Category: #SharpNews

Running for mental health


How would you celebrate a successful second hip replacement? Our Managing Director, Siobhan Stirling, has chosen to run the Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon for West Kent Mind next month – and has chosen to speak personally about her own struggles with mental health to explain why this is a cause she is keen to champion.

Strengthening mental and physical health through running

“Having suffered from depression myself in the past, I know how debilitating mental health problems can be, both for the individual and those who care about them,” shares Siobhan. “With 15% of UK adults this year saying their mental health is bad or the worse it’s ever been, it would be fantastic to raise some funds to help West Kent Mind in its invaluable work supporting people in our community.

“I suffered from depression a couple of time as a young adult, and then had long-term postnatal depression, exacerbated by failing to deal properly with the emotional toll of a couple of miscarriages. This continued almost up to early onset perimenopause, which came with its own problems.

“I decided to run the Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon in 2014 after I realised I had become very unfit. It was a bold commitment for someone who had never run further than to catch a bus, but running proved a salvation for my mental health. The time outside and the ability to clear my head properly brought me space and strength I had never managed to achieve before, so it’s fitting for me to dedicate my new challenge of taking up running again after two hip replacements for West Kent Mind.”

The role of West Kent Mind

West Kent Mind helps people in Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge & Malling and Sevenoaks to live well, stay well and thrive. Its services include low-cost 121 counselling, creative courses, need-specific support groups and an early intervention service for children and young people.

Stevie Rice, the Chief Executive of West Kent Mind commented: “The ongoing challenges with cost-of-living, local authority cuts and long waiting lists for NHS appointments mean our services are in demand more than ever, so every donation is vital in helping us to continue to offer mental health support to people in West Kent.”

Marathons, injuries and hip replacements

Siobhan caught the running bug after completing her first Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon, which led her to finish the London Marathon and The Beachy Head Marathon in 2015, followed by the Rome Marathon in 2016.

Although an ankle injury sidelined her for a time, she managed to bounce back and celebrated her 50th birthday by achieving a personal best at the New York Marathon in November 2017. Unfortunately, a series of injuries and a subsequent hip replacement have kept her from running for the past seven years.

“My first hip replacement made my operated leg 1.4cm longer than my other leg, which meant I wasn’t able to run because it caused problems in my back,” explains Siobhan. “I must be the only person to have prayed their second hip would go quickly to be able to try and correct some of the leg-length difference with a second hip replacement.

“It may sound strange, but I was really pleased when I recognised the telltale symptoms that indicated osteoarthritis due to hip dysplasia at the beginning of last year. I saw an excellent surgeon and we discussed how he might offset my leg-length discrepancy. I’m over the moon that he managed to halve it, which has made all the difference to my quality of life.”

A challenging return to running

Despite having completed four marathons, the return to running has not been an easy journey.

“When I started the couch to 5k programme, I honestly didn’t think I’d get through the first minute, and certainly never thought I’d be able to do anything more than a 5k, especially after being told by my first surgeon that I would never run again,” admits Siobhan. “But I surprised myself by running four and a half miles in Spain in October, so decided to commit to the Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon to give me a firm goal to inspire me to get properly back into my running shoes and raise much-needed funds for West Kent Mind.”

“After seven years of no cardiovascular exercise at all, the training has proven to be really tough. I won’t come anywhere near the times that I managed a decade ago,” confesses Siobhan. “But after never expecting to run again, I will be delighted if I simply manage to complete the course.

“I’ve had fantastic encouragement from my family – my three children, my son’s best friend and my partner – who’ve all got behind me and are currently training to take part in the race as well. Although I fear they’re all going to get very cold waiting on the other side of the finishing line for me to shuffle in after them!”

You can donate to Siobhan’s fundraising for West Kent Mind on JustGiving.

Based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, Sharp Minds Communications offers brand development, digital marketing, offline marketing, and public relations to businesses across Kent, Sussex, Surrey, and Greater London.

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What investment should you make in 2025 in marketing and PR?


For many businesses, 2025 looks to be an expensive year, and many brands will be assessing how they can cut costs to allow for growth. When rising costs and a loss of consumer confidence threaten, many businesses choose to cut their marketing and PR in hopes of saving money. However, research shows that such disinvestment can have long-term costs when it comes to brand awareness, customer loyalty and market share, and so it is important to continue investing into your Marketing and PR in 2025.

