Our Jeans for Genes Day efforts got us on their website, all dressed up in our super hero costumes. http://www.jeansforgenes.com/newsroom/supportergallery?page=2
Friday, 16 October 2009
Saturday, 3 October 2009
InDzine Takes on the World for Jeans 4 Genes Day!
On Friday 2nd October, the people of Marlow weren't seeing things. The InDzine office really was being run by superheroes!
Thursday, 10 September 2009
Working with Colin Jackson for National School Meals Week
As you were all preparing for going back to school the NSMW girls were busy filming the Get Active day video with Colin Jackson. Getting ready in the morning we talked about how nervous we were. It is such a big part of the week we wanted to be sure it would all run smoothly. But there was no need to be nervous. Colin was a true professional! He was great fun, really kind (he even got his driver to take Nicola to the station) and made the whole event run smoothly. We think he will be a real inspiration to young people. He certainly inspired us!
We were lucky to have the help and support of Chris Lee from Trojan Training. Chris is a very experienced personal trainer and he put together all the exercises for the Get Active Day. Karen and Chris also went through all the coaching points beforehand so we could make sure that young people knew how to do the exercises correctly. Some of the exercises Colin hadn't done before so a lot of time was spent on Chris showing him the exercise first and then talking through the points that had to be put across. When we were filming Karen watched it on a screen, Chris checked the exercises were being done properly and Nicola checked all the points were being made whilst Nigel from Lancashire One TV filmed. It was a real team effort!
During the day we realised how much benefit there was to selecting an athlete who was used to being on camera. Colin came across brilliantly and his experience meant we got through it without there being too many takes. Of course, there were some outtakes and very amusing moments, some of which I am sure will stick with us for a long time. This included Colin getting his glutes and quads muddled up several times which caused much laughter.We had a fantastic buffet lunch, which we made sure was very healthy seeing as we had a former World Champion to cater for. This gave us opportunity to get to know Colin better. He's speaking at the School Food Trust Conference at the end of the month and Karen is running a workshop there. We will also meet with him again at the launch of NSMW on 9th November.
In the afternoon it was straight back to filming as we were under a great time pressure as we only had this one day to get it all right. We all worked hard to have all the filming finished by 4.30pm and then we had to do photographs of all the exercises and stretches.
We learnt a lot about Colin during the afternoon. He can juggle grapes, is an expert with a skipping rope and struggled with the dance steps in the early days of Strictly Come Dancing (obviously he improved as he was 2nd in his series and won the Christmas Day special). We also learnt that Karen likes to pose in front of the camera and would make an excellent ring girl. Oh and that Nicola can't control her giggles at really inappropriate moments i.e. mid filming. Joking aside, it is thanks to Colin, Chris and Nigel we now have a fantastic resource that you can all use to promote your school meals during NSMW. We just can't wait to see the final version!
Those of you that have met us will know we don't let a good opportunity go to waste!! We didn't let Colin leave until he had posed for photographs with the NSMW Girls and signed some autographs for us. We also asked him to sign the exercise mat that was used for the filming which will be awarded as a prize during the week.
We were lucky to have the help and support of Chris Lee from Trojan Training. Chris is a very experienced personal trainer and he put together all the exercises for the Get Active Day. Karen and Chris also went through all the coaching points beforehand so we could make sure that young people knew how to do the exercises correctly. Some of the exercises Colin hadn't done before so a lot of time was spent on Chris showing him the exercise first and then talking through the points that had to be put across. When we were filming Karen watched it on a screen, Chris checked the exercises were being done properly and Nicola checked all the points were being made whilst Nigel from Lancashire One TV filmed. It was a real team effort!
During the day we realised how much benefit there was to selecting an athlete who was used to being on camera. Colin came across brilliantly and his experience meant we got through it without there being too many takes. Of course, there were some outtakes and very amusing moments, some of which I am sure will stick with us for a long time. This included Colin getting his glutes and quads muddled up several times which caused much laughter.We had a fantastic buffet lunch, which we made sure was very healthy seeing as we had a former World Champion to cater for. This gave us opportunity to get to know Colin better. He's speaking at the School Food Trust Conference at the end of the month and Karen is running a workshop there. We will also meet with him again at the launch of NSMW on 9th November.
In the afternoon it was straight back to filming as we were under a great time pressure as we only had this one day to get it all right. We all worked hard to have all the filming finished by 4.30pm and then we had to do photographs of all the exercises and stretches.
