan inside 20 hours of lessons. The plan needs to be documented into a written report and then pitched to a panel made up of local business people. Unlike Young Enterprise, the students don’t have to implement their ideas, leaving them free to stretch their imaginations. Their business plans do, however, have to be credible, meaning that a plan for a High Street retail business can have as much chance of winning as a concept for the next Facebook.

The plan needs to include:

• A description of the idea and how it will work • Market research to prove demand for the idea• A breakdown of start-up costs• A marketing plan for the first 12 months

• Profit projections, including sales, gross profit and operating costs• A cash-flow forecast for the first 12 months

In their report and during the pitch presentation, the teams have to substantiate why they have decided on their business idea and how they would make it successful. This is based on their market research, marketing plan and profit projections.

During the competition, The Marketing Eye is on hand to lend support via designated sessions with a team ‘mentor’ and with hints and tips on its Facebook page.

The finalThe schools select two teams each to send through to the final.

The finalists are required to pitch to a panel of local business people in a ‘Dragons’ Den’ type format. Unlike Dragons’ Den, however, the panel is there to help the students deliver the best presentation they can and provides constructive feedback throughout the session.

The teams are marked across a range of criteria, covering the quality of the business plan and the quality of the presentation. The highest overall mark is declared the winner.

Prize giving and prizesThe results are announced at a tension filled prize-giving ceremony, during which the eight finalists are reduced to a top four and then the runners-up and winners are revealed. All participants and their course leaders are invited.

The winning team is awarded a trophy for their school and a £150 cash prize. The runners-up receive a runners-up trophy and a £50 cash prize. All finalists receive structured feedback on their business plans and presentations in a written document.

At The Marketing Eye we also support the competition with PR and the winning team received coverage in local papers and magazines, as well as being interviewed on two radio stations, including BBC Radio Sussex.

Every pupil who successfully participates in the competition receives a certificate which provides evidence of their activities and can be used for job and university application purposes.The biggest prize of all is, of course, the experience the students will have gained to enhance personal statements for CVs and university applications.

TESTIMONIALS Young Business Minds has been a real eye-opener to what business is all about. Taking part in the competition has given us so much experience and we will all carry it with us for a long time, way beyond ‘A’ levels.Michael Pooley, Student, Uplands Community College

Our students loved the experience of getting involved with Young Business Minds: it was really good experience for them to speak to real business people and to be challenged by them.Collette Campbell-Gohil, Business Studies Teacher, Ringmer Community College

Thank you so much for providing my students with such an invaluable opportunity during the [Young Business Minds] competition. This experience will be a lasting memory for these students and it was a great learning experience for them too.Andy Shepherd, Head of Business Education and Enterprise, Beacon Community College

[The winning students] came over extremely well and are brimming with confidence, which is great to see.Charles Hendry, Member of Parliament, Wealden

I am a passionate believer in the talent and enterprise that exists in young people and feel, now more than ever, that those of us in business have a responsibility to encourage students to consider running a business as a viable career choice. Through Young Business Minds, we have highlighted the real talent and business acumen that exists in our local colleges. Neil Edwards, Managing Director, The Marketing Eye

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CANCER RESEARCH UK, SUMMER LUNCH

PR Manager, Angela Ward, is the organising force behind the annual Cancer Research UK summer lunch. Angela has been a member of the Crowborough committee of Cancer Research UK for the past seven years and became involved after her daughter, Naomi, died of Neuroblastoma (a childhood cancer) in 2004, aged just four years old.

Held at the East Sussex National Golf Resort & Spa, near Uckfield, the event has become an established part of the business social calendar and attracts approximately 250 guests. Organised by the Crowborough committee of CRUK - and with marketing support from The Marketing Eye - the lunch raises more than £9,000 for the charity each year.

The Marketing Eye provides expertise and resources to the committee during the build-up to the lunch. This year, guests enjoyed a talk about developments in cancer research by Professor Peter Schmid, Foundation Chair of Cancer Medicine at Brighton and Sussex Medical School and the University of Sussex.

The event included a welcome drink of sparkling wine, sponsored by Armida Chartered Accountants, in the stunning foyer of the East Sussex National. Then guests enjoyed a two-course meal with red wine sponsored by David Haskoll Ltd and white wine by Inspirations Algarve Exclusive Travel Club. The wine itself came from the Quinta dos Vales vineyard in Portugal.

Other sponsors included Dawson Hart, which sponsored the coffee, ASP, David Bartholomew Photographer, EM Communications, Oregen Computer Training, Simmons Gainsford, Swindells, Tester & Jones, Towry and TR Fastenings.