You don’t have to search far to find a gloomy prediction for the business landscape in 2025. Changes introduced by Rachel Reeves in her first budget – notably increases to employers’ National Insurance Contributions and the National Living Wage – will mean significant cost increases for many, on top of the rising inflation emerging at the back end of 2024. When you add Day One employment rights into the mix as well as the prospect of Donald Trump making tariffs a top priority as soon as he re-enters the White House, you have a recipe for a very challenging time for businesses from SMEs to corporates, from manufacturing to tech.

But, however bleak the forecasts, alongside the inevitable business casualties, there will be those that emerge stronger on the other side. These are typically businesses that best adapt to the changing circumstances. For brands that want to be on the winning side of this economic evolution, there are lessons to be taken from previous downturns such as investing into your marketing and PR in 2025.

Successful businesses invest in progressive marketing and PR strategies

Analysis https://hbr.org/2010/03/roaring-out-of-recession by Gulait, Nohria and Wohlgezogen published in the Harvard Business Review https://hbr.org/ concluded that businesses that emerge in the strongest positions out of downturns are those that adopt a progressive strategy, as opposed to prevention strategies (defensive moves focused on cutting costs and risks) or promotion-focused strategies (a bullish approach, investing in offensive moves to get ahead of the competition, but without analysing costs and addressing operational issues that could provide a competitive advantage in the long term).

The authors describe companies that adopt a combination of defensive and offensive moves as ‘pragmatic companies’, but they reserve the title ‘progressive’ for firms that achieve an optimal balance between the two.

They conclude:

“The CEOs of pragmatic companies recognise that cost cutting is necessary to survive a recession, that investment is equally essential to spur growth and that they must manage both at the same time if their companies are to emerge as post-recession leaders.”

The brands that are most likely to emerge as leaders when the economy picks up are those that adopt progressive strategies:

“These companies’ defensive moves are selective. They cut costs mainly by improving operational efficiencies rather than by slashing numbers of employees relative to peers. However, their offensive moves are comprehensive. They develop new business opportunities by making significantly greater investments than their rivals do in R&D and marketing, and they invest in assets such as plants or machinery.”

The trend is backed by strong economic indicators. According to Statistica, short-form video ad spending is projected to grow at a rate of 7.82%, reaching £4.91 billion by 2028. Demonstrating its significance for brand visibility moving into 2025.

For the communications industry, this represents a paradigm shift. Traditional formats and longer forms of storytelling are taking a backseat to more concise, visually dynamic, and instantly accessible content. To remain relevant, companies must adopt marketing and PR strategies that prioritise creativity, immediacy, and adaptability within the short-form video landscape.

This evolution also challenges businesses to find innovative ways to stand out in a crowded market while maintaining authenticity and resonating with their target audience.

The importance of tailoring recession marketing strategies to customers’ needs

In another article published in The Harvard Business Review, How To Market in a Downturn https://hbr.org/2009/04/how-to-market-in-a-downturn-2?referral=03759&cm_vc=rr_item_page.bottom, the authors Quelch and Jocz emphasise the importance of understanding the psychology of your customers to create marketing strategies that will resonate most strongly with them. They identify four customer profiles:

Slam on the brakes: The most vulnerable and hardest hit financially. In the current situation this may include many in the gig economy or those asked to take unpaid leave by their employer as they fight for survival.

Pained but patient: Resilient and optimistic about the long term, but less confident about short-term recovery or their ability to maintain their standard of living. Typically, this is the largest group of consumers, some of whom may migrate into ‘slam on the brakes’ if the situation continues.

Comfortably well-off: Typically, they feel secure about their ability to ride out the economic downturn, but may cut some discretionary spend.

Live for today: Normally young and urban, they carry on as normal and remain unconcerned about savings, however they often respond to economic uncertainty by extending their timetables for making major purchases.

Identifying the psychology of your customers can help brands devise marketing strategies that correspond with their concerns. For example, if your company has a high number of ‘slam on the brakes’ or ‘pained but patient’ customers, short-term, price-cutting strategies or offering smaller, more affordable purchasing options might help persuade them to continue to buy your product rather than look for a competitor who appears to offer better value.