We learnt a lot about Colin during the afternoon. He can juggle grapes, is an expert with a skipping rope and struggled with the dance steps in the early days of Strictly Come Dancing (obviously he improved as he was 2nd in his series and won the Christmas Day special). We also learnt that Karen likes to pose in front of the camera and would make an excellent ring girl. Oh and that Nicola can't control her giggles at really inappropriate moments i.e. mid filming. Joking aside, it is thanks to Colin, Chris and Nigel we now have a fantastic resource that you can all use to promote your school meals during NSMW. We just can't wait to see the final version!
Those of you that have met us will know we don't let a good opportunity go to waste!! We didn't let Colin leave until he had posed for photographs with the NSMW Girls and signed some autographs for us. We also asked him to sign the exercise mat that was used for the filming which will be awarded as a prize during the week.
Monday, 10 August 2009
Karen Fewell - The girly girl becomes a Tough Guy
I think it is fair to say that most people would describe me as a ‘girly girl' rather than a ‘Tough Guy'. Needless to say friends, family and colleagues were a little surprised when I said I had entered Tough Guy Nettle Warrior.
To be honest I am not really sure I knew what I had agreed to when I said ‘go on then count me in'. Knowing too much about the challenge would just make me freak out - so I paid my money unaware of the obstacles I would face! I was fully aware though that I was not fit enough to complete it and really needed to become stronger.
Chris Lee from Trojan Training encouraged me to do some weight training on top of my normal running. So my training week consisted of 2 personal training sessions with Chris Lee, 1 Box Office session and a few trips to the gym. Training was more enjoyable with Tough Guy being my aim.
A week before I decided it was time to start knowing a little more about what I would have to do on the day, I was not impressed with what I saw:
- swimming through underwater tunnels
- running through fire
- walking out on a plank and jumping into mud
- climbing heights with no harness
The fact that the Tough Guy organisers make you sign a death warrant before you can start the course also scared me slightly. But now I can say it was the best race I have ever done.
I went round the course with Amy and Helen, who also train with Chris Lee. The day didn't seem like a race, the team spirit of everyone at Tough Guy was fantastic. I saw people struggling on ropes and strangers climb back to help them. Someone was always willing to give you a ‘leg up' or a hand to climb out of sinking mud.
As I result of doing Tough Guy I have realised I have more mental and physical strength than I give myself credit for. On a day to day basis you don't realise what strength you are building in the gym. For me though the mental challenges I overcame were my biggest achievements. I am petrified of heights, yet at Tough Guy I developed a new inner strength. Whatever the challenge, however difficult, I just got on and did it.
Completing Tough Guy has given me a lot of personal confidence and I would like to thank Chris Lee for pushing me into doing it! Big thanks to everyone in Team Trojan for making it such a fun day.
To be honest I am not really sure I knew what I had agreed to when I said ‘go on then count me in'. Knowing too much about the challenge would just make me freak out - so I paid my money unaware of the obstacles I would face! I was fully aware though that I was not fit enough to complete it and really needed to become stronger.
Chris Lee from Trojan Training encouraged me to do some weight training on top of my normal running. So my training week consisted of 2 personal training sessions with Chris Lee, 1 Box Office session and a few trips to the gym. Training was more enjoyable with Tough Guy being my aim.
A week before I decided it was time to start knowing a little more about what I would have to do on the day, I was not impressed with what I saw:
- swimming through underwater tunnels
- running through fire
- walking out on a plank and jumping into mud
- climbing heights with no harness
The fact that the Tough Guy organisers make you sign a death warrant before you can start the course also scared me slightly. But now I can say it was the best race I have ever done.
I went round the course with Amy and Helen, who also train with Chris Lee. The day didn't seem like a race, the team spirit of everyone at Tough Guy was fantastic. I saw people struggling on ropes and strangers climb back to help them. Someone was always willing to give you a ‘leg up' or a hand to climb out of sinking mud.
As I result of doing Tough Guy I have realised I have more mental and physical strength than I give myself credit for. On a day to day basis you don't realise what strength you are building in the gym. For me though the mental challenges I overcame were my biggest achievements. I am petrified of heights, yet at Tough Guy I developed a new inner strength. Whatever the challenge, however difficult, I just got on and did it.
Completing Tough Guy has given me a lot of personal confidence and I would like to thank Chris Lee for pushing me into doing it! Big thanks to everyone in Team Trojan for making it such a fun day.
Saturday, 8 August 2009
I helped Jeans for Genes with free SEO training
As part of my role as, Digital Marketing Consultant at InDzine I visited Jeans for Genes today to talk about Search Engine Optimisation. The National Jeans for Genes Day takes place on Friday 2nd October 2009. Our client Avery Dennison is supporting the week by providing easy to use fundraising templates, free label samples and more. As part of InDzine's Corporate and Social Responsibility I offered free SEO training for the Jeans for Genes team.
