July-August-2011

Firstly a note about a key strategic project which encompasses many of the Marcomms aims:

 

Project: “University of Bradford - Creating the Bradford Offer”

 

Marketing and Communications have been working with The Knowledge Partnership (Education Consultants) on a project which aims to develop a distinctive identity for the University, clear market position and agree how we will present and promote the ‘Bradford Offer’.

 

The methodology involves collating existing market research, surveying opinion from key stakeholders and in-depth sessions with all members of ASPC. Work is progressing well and the findings and recommendations will be presented to ASPC / Council in September. 

 

Please note this is not the visual identity / logo project.

 

Led by Alison Darnbrough / Sue Kershaw, Project Managed by Natasha Jackson / Claire Gibbons External Consultants - The Knowledge Partnership

 

Other activities across Marketing and Communications

 

Aim 1 – Student Recruitment

• Investigation into virtual open days
• Investigation into School’s CPD provision
• Investigation into School’s CRM plans
• Developed and managed Clearing campaign including website (now removed) and social media activities
• Developed and launched a new website for SLED
• Developed and launched new pages for prospective and current international students

 

 

Aim 2 – Development & Alumni Fundraising

• Circulated the Braduate Magazine to over 40,000 UK and international graduates, which has resulted in 53 new donors
• Ran a successful alumni stand throughout ceremonies in July gaining over 800 contact forms from graduates whilst piloting our new free graduate goodie bags and promoting our legacies brochure and supporters’ newsletter
• Set up a University-wide working group for the new alumni-student mentoring programme
• Received a £10,000 unrestricted gift during graduations, a £5,000 gift for the Centre for International Development and £1,000 towards Jason Maher’s commemorative fund
• Final figures for 2010/11 show £210,000 philanthropic income, to which we will be able to add Gift Aid and HEFCE Matched Funding.

 

Aim 3 – Improving University and City Reputation (inc internal communications)

• The department has continued to promote the British Science Festival and our strategy has been to maximise the benefit to the University’s reputation. This has included:

supporting academics with specially tailored media training using an outside consultant

helping event organisers by providing design templates, drafting press papers and giving advice and guidance

extensive work with five academics on the planning of stories to be released at press conferences during the Festival, to ensure maximum media coverage will be obtained

continuing to develop the British Science Festival internal website which has previewed events, provided advice for event organisers and included coverage of BSF events in the run up to the main festival.

 

Aim 4 – Positioning Research and Knowledge Transfer

 

• The RKT strategy has been agreed and signed off by the RKT Committee. The priority identified in this phase of work was to redevelop the website to reflect the emerging themes and highlight the new RKT centres.
• Following sign off from RKT Committee the Web and Marketing Team have developed a new top-level Research and Business site.  Phase one of the site is concentrating on research due to the British Science Festival being in Bradford, with future phases developing information for ‘Business’ as well as moving all research related content into this main top-level site.

 

Aim 5 – Improving student experience and retention

 

• The National Student Survey was supported throughout the start of 2011. The aims were to ensure that all final year students were aware of the survey and to support our academics in encouraging completion. Results were recently released showing a 66% response rate, on a par with our results in 2010.
• As part of preparations for the British Science Festival, the communications team heavily promoted the Festival to students. Recent highlights include promotion at end of term student events, at open day and a BSF quiz for international students in the University’s language centre.

 

Aim 6 – Delivering professional event co-ordination

 

• Planning the launch of The Green student village, creating two events – a press launch and public/stakeholder event which is part of the British Science Festival. Media relations planning to use the launch to raise our reputation for Ecoversity and student experience. Events are taking place on September 12.
• Organising and facilitating the three Clearing Open Days.
• Planning the October Open Days, which following anaylsis of feedback from the July event, will now follow a new format of being held over two days, 14 and 15 October.
• Ongoing planning of key events such as the annual Rotary Peace Conference, the Lord Mayor’s reception for international students and the annual David Pickwell Lecture, all which will take place during October.

 

Events Bradford

We've had a busy and productive past few months here at Events 

Bradford.  This has included:

• successfully hosting a number of  graduation ceremonies,
• assisting Escalate with organising their last  celebratory event
• Co-organising Udy Archibong's very successful Making Diversity Interventions Count conference (thanks especially to Gill for working so hard on the organisation of this event). 
• Jennie  has been diligently collating information for the UoB room audit - which will provide specific information for event appropriate rooms  across campus - providing web available answers to those FAQ's that keep cropping up, including layout plans and photos. 
• Sarah has successfully worked with SLED in preparing for and publicising the Public Programmes day schools and walks for the coming year. 
• Deborah has won some excellent business for the coming year including the Bi-Con Conference 2012 - about 200 delegates will be taking over Student Central and The Green next summer and we are hoping this will become an annual event here at the University.
• A successful FAM (familiarisation) visit from the Society of Event Organizers was organised by Deb hopefully this will generate loads of business! Well done Deb! 

 

Thanks go to Jennie, who has come to the end of her Future Funds position - we are hoping to keep her for a while longer yet (she’ll definitely be around to help support the BSF at the Norcroft) - she has become an important member of the team having learnt lots becoming a valuable source of information and support.

 

We are looking forward to September with our delegates on the upcoming Beyond  Belief conference (7-8 Sept 11) being the very first people ever to  stay at The Green - testing it out nicely for the British Science  Festival (oh, how could I forget - this is also keeping us busy over  here at the Norcroft Centre!)