Customers’ psychological profiling needs to be paired with whether your goods or services are essential, treats, postponables or expendables, as the different customer types are going to have different responses to where distinct categories of spending fit in their current situation and what messages will persuade them to include particular goods or services within their immediate budgets.

But Quelch and Jocz conclude that:

“On average, increases in marketing spending during a recession have boosted financial performance throughout the year following the recession.”

Understanding the emotional profile of your business’s target customers and their responses to different types of purchasing are important first steps. However, successful marketing strategies are going to need to be creative and authentic to keep your consumers engaged.

Finding opportunities for growth in 2025

No matter how difficult a situation is, there are always new opportunities to be seized. Marketing, sales and business development teams should be brainstorming how target clients might be reacting to the economic challenges, how they might have to adapt their work or home life, and how to position your brand as part of their solution.

These are undoubtedly tough times for businesses of all shapes and sizes – and in all sectors. Developing the right marketing strategies to capitalise on new opportunities that resonate with customers’ concerns is going to require strategic, creative thinking. But the evidence shows that when the going gets tough, the tough get marketing – and if you do it well, you can emerge the other side leaner, more competitive and with a bigger market share. so it is worth investing into your Marketing and PR in 2025.

Want to get your brand noticed? Get in touch

Based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, Sharp Minds Communications offers brand development, digital marketing, offline marketing, and public relations to businesses across Kent, Sussex, Surrey, and Greater London.

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Future of communications: The need for authentic and personalised marketing & PR strategies in 2025


Staying relevant and ahead of trends when social media, marketing and PR are evolving at such a rapid pace has become increasingly challenging. Successful communications rely on a brand’s ability to convey authenticity and resonate with their target audience. As consumer preferences shift moving into 2025, short-form videos and podcasts are dominating social strategies, while creative, outside-the-box campaigns that align with emerging interests are gaining traction. 

To create an effective marketing and communications strategy in 2025, businesses will need to focus on genuine engagement and authentic, personalised content.

Short-form videos saturating the market in 2025

The COVID pandemic acted as a catalyst for reshaping consumer habits and content consumption patterns. One of the most significant trends to emerge, which now dominates communications and marketing, is the importance of short-form video content. These videos, designed to deliver quick, engaging messages, are now essential for brands wanting to connect with audiences in an oversaturated digital market. With attention spans perceived to be shrinking and daily content consumption soaring, short-form videos are an efficient and impactful way to deliver messages.

The trend is backed by strong economic indicators. According to Statistica, short-form video ad spending is projected to grow at a rate of 7.82%, reaching £4.91 billion by 2028. Demonstrating its significance for brand visibility moving into 2025.

For the communications industry, this represents a paradigm shift. Traditional formats and longer forms of storytelling are taking a backseat to more concise, visually dynamic, and instantly accessible content. To remain relevant, companies must adopt marketing and PR strategies that prioritise creativity, immediacy, and adaptability within the short-form video landscape.

This evolution also challenges businesses to find innovative ways to stand out in a crowded market while maintaining authenticity and resonating with their target audience.

Podcasts are a marketing winner for 2025 marketing strategies

With the evolution of technology and social media, the communications landscape is constantly shifting, with several trends reshaping the way organisations engage with their audiences. The meteoric rise of the podcast, the expansion of short-form video content, and the changing expectations of Gen Z – who are increasingly looking for brand authenticity, commitment to diversity and environmentally sustainable policies, as well as providing entertaining, unique digital experiences – are all contributing to this transformation.

Now, more than ever, repurposing your long-form content is a successful strategy for your audiences to engage with material in their preferred formats. For instance, podcasts have diversified into video-podcasts; this not only boosts reach but also enables brands to repurpose podcast episodes into short-form videos for their social media channels. Additionally, podcasts can be repurposed into long-form content, such as blog posts, which can significantly enhance search engine optimisation (SEO).

Tapping into rising interests

Brands are no longer just aligning themselves with obvious trends but are also partnering with products that may seem counter-intuitive to engage with new audiences. For example, some energy drink providers are positioning themselves as wellness brands, promoting their products as healthy providers of natural energy.

To thrive, businesses must find different and creative ways of communicating with their audiences. Researching where your audience spends time online is key to ensuring you get in front of the right people and stay top of mind. Incorporating this practice into your marketing and PR strategies in 2025 will help you build credibility, trust and authenticity which will resonate with a new generation of consumers.