We are really grateful to The Marketing Eye for giving up time to support us with the marketing for our lunch. The help the firm provided with generating PR, producing and printing our menu, creating a PowerPoint, helping with the auction and supporting us on the day, was invaluable.Elizabeth Bostock, Chair of the committee

Well done. The arrangements were superb, the speaker was very interesting and it was nice to hear how the research is moving forward.Glenys Jones, Tester & Jones

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UCKFIELD BUSINESS AWARDSThe Marketing Eye provides its resources and backing to the Uckfield Business Awards to help promote business in the town and to recognise and celebrate the diversity and achievements of the Uckfield business community.

Managing Director, Neil Edwards, Gary King of Uckfield FM and Uckfield Chamber of Commerce committee member, Adrian Corbin, worked out the basic structure of the Awards and sold the sponsorships.

The awards are open to all businesses in the Uckfield area covering the post code districts of TN22 and BN8. There are 15 awards and the categories are chosen to make sure there is something for every business. Awards range from Business of the Year to Customer Service and Contribution to the Community.

The Marketing Eye plays a significant role in promoting the awards: generating sponsorship, encouraging applications and engaging the general public. In addition, we have built the website, which provides the essential infrastructure to the awards process, and are heavily involved in organising the Gala Awards Night Dinner, which this year took place at East Sussex National Hotel on 6 November.

The response to the awards has been overwhelming. Applications were recieved from more than 100 businesses and there were more than 450 votes from members of the public, all eager to recognise and endorse their favourite local companies.

Every one of the 15 categories in the Awards was supported.

TESTIMONIALS I couldn’t be happier with the response. The Marketing Eye has done an excellent job in promoting the awards. There has been a steady flow of applications throughout the process, the wider public has been engaged to back Uckfield businesses and we have had a very successful awards night dinner.Adrian Corbin, Uckfield Chamber of Commerce

I am delighted that Uckfield businesses are being recognised with these awards. Our local businesses are the lifeblood of our communities and those in Uckfield have constantly worked to stay ahead of the game during these difficult economic times. Their dedication has resulted in Wealden having very high levels of employment.Charles Hendry, Member of Parliament, Wealden

We are active members of the Uckfield Chamber of Commerce and the Awards are a natural extension of our ongoing commitment to give something back to the community in which we work. We are bringing all of our experience and resources to bear to make sure the Awards are an outstanding success and create a platform for the Awards to continue for many years to come.Neil Edwards, Managing Director, The Marketing Eye

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HOSPICE IN THE WEALD – TORCHLIGHT DINNERThe Torchlight Dinner - which featured Dame Kelly Holmes as its special guest - raised in excess of £25,000 for Hospice in the Weald. The black-tie corporate dinner was attended by 200 people and sponsored by Creaseys and Handelsbanken.

The Marketing Eye provided its services free of charge to help with the organisation of this prestigious corporate fundraiser and led on the marketing activity associated with it.

This included:

• Design of the event logo• An extensive campaign on Twitter and Facebook• Development of an event website - incorporating online booking• Press releases and media management, to achieve coverage in a variety of local publications• Direct marketing to help raise awareness and sell tables and advertising• Event management support• Design of the event programme

The evening began with a magnificent champagne reception held in the sumptuous surroundings of Hever Castle. Harpist Natasha Gale entertained, while magician Lee Burridge amazed guests with his spell-binding close-up magic. Guests then took a short stroll through the castle grounds to the Guthrie Pavilion. They were entertained on the way by a spectacular display of fire-eating. MC for the night was comedian Scott Charlton.

The event was a great success. A high level of awareness was achieved in the West Kent business community (the principle target audience) and a good level of ‘buzz’ in the online and offline media created. More than 200 tickets were sold at £65 each and all the programme advertising was sold too. The Hospice also received generous offers of support with sponsorship and auction prizes.The event raised in excess of £25,000 for the Hopsice.

We are delighted that such a fantastic amount of money was raised and very grateful to everyone who came, our sponsors and of course Dame Kelly Holmes. There was a great buzz during the evening and the generosity of many resulted in a hugely successful corporate dinner.Rob Woolley, Chief Executive of Hospice in the Weald

It was a privilege to be involved as co-sponsors of Hospice in the Weald’s flagship fundraising event. The evening had all the hallmarks of good planning and excellent organisation and it did not disappoint. Hever Castle was a brilliant setting for what was a most enjoyable occasion - it was first class in every respect. Roger Ward, Partner and Head of Charities Unit, Creaseys

The Torchlight Dinner was an absolutely magical evening with champagne, fire entertainers and fire poi, all set within the majestic grounds of Hever Castle. With an inspirational speech from Dame Kelly Holmes and the knowledge that the evening raised funds for an extremely worthy local charity - it was truly an event to remember.Nick Green, Branch Manager, Handelsbanken, Tunbridge Wells

