Passionate Blog

Social media apprentices for hire!

 By Terri-Anne Whitehouse
Picture shows Andy, Anthony, Joe, Mel, Lauren, Ian from SSC Learning, and  trainer Carol (standing) from Passionate Media, Terri-Anne, Bethan, Abi and Sammy-Jo. 

Midlands businesses interested in finding out more about taking on a social media apprentice are invited to an employers' event in Birmingham on Friday.

Trainers SSC Learning are set to explain more about their innovative social media scheme to would be employers at the Birmingham Small Business Centre, Newhall Street, where presentations are being held at 8.30am, 10.30am and 12.30pm on Friday October 14.

You’re hired! School leavers pioneer social media management apprenticeship

 
Picture shows Andy, Anthony, Joe, Mel, Lauren, Ian from SSC Learning, and  trainer Carol (standing) from Passionate Media, Terri-Anne, Bethan, Abi and Sammy-Jo. 

Ten young people from around the West Midlands are blazing a trail as social media marketing apprentices.

And this Tuesday (September 20) there's a chance for businesses interested in finding out more about how an apprentice could boost their company,  to come and meet them.

The school leavers are the first to sign up for a brand new management course where blogging for business, Facebook and Twitter are key elements.

New social media apprenticeship scheme set to boost business

Social media has taken the world by storm and as a business owner, you're using it as an effective sales and marketing tool...Aren't you?

If not, it's often for the simple reason that you may feel you don't have the resources to spare, or perhaps the time to learn more about what it all means and what it can do for your business.

Which is where we can help. We’ve teamed up with training providers SSC Learning and are working with them to pioneer a new Social Media Marketing Apprenticeship Scheme across Staffordshire and the Midlands.

Flower show garden aims to brighten life for youngsters

A former gold medal winner is hoping to continue his success at this year’s Shrewsbury Flower Show with a specially designed rain garden, to be donated to a children’s hospice after the event.

Andi Way, of Boningale Garden Creations, based in Albrighton, has designed a garden which naturally collects rain water – great environmentally, but which will also be stimulating for the youngsters using the space once the competition is over.

Travel writing competition celebrates beautiful Britain

OUR Have a Lovely Time family travel and activities website is calling for submissions in a travel writing competition celebrating Beautiful Britain.

The family travel writing contest has a top prize of £200, a second prize of a weekend stay at the Park Inn in historic York and 10 English Heritage family passes for everyone finishing in the top ten, as well as a copy of Travelling with Children, by Catherine Cooper, one of the competition’s judges.

There’s also a mystery prize on offer for the entry voted readers’ favourite after the competition closes on October 1, 2011.

We want to celebrate all that’s great about family tourism in our stunning land. That might include breathtaking  adventures in the Lakes, laughing til your sides ache at a family-friendly Edinburgh festival, savouring the splendour of the West Wales coastline, a Devon cream tea or a knees up at a holiday park…or of course plenty more.

We're helping Compton Hospice to Raise the Roof

Passionate Media has been working with and supporting Compton Hospice in Wolverhampton for the last six years and this year, we're really getting stuck in, helping to boost their Raise the Roof capital appeal.

This month our new media director Neil Aitchison is heading up a golf team at Compton's charity golf day at Whorfield near Bridgnorth. There are 20 teams entering so it should be a busy day and no doubt slightly competitive!  So good luck Neil and the rest of the Passionate Media golf team.

Neil has also been roped in to join the Wulfrun BNI team for the It's a Knockout competition at the Compton in the Park Fun Day on June 26 at West Park in Wolverhampton.  If last year is anything to go by, it looks like it will be great fun.  

However, it's the Passionate Media ladies who are really going out on a limb this year.  Our director Carol Garrington and marketing co-ordinator Kim Nash have just signed up to do a skydive in September.  What were they thinking?


Of course we'll be cheering them on from the ground.  In the meantime, we need to help them raise at least £800.  There's talk of a curry night at Suki's Restaurant and a quiz night to help them raise the money.  We'll keep you posted.  In the meantime, they've set up a Just Giving page and all donations and support will be very much appreciated.

 

Time-saving training for busy journalists

By Carol Garrington

AN acclaimed journalist and agency director is offering telephone training to help time-strapped freelance writers maximise their income.

Linda Jones, author of The Greatest Freelance Writing Tips in the World, and whose blogs include www.freelancewritingtips.com, has been training journalists for a number of years, winning fans through her honest, no-nonsense approach to writing and running a business.

Workshops run through Linda’s company, Passionate Media, offer realistic advice on everything from pitching editors, to ensuring you get paid and how to boost a specialism.

Now writers can share this wisdom without leaving their office, thanks to newly-introduced telephone training.

Authors for Japan auction tops £13,000

By Linda Jones

THE total raised in the Authors for Japan auction launched by Keris Stainton topped £13,000 (including Gift Aid.)

Out of that, I'm delighted to say that donations sent for training sessions or mentoring I was offering, added to money I pledged for two lots came to around £650.

Thank you to the kind people who paid money to the Red Cross for some of my services. I snapped up coffee and cake with literary agent turned author Alison Bond and all four Skate School books signed by Kay Woodward.

What a fantastic achievement by Keris. It was an honour to be part of it.  

Kick start your freelance writing career workshop, July 2, Birmingham

WE are now taking bookings for the following workshop. Places are limited to ensure individual feedback and value for money.

Kick start your freelance writing career workshop Saturday, July 2, 2011

Friends House, Bull Street, Birmingham B4 6AF

Cost: £154.80 inc VAT

There are five early bird places available at £118.80 inc VAT.* 

The working mums' guide to making the most of social media

By Carol Garrington

ACCORDING to a recent article on Mumsclub, our director Linda has a reputation for being something of a guru when it comes to social media.

I know she won't be happy about that as she insists at our workshops there's no such thing.

But it's an excellent article by Heidi Scrimgeour which also includes advice from other mums in business.