Want to get your brand noticed? Get in touch

Based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, Sharp Minds Communications offers brand development, digital marketing, offline marketing, and public relations to businesses across Kent, Sussex, Surrey, and Greater London.

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Sharp Minds shortlisted for two Tunbridge Wells Business Awards 2024


We are excited to announce that Sharp Minds Communications has been shortlisted for both the Creative and the Small Business accolades at the Tunbridge Wells Business Awards 2024.

This event, being held on 26th November 2024, celebrates the exceptional companies, organisations and individuals operating in Tunbridge Wells and the contribution they make to the local economy and community.

Our innovative approach to intelligent, evidence-based thought leadership enabled us to put our hat into the ring for the Creative Award, showcasing the recent example of a campaign we ran with client Autumna.

In less than six months, Sharp Minds got the brand in front of a digital audience of more than 200m, establishing it as a data-driven authority on developments within social care, a leading innovator in devising imaginative, effective solutions, and go-to expert sector commentator.

Then, Sharp Minds’ dedication to nurturing talent, boosting team identity and supporting overall health and well-being are just some of the reasons why we put ourselves forward for the Small Business Award.

Looking forward to the event, which will be held at Trinity, and celebrating the many exceptional and innovative businesses in Tunbridge Wells. Watch this space! forward to our next Make it Your Business event in January.

Want to get your brand noticed? Get in touch

Based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, Sharp Minds Communications offers brand development, digital marketing, offline marketing, and public relations to businesses across Kent, Sussex, Surrey, and Greater London.

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Don’t be an obstacle to your own success – business women share their stories


Building a strong network is often the difference between a business that thrives and one that struggles. For women in business, connecting with other inspiring, like-minded professionals can be a game-changer, offering both support and invaluable insights. Recently, our Managing Director, Siobhan Stirling, hosted a successful Make It Your Business event at The Finance Hub in Tunbridge Wells’ historic Pantiles area. The event featured four inspiring speakers, each sharing strategies and experiences to empower women in business. Here’s a look at the key takeaways gathering that arose from the event.

Feel the fear, but do it anyway

Keynote speaker Jenny Kitchen, founder of YoYo Design and Amplifi, shared her inspiring journey to becoming a business owner, highlighting the pivotal moments that shaped her path.

First, was learning to trust her instincts. She explained, “Accept that feeling of not being good enough because you will feel it. Keep going regardless. Bit by bit, the confidence will grow.” Jenny founded Amplifi, a local initiative amplifying environmentally conscious businesses, despite already having a busy schedule running the successful YoYo Design. “People thought I was mad to start another business, but when you’re passionate about something, you can always find the time and energy for it.”

Jenny also underscored the importance of focusing on operations as much as strategy. “I invested so much in strategy and not enough in operations—that’s one of my biggest lessons. People often overestimate the brilliance of their ideas and underestimate the hard work required to bring them to life.”

To Jenny, business success is defined by three key pillars: profit, people, and planet. She stresses the importance of getting comfortable with financials, saying, “Finance is what makes the world go round, whether we like it or not…then it’s people and planet.” Together, these principles fuel her joy, her team’s purpose, and the positive impact they are having on their community.

Recognise the gaps in your skillset

Failure is an interesting word, says Lynne Campbell, Director at Alexander Bates Campbell. When you’re in a position where you are faced with closing your business, you have to wrestle with that word. But she says, “Knowing when to give up is the key. So not knowing when to give up is also failure.”

When you run your own business, you need to oversee each aspect of the operations, but that doesn’t mean you are gifted at everything. Lynne explained that she learned this the hard way when she started her first business. “I had to face up to the fact that I wasn’t good at everything. I didn’t have all the skillsets required to go at it alone.” From this learning, she has gone on to partner with people who plug that gap. Recognising her strengths and weaknesses has been key to the success of ABC IFA.

Be open and transparent

Tamara Roberts anticipated a change of pace when she left her finance job in the city to join the family business at Ridgeview Wine Estate. But in 2014, following the sudden passing of her father, she found herself stepping into the role of CEO and facing unexpected challenges. Struggling to secure bank loans and reassure stakeholders, Tamara quickly realised the importance of overcoming self-doubt to lead with confidence. “You’ll never fully feel good enough,” she shared. “Learn to work with that feeling rather than against it, and allow your confidence to grow.”