The training session included:
natural search / organic search
when and how to use paid search
the difference between on and off page optimisation
keyword selection
SEO obstacle reports
search optimised copy
inbound link strategies
online pr
social networking
the role of digital marketing in your marketing strategy
Excellent feedback was received from Jeans for Genes and everyone was scribbling down notes and their own action points. SEO is not just the responsibility of the website manager and everyone in the marketing team has their own role to play.
Please support Jeans for Genes Day on 2nd October 2009. The team work really hard to raise money for children with genetic disorders. Genetic disorders are individually very rare but together they are the cause of more than half of all childhood deaths in the UK. Jeans for Genes aim to provide funding for the care and support of children and their families. They also help to fund research into the genes responsible and the development of effective treatments and cures.
Find out more at the Genes for Jeans websitehttp://www.jeansforgenes.com/getinvolved
Saturday, 25 July 2009
What is Britain's Favourite School Meal?
As part of National School Meals Week, we are trying to find out what Britain's favourite school meal is. Think back to your school days, was it roast dinner, sausage and mash or fish and potato wedges? And then comes the desserts, my favourite was definitely sponge and custard!
Get Voting now and let us know your favourite at
www.iloveschoolmeals.co.uk/vote
The results will be announced at the launch of the week, on Monday 9th November 2009
Get Voting now and let us know your favourite at
www.iloveschoolmeals.co.uk/vote
The results will be announced at the launch of the week, on Monday 9th November 2009
Wednesday, 22 July 2009
Congratulations Tom Daley
I am proud to be working with such a fantastic role model and determined athlete. I am the project lead on the My School Lunch Tom Daley website and love working with Tom:
www.myschoollunch.co.uk/tomdaley
Since our contract began we have seen Tom go from one success to another. Tom really does deserve to be World Champion, he is so dedicated to his sport and overcomes every challenge that faces him.
Behind Tom is a great family, so fun and supportive. I loved Rob’s question in the press conference, what a proud Dad! Tom’s response ‘how embarrassing’ just brings it home to you, those were the words of a teenager! To be World Champion at any age is fantastic, but for Tom this is an even bigger achievement and he is a credit to British sport.
Leon Taylor, Olympic Silver medallist and commentator at the World Championships said it all in a text to me this morning – ‘Tom is a legend’.
Winning a Catey
I am so proud to be part of the team involved in winning the Group Marketing Catey, what an achievement!!!!
You can read more about the night
http://www.caterersearch.com/tabletalk/blogs/accessallareas/archive/2009/07/12/oh-what-a-night-to-remember.aspx
and watch the winners video here
http://www.caterersearch.com/tabletalk/media/cateys2009/cateys-2009-winners-video-1764.aspx
You can read more about the night
http://www.caterersearch.com/tabletalk/blogs/accessallareas/archive/2009/07/12/oh-what-a-night-to-remember.aspx
and watch the winners video here
http://www.caterersearch.com/tabletalk/media/cateys2009/cateys-2009-winners-video-1764.aspx
National School Meals Week
Well were are back from the LACA conference and so pleased with the interest in National School Meals Week.We wondered what Arnold was doing when he ordered us sashes to wear, but I have to admit he was right - they did grab everyone's attention. Whether we were wandering around the exhibition, ordering refreshments from the bar or stood on our NSMW stand we were being asked about National School Meals Week.
The designers did a great job and the stand looked great! I think they thought we were going overboard when we went clothes shopping to ensure we were dressed in the NSMW brand colours - but everything on our stand represented the new National School Meals Week brand and added to the impact.
The feedback we had at the conference, and are still receiving now is brilliant. So many people are excited about taking part in a digital marketing campaign. We have had some fantastic comments as authorities and schools register on the website and we will share these with you in another blog.
The guides to organising National School Meals Week were sought after, people were always coming to us asking for their own copy of the booklet. If you did not manage to collect your own, register for the week and download it from the website.
Thanks for making us both feel so welcome at the conference. We are glad you like the new look NSMW and are really excited about getting ready for the actual week. We have all sorts planned, including:
- spending time with teenagers to plan the NSMW social networking activity
- working with our fitness specialist to get ready for filming Colin Jackson
- researching what children want to learn about cooking, in preparation for the Get Cooking day
Come back soon and read our updates on how preparations for the big week are going.
Karen and Nicola, known as the NSMW girls at the LACA conference
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