Passionate Blog

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We aim to keep this site regularly updated with news about what we are up to and how we are helping our clients.

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We look forward to hearing from you!
Carol Garrington, marketing director.

Find out more about social media apprentices

More Staffordshire firms are needed for a pioneering apprenticeship programme creating much-needed employment for young people, and helping businesses make the most of social media marketing.

Interested companies are invited to find out more on Friday, January 27, at the Roman Way Hotel in Cannock.

SSC Learning from Hednesford and Passionate Media, based in Bridgtown, have joined forces to offer the apprenticeship scheme which is about to begin its second programme of trainees.

Training specialists SSC Learning are now looking for local businesses interested in taking on an apprentice to handle their digital marketing. Throughout their apprenticeship, the young people will receive training and support from media specialists, Passionate Media.

The first round of eleven apprentices, who are aged 16-19, were taken on in September, and are already achieving great results for their employers. Each of their places cost around £2,500 to £4,500, and are funded by the Government’s Skills Funding Agency. 

The apprentices and their employers, along with representatives from SSC and Passionate Media are holding a presentation to businesses on January 13, to help show interested firms just how much can be gained by taking on an apprentice.

The second programme, which commenced in early January, has 15 new apprentices now seeking employers, six of whom are aged between 19 and 24.

“We didn't want to continue excluding keen 20-somethings, just because the funding is linked to age – the older apprentices have so much to offer,” explained Ian Shephard, managing co-director of SSC.

“We decided instead to raise the group size, which would allow us to accommodate a third of the group as 19 to 24-year-olds. We think this will be of even greater benefit to employers, as we feel the older candidates will bring a maturity to the group dynamic, and lead the way in terms of their attitude to studying and business.” 

Mr Shephard explained that news of the success of the first group of apprentices is already proving a help in recruiting young people for future programmes, and hopes there will be a similar effect on businesses, once they have seen what can be achieved.

“We're finding that apprentices are being referred to us by the Young Peoples’ Service, and by one another. Word-of-mouth is starting to build, and we are confident the same will apply amongst employers as the momentum of the programme starts to build,” he said.

“We are now actively seeking more South Staffordshire employers to become involved, and again, are confident once they have spoken to our apprentices, and to employers who are now reaping the rewards of having become part of the programme, that we are going to see a huge rise in demand from firms wanting to take on apprentices of their own.” 

Firms interested in finding out more about the social media marketing apprenticeships are invited along to the presentation on Friday January 27^th, which is being held at the Roman Way Hotel on the A5, from 12.00 noon. The presentation, which will include testimonials from existing apprentices, and their employers, will begin at 12.30 pm and will be followed by a complimentary buffet.  All of the new apprentices will be present, and hoping to speak to prospective employers, along with their trainers. 

For more information, ring Mr Shephard on 01543 448300 or Carol Garrington, Passionate Media, on 01543 468621.

Staffs firms needed to help boost youth employment programme

More Staffordshire firms are needed for a pioneering new apprenticeship programme which is creating much-needed employment for young people, and helping businesses make the most of social media marketing.

Cannock companies SSC Learning from Hednesford and Passionate Media, based in Bridgtown, have joined forces to offer the apprenticeship scheme which is about to begin its second programme of trainees.

Training specialists SSC Learning are now looking for local businesses interested in taking on an apprentice to handle their digital marketing. Throughout their apprenticeship, the young people will receive training and support from media specialists, Passionate Media.

The first round of eleven apprentices, who are aged 16-19, were taken on in September, and are already achieving great results for their employers. Each of their places cost around £2,500 to £4,500, and are funded by the Government’s Skills Funding Agency. 

The apprentices and their employers, along with representatives from SSC and Passionate Media are holding a presentation to businesses on January 13, to help show interested firms just how much can be gained by taking on an apprentice.

The second programme, due to begin in early January, has 15 new apprentices now seeking employers, six of whom are aged between 19 and 24.