Tamara also emphasised the importance of transparency in leadership, even within a family business, advocating a direct approach to difficult conversations. “Be honest and transparent,” she advised. “Often, these discussions aren’t as daunting as you might think.”

Don’t be an obstacle to your own success

Suzi Mitchell, founder of Taylor-Made Dreams, made a promise when her son was ill that when she could, she’d set up a charity to provide families who have children with life-limiting illnesses the support that she and Taylor didn’t receive.

Through pure dogged determination, she put herself through training, attended workshops and taught herself how to set up and run a successful charity. “I know lots of things about lots of things but I’m not an expert in anything,” said Suzi. “To not be an obstacle to your own success you have to surround yourself with like-minded people who want to support you and lift you up.”

Suzi’s heart is about social impact and meeting as many children’s needs as possible and she recognised that she couldn’t do that on her own, so for the charity to grow she needed to hire the right people. “For Taylor-Made Dreams to have longevity I moved out of my own way, and brought them in.”

Suzi says that she has never made a bad hire. Her secret? “It’s about the person, not the skill. For me, it boils down to gut instinct.”

Ultimately, Suzi recognised that for the charity to grow and create the legacy that she wanted for Taylor, purpose alone wasn’t enough. “Again, it’s all been about recognising when to get out of my own way. I never want to be the person who stops the charity from getting bigger and meeting more children’s needs.”

The key takeaways from the event were:

  • Invest in the person not the skill
  • Know when to get out of your own way
  • Bring on people who can do what you can’t

All four of our panellists were incredibly inspiring and we are already looking forward to our next Make it Your Business event in January.

Want to get your brand noticed? Get in touch

Based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, Sharp Minds Communications offers brand development, digital marketing, offline marketing, and public relations to businesses across Kent, Sussex, Surrey, and Greater London.

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Account Manager wanted – full- or part-time 

Are you an astute professional with a creative flair and an ability to think strategically, who is motivated to get the best results for clients? If so, you could be the Account Manager that we’re looking for to join our ambitious, award-winning marketing and PR company to play a key role in delivering public relations support for clients across a diverse range of sectors and sizes, as well as liaising with our marketing team to ensure PR and marketing strategies are aligned. 

The contract is offered on either a full-time or part-time basis, with blended office/wfh (maximum wfh 40%).  

Key skills and responsibilities: 

  • Running effective PR campaigns to secure editorial, including: keeping abreast of relevant political, social and sector developments; identifying opportunities for campaigns, news hijacking and thought leadership; writing press releases; maintaining media lists; nurturing effective relationships with journalists; delivering and overseeing media campaigns; monitoring and reporting campaign performance 
  • Effectively nurturing clients’ needs – working proactively to champion clients’ interests, making strategy recommendations to capitalise on potential opportunities, informed by analytics and campaign monitoring  
  • Client liaison – maintaining excellent relationships with all clients 
  • Project management – ensuring client and internal projects run smoothly and on time, juggling resources as required to meet budgets and conflicting deadlines, using internal processes and platforms effectively to ensure smooth project management and internal communications 
  • Line managing junior members of the team – developing their talent and acting as the quality gatekeeper to ensure clients receive consistently high service and outputs   
  • Working effectively with external suppliers, collaborators, sub-contractors and freelancers – including website design agencies, graphic designers, photographers, printers, video production agencies, marketers, copywriters and editors, briefing them effectively to ensure optimal outputs 
  • Core sectors: Professional services, financial services, property/construction, tech, health, care. 

You will need to have:  

  • Excellent communication skills, written and verbal, including first-class grammar, evidenced by a portfolio of content demonstrating a range of voices and styles for different brands and platforms 
  • Holistic vision to look for marketing opportunities for clients and liaise effectively with our marketing teams to ensure PR and marketing are aligned 
  • PR agency (senior account executive) or senior journalistic experience  
  • Sector experience, or be able to demonstrate how you will quickly get up to speed in these sectors: financial and professional services, technology (essential); care, property & construction, transport & logistics (good to have) 
  • Data literacy: the ability to read data to draw out stories 
  • Project management experience, ideally using appropriate software  
  • Line management experience  

In return you will receive a competitive salary and benefits and the opportunity to make your mark within a small, ambitious team as you enable the company to expand.  