We were thrilled to be involved with The Torchlight Dinner and delighted by the amount of money raised. The event promised a lot and delivered even more.Neil Edwards, Managing Director, The Marketing Eye

TESTIMONIALS A massive thank you for everything you have done to make last night such a success. As a local charity rooted in this community, reliant on fundraising, we are already looking forward to next year.Rachel Holweger, Fundraising Director, Hospice in the Weald

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WORK EXPERIENCE, MENTORING AND INTERNSHIPSWe regularly open our doors to young people, giving them the opportunity to work with us for a

week at age 15, or for a longer period as part of a degree course.

This summer, we have welcomed no less than four students on work experience to our offices in Uckfield and expect more to join us later in the year.

First to join was Luke Johnson, a year 10 student from Uckfield Community Technology College.

Luke was followed by Patrick Smith a year 11 student from Eastbourne College and then by Natalie Smith who is studying for Advertising and PR degree at Bournemouth University.

Our longest placement was Samantha Cuff, who joined us for 8 weeks as part of her degree course, having recently completed a year working in the US.

Later in the year, we will welcome Seb Cole from Ringmer Community College. Seb took part in the Young Business Minds competition and has been so inspired by the experience that he has volunteered to give up part of his holidays to learn more.

The team at The Marketing Eye made me feel extremely welcome and involved me in a variety of interesting tasks. I would highly recommend The Marketing Eye for valuable experience in a friendly and professional local business.Samantha Cuff, Placement Student

We are very grateful for the opportunity and support Neil and his team have given to our students. Students learn a great deal from being in a work environment and The Marketing Eye’s contribution has been a valuable part of their experience and their education.Karen O’Riley, Vocational Mentor, Uckfield Community Technology College

In a time when work and university opportunities for school leavers are at a premium, we believe we have a responsibility to give what opportunities we can to young people to gain experience and enhance their CVs.Neil Edwards, Managing Director, The Marketing Eye Natalie

Samantha

Luke

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RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAs a small business, our carbon footprint is naturally low. Nevertheless, we retain an awareness of the impact that our operations may potentially have on the environment and do what we can to reduce it.

The clear objective of The Marketing Eye is to minimise any impact on the environment by:

• Taking action to eliminate or reduce, as far as practicable, any potentially adverse environmental impacts• Promoting environmental awareness among our team, suppliers, and partners by implementation of operational procedures• Considering the effects that our operations may have on the local community• Seeking to work in partnership with the community by behaving in a considerate and socially responsible manner

Practical steps include:

• Ensuring our printers only use environmentally safe chemicals and processes• Encouraging our clients to choose environmentally friendly materials and paper stock for printed items• Recycling all we can: paper and cardboard, plastic bottles, cans, Tetra packs etc.• Using recycled products where possible, e.g. toilet roll, paper for the printer• Buying Fairtrade products or products from the Rainforest Alliance• Being good neighbours• Buying our products and services locally whenever possible

All of our team has responsibility for the implementation of the policy and ensuring that environmental issues are given adequate consideration in the planning and day-to-day management of our work.

ABOUT THE MARKETING EYEThe Marketing Eye is a full service marketing company and PR agency, with particular expertise in business-to-business marketing and a focus on the Alternative Finance and Technology sectors.

Our mission is to help our clients increase the value of their businesses by the application of consistent and effective marketing. We do this by combining online and offline PR with events and direct marketing to help our clients engage with an increasing number of prospects over time.

Our services range from strategy and planning, through to the detailed implementation of specific initiatives. As one of the leading marketing companies and PR agencies in our sector in the UK, we have experts in most areas of marketing, and when we don’t, the chances are we know somebody who is.

We are based in Uckfield, East Sussex and within easy reach of Kent, West Sussex, Surrey and London. We have an office in London as well as a representative office in Pennsylvania for clients needing to do business in the US.

Do you think we can help? We have an excellent range of support packages available. Please contact us for details.

E: hello@themarketingeye.comT: +44 (0) 1825 765617

The Team

The Marketing Eye

Have a chat with us: 01825 765617

Visit us online: www.themarketingeye.com

Operations Centre address: 122-126 High Street, Uckfield, East Sussex TN22 1PX

London Office address: 3 More London, Riverside, London, SE1 2RE

The Marketing Eye Limited. Registered in England and Wales. Company No: 5350145.Registered Office: Yew Tree House, Lewes Road, Forest Row, East Sussex RH18 5AA.VAT Registration No. 850 7131 45