Thrifty Christmas ideas prove hit for The Square’s competition winner

An innovative Midlands artist offering customers a ‘home-made’ Christmas has been making the most of the opportunity given to her when she won a rent-free shop at Birmingham’s The Square shopping centre.

Craftsperson Cassandra Jovic from Moseley says the credit crunch, and shoppers’ desire to give something truly unique this year has given her business, Crunched Gifts, a huge boost.

She was given the chance to cash in on the festive period after winning a competition earlier in the year, run by the Square shopping centre, to run a pop-up shop in the city centre location, rent-free until Christmas.

Table-toppers net sponsorship from Park Inn Hotel

We were delighted to see our clients, the Park Inn Hotel York, have agreed to sponsor a local football team who have yet to be beaten this season.

The city centre hotel is hoping their support will help prolong the unbeaten run of Rawcliffe FC’s under-19 football team and keep them at the top of the table.

The Park Inn by Radisson York has provided the team with training tops, and is allowing the 15-strong squad to train free-of-charge at the hotel’s impressive gym facilities on a Saturday.

Park Inn by Radisson announces £1 million refurb for York hotel

Exciting times ahead for the Park Inn by Radisson York after it announced plans today to invest £1million on refurbishing all 74 bedrooms in the hotel’s Garden Court. 

The work, which gets under way on Monday (21st) will take around four months to complete and will see the 74 guestrooms get a fresh and stylish new look.  The work will include new decor, furniture and soft furnishings in both the bedroom and bathroom.

“We are delighted to announce the next chapter of our substantial investment plans for the hotel.  Upon completion of this work, our entire room stock will have been upgraded and will provide our guests with the full Park Inn by Radisson experience – offering a fresh and reliable place to stay at a good value for money rate” said Adrian Pickard, District Director Park Inn by Radisson UK

York hotel helps Lions boost funds

If you are visiting York at the end of the month, the St Nicholas' Fayre sounds like its well-worth a visit - and you could look out for Carol and her team from the Park Inn by Radisson, who is helping out Santa.

Each year, the Minster Lions take Santa and his sleigh along to the event, to hand out sweets to the youngsters and help collect money to fund their charity work.

Businessman plans to turn scrap into cash for Compton

A Wolverhampton car dealer is hoping to raise cash for Compton Hospice by turning scrapped cars into cash, after a serious illness gave him a big wake-up call.

Onkar Sunner, who owns OSS Car Sales Ltd in Wednesfield Road,  said though only 39, a serious bout of appendicitis left him thinking about how he would cope if he had a life-threatening illness, and his thoughts turned to Compton Hospice.

Rugeley estate agent brings home £1,500 after charity bike ride

Pic cap: Jason Dibble (left) with Mike Kelly, preparing for the 140km bike ride in aid of the Prostate Cancer Charity.

As you know, over here at Passionate Media, we love to tell you about amazing people who have raised money for charity and we are delighted to report that a Rugeley estate agent took to his bike and cycled 140km to help raise £1,500 for a charity which had cared for one of his staff during a serious illness.

Jason Dibble, partner at Chase Independent, trained for more than six months in preparation for the Prostate Cancer Charity Tour Ride 2011, which took him all around Staffordshire on a single day.

The 40-year-old was spurred on by the care his sales negotiator, Mike Kelly, had received courtesy of the charity, when he fell ill with prostate cancer almost three years ago.

Singer Holly looking to hit right note in national contest

Pic cap: Holly Evans, from Great
Wyrley, who is set to compete in the regional finals of Open Mic 2011.

A young singer from Great Wyrley is dreaming
of hitting the big time after making it through to the regional finals of a
national talent competition.

Kids draw to ease crisis in East Africa

Picture by Hdptcar on flickr

By Terri-Anne Whitehouse

A new fun project tapping into kids' creativity is helping ease a humanitarian crisis in East Africa.

The project is called Kids Draw for East Africa and organisers are calling on parents to donate paintings and drawings by their (primary school age) children, to be auctioned online to willing grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends. They're hoping to raise £2,000 in six weeks.