Interested?  

Email your CV, three examples of your written work including at least one press release, together with a covering letter with your availability and salary expectations to communications@sharpminds.agency  

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PR and Content Marketing Account Executive vacancy

We have an exciting vacancy for a Public Relations and Content Marketing Account Executive (either full- or part-time).  You need to be a fantastic writer who is passionate about delivering results for clients; in return, we’ll give you first-class training to develop your skills and as much opportunity and responsibility as you can handle. 

About us 

We’re an established and award-winning marketing and PR agency based just outside of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, providing marketing, public relations and consultancy services for clients across a broad range of sectors and sizes, from start-ups to globally listed corporations. We live by our name and would welcome an individual who is also a ‘Sharp Mind’: ambitious for themselves, for us and for our clients.  

About the role 

The focus of the role is content marketing and public relations, with key duties including: 

  • Account management: The first point of contact for clients, you will project manage and deliver their work effectively, nurturing successful, long-term relationships and optimising opportunities for them. 
  • Public relations: Be responsible for helping to manage and grow client relationships, developing and executing successful issue-driven PR campaigns. You will have the opportunity to learn and grow at a very fast pace and be comfortable nurturing relationships with journalists.  
  • Content creation and digital management: You will agree objectives, content calendars and timetables, research content and write compelling copy for B2B and B2C clients, adapting your style for different brands, outlets and goals. You will upload and schedule content across a range of digital and social platforms, providing analytics reports to inform future marketing.  
  • Core sectors: Professional services, financial services, property/construction, tech, health, care. 

About you 

  • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal – a first-class writer, your content is always engaging, clear, punchy and precise , but you are able to adapt your style for different media, clients and audiences, creating the right tone of voice for different brands to drive brand awareness and engagement.  
  • Great interpersonal skills, as you will be required to work productively within a small team, work with all levels of client teams (up to MD), and represent the company and clients to third-parties, incl. journalists.   
  • Organised: You will be responsible for managing your work as well as providing key support, including researching, managing and maintaining accurate media lists.  
  • Ambitious to develop a broad range of PR and content marketing skills or to enhance your proven skills.   
  • Aptitude: A self-starter news junky who’s not scared by numbers, you’re a natural storyteller with a flair for engaging audiences and the initiative and resilience to be able to work alone when required.  
  • Experience and education: We will consider a graduate, someone with a couple of years’ relevant experience or an experienced content and PR professional who’s had a career break.  If you’ve already got some experience, we’ll be there to guide you as you get stuck in, but if you’re just starting out, we’ll give you on-the-job training to kickstart your career. What we need as a minimum is: 
  • Qualifications: A Bachelor’s degree or two year’s relevant experience 
  • Evidence you can write: We need to see three examples of your work (PDFs or digital links) 
  • Technical skills and aptitude: Ability to use or learn digital content creation and management software 
  • Driving license: You will be required to get to client meetings under your own steam; ideally, you can drive and have access to your own car 
  • Enthusiasm, a willingness to learn and a sharp mind! 

What we can offer you 

Competitive salary (£22,500-£25,000, depending on experience), good benefits. Excellent on-the-job training to fast-track your career in marketing and PR; our previous account execs have gone on to bigger agencies in London and Maidstone.  We’re a small team, so you will be able to make a huge contribution to our success – and benefit from the opportunity to learn or refine a wide range of professional, in-demand skills and grow with the business. And we offer flexibility; we are very happy to consider part-time/flexible working arrangements (unfortunately, we can’t accommodate term-time only). 

Interested?  

Email your CV, three examples of your written work (not academic work), together with a covering letter to communications@sharpminds.agency 

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Collaborative inspiration for female entrepreneurs

Are you a woman with entrepreneurial ambitions? Then join us at the next “Make It Your Business” event in Tunbridge Wells on 18 October 2024.

Maybe you have a brilliant idea that you’ve been nurturing for a while, or perhaps you’ve already taken the plunge and started your own business.  If you’re looking for some inspiration and guidance to take it to the next level, then mark your calendar for October 18th, 2024 – the Make It Your Business event in Tunbridge Wells is exactly where you need to be.

Make It Your Business is more than just an event — it’s a movement. Founded by Alison Cork when she was the government tsar for female entrepreneurs, it is the fastest growing network targeting this sector.

What is “Make It Your Business”?

Its mission is to support and empower women entrepreneurs across the UK and provide a platform to come together, share experiences, and learn from one another.

Why Attend the Tunbridge Wells Make It Your Business event?

The upcoming event in Tunbridge Wells is shaping up to be an inspiring morning filled with valuable insights, networking opportunities, and practical advice. Here’s what you can expect:

  1. Hear from Successful Female Entrepreneurs:
    Our panel of local businesswomen will share their stories—the highs, the lows, and everything in between. Learn from their successes and challenges, and gain insights that you can apply to your own entrepreneurial journey.

Managing Director Siobhan Stirling will be chairing our October guest speakers:

Jenny Kitchen, CEO of YoYo Design and co-founder of amplifi, a collaborative movement to unite local businesses for climate and community

Lynne Campbell of international consulting services, abc-ifa 

Tamara Roberts of award-winning Ridgeview Vineyard who produce world-class sparking wine in East Sussex

Suzi Mitchell who set up Taylor Made Dreams  in memory of her son to enable children with life-limiting illnesses achieve their dreams.

  1. Get Your Questions Answered:
    Ever wish you could sit down with a successful business owner and pick their brain? At our event, you’ll have the chance to do just that. The Q&A session is your opportunity to ask those burning questions and get advice.
  2. Expand Your Network:
    In business, who you know can be just as important as what you know. This event is a great chance to meet like-minded women, potential collaborators, mentors, and even customers. Networking sessions will give you the time to build meaningful connections that can help you grow your business.
  3. Feel Empowered and Inspired:
    One of the most powerful aspects of “Make It Your Business” is the sense of community it fosters. You’ll leave the event not only with practical tips and new connections, but also with a renewed sense of motivation and confidence to pursue your business goals.

Event Details:

  • Date: Wednesday, October 18th, 2024
  • Time: 10.30am – 12.30pm
  • Location: The Finance Hub, Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells
  • Tickets: Available on Eventbrite

Who Should Attend?

This event is perfect for women at all stages of their business journey. Whether you’re dreaming about starting a business, are in the early stages of your venture, or are a seasoned entrepreneur looking for fresh perspectives, you’ll find value in what Make It Your Business has to offer.

How to Register:

Tickets for the event are now available on Eventbrite, and they’re FREE but places are limited so don’t miss your chance to be part of this incredible event. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/make-it-your-business-tunbridge-wells-18th-october-2024-tickets-972061872227?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

As usual, the Tunbridge Wells event is very kindly hosted by The Finance Hub, at the end of The Pantiles: Unit B, The Potteries, Linden Park Rd, Tunbridge Wells TN2 5FQ.

The Finance Hub and The Property Hub is a collaborative hub of experts advising on all aspects of finance and property.

Let’s make your business dreams a reality together!

Based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, Sharp Minds Communications offers brand development, digital marketing, offline marketing, and public relations to businesses across Kent, Sussex, Surrey, and Greater London.

Want to get your brand noticed? Get in touch

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Business tips from female entrepreneurs at our latest networking event

Being a woman in business comes with its challenges. Sharing your experience and learning from your peers can help with navigating difficulties. Our managing director, Siobhan Stirling, hosted the latest Make It Your Business event at The Finance Hub on The Pantiles in Tunbridge Wells, with a panel of incredible speakers. Here we sum up the insightful advice from the morning.

Don’t be invisible

Our keynote speaker, Deborah Turner, Federation of Small Businesses’ National Policy Lead for Women in Enterprise, Consultant Chartered Surveyor and much more, learnt the hard way the value of investing in yourself and embracing who you are.

She says: “As a woman of colour, when I first started out working as a surveyor (historically, a majority white, male field), I was constantly trying to blend in, hiding my personality and ended up missing out on promotions. I realised that to be taken seriously, I needed to invest in myself and my personal brand to really achieve success, which meant bringing my femininity and personality to work!”

She emphasised the importance of building a network of people around you who will support you, and nurturing those relationships is vital.

You’ve got nothing to lose

Gemma Farina of GF HR Consulting, set up her HR consulting business after the arrival of her first child, having worked in HR since graduating. She shared that building the right foundations in your business is what’s important:

“My first role was in Grosvenor, which was very much old school when it came to having a strong ethos of honesty and integrity. Recognising people and their values is key to a strong workforce and so a lot of what I want to be doing when I work with companies is not just reacting to situations, but going deeper and trying to solve the issues which are causing problems to arise in the first place.“

Find the right balance for you

Debbie Waite, founder of Stronger Inside and Out life coaching, draws on a lot of her own experiences when speaking with her clients. She worked in training for The Savoy and Claridge’s before moving to leadership and management training at AXA. But it was after having children that Debbie realised she couldn’t do everything:

“I have always been ready to work super hard, and after having children, I was ready to continue working hard, until I began to feel that I was being pushed too far. I was expecting too much of myself, and needed to acknowledge there are only so many hours in a day, so I couldn’t have my corporate job, do CrossFit training on the side and be a mother: something needed to give. I decided to take control of my life. I decided I didn’t want to play the corporate game anymore and realised I could use my experiences to help other women struggling to balance corporate ambition with a happy home life. The only way you can reach your full potential is by focusing on yourself, so that is what I help women to do.”

Don’t feel you have to go it alone

Claire Passos, founder of Caracol Glamping had a vision from when she was young to set up a glamping site. She eventually decided to take the leap and leave her role in marketing. She shared her experience, saying: “Having a team supporting you helps to make it less isolating, because the commercials of running a business can be hard. My advice would be don’t pretend you have to know or do everything yourself, use experts to guide and assist you if you can.

The key takeaways from the event were:

  • Invest in yourself
  • Being vulnerable can build your resilience
  • Nurture your relationships within your support network

All four of our panellists were incredibly inspiring and we are already looking forward to our next Make it Your Business event in October.

Based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, Sharp Minds Communications offers brand development, digital marketing, offline marketing, and public relations to businesses across Kent, Sussex, Surrey, and Greater London.

Want to get your brand noticed? Get in touch

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Sharp Minds 2.0 – our rebrand explained

Kent 21st May 2024-PR and marketing specialist, Sharp Minds Communications, has evolved its brand to reflect an increasingly sophisticated and tactical approach to communications, as the agency bids to go national.

The venture, which includes a new logo and website, is part of the company’s mission to showcase its ambitions to attract new clients and highlight its purpose of providing tactical award-winning comms at significantly lower rates than bulge-bracket, London-based agencies.

The rebrand aligns with a refocused direction, with the agency expanding its reach outside of the South East, after bolstering its client base by winning national and blue-chip companies.

Sharp Minds Communications, which is based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, has spent eight months examining every aspect of the business in preparation for the relaunch. Managing Director, Siobhan Stirling, said the move was about ‘resetting the company’ to reflect servicing larger companies with a national and international reach.

“Our previous brand identity served us well, but no longer reflected where we are now as an agency, both in terms of the scale and ambition of our clients and the value we add for them. The rebrand now brings our visual identity in line with our exciting proposition of bringing our powerful and intelligent communications to market, competing on service levels with London agencies, but at rates that reflect our lean, agile approach,” said Siobhan.

Mark Foxwell, Director and Head of PR, said: “We want to be the go-to for small to large brands that are looking to earn media and reputation to build their brands and their futures, but at significantly lower rates than bulge-bracket agencies that historically overcharge.”

Sharp Minds Communications’ recent wins include Dootrix, a tech disruptor working with Heathrow, GRIDSERVE and Confused.com, leading South East law firm Thackray Williams, and national crisis communications for the care sector.

Last year Sharp Mind Communications’ thought leadership resulted in one of its proudest achievements since the company was founded in 2016. The agency managed to compete with 2,000 entries from 60 countries from EMEA global brands and communication agencies, such as Virgin Media and Edelman, to become a finalist in the highly regarded SABRE Awards EMEA 2023. After months of hard work researching, creating, designing, and distributing a world-first report, the agency delivered a global audience of more than 230 million people – increasing website traffic and sales for its client, an internationally renowned steel manufacturer.

Based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, Sharp Minds Communications offers brand development, digital marketing, offline marketing, and public relations to businesses across Kent, Sussex, Surrey, and Greater London.

Want to get your brand noticed? Get in touch

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