Business Action August / September 2019
August / September 2019 issue of the independent North Devon-based business magazine covering news about business and enterprise in Barnstaple, Bideford, Braunton, Chulmleigh, Combe Martin, Holsworthy, Ilfracombe, Lynmouth, Lynton, South Molton, Torrington, Woolacombe and more. Full magazine available to non-subscribers mid-August. Business Action Plan and magazine subscribers receive priority access of new issues of Business Action on publication. Subscribe at http://www.business-action.co.uk/plans
August / September 2019 issue of the independent North Devon-based business magazine covering news about business and enterprise in Barnstaple, Bideford, Braunton, Chulmleigh, Combe Martin, Holsworthy, Ilfracombe, Lynmouth, Lynton, South Molton, Torrington, Woolacombe and more.
Full magazine available to non-subscribers mid-August.
Business Action Plan and magazine subscribers receive priority access of new issues of Business Action on publication. Subscribe at http://www.business-action.co.uk/plans
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
My name is Rosie, I’m 20<br />
years old and I live in the<br />
small seaside town of Lynton.<br />
In my spare time (and when<br />
the weather allows), I love<br />
lounging in the sun on the<br />
beach, swimming and surfing.<br />
I first discovered my interest<br />
in marketing during my time<br />
at college, where I studied an<br />
extended diploma in business.<br />
I really enjoyed learning about<br />
marketing, as it enabled me<br />
to bring out my creative side.<br />
During the course, we had to<br />
conduct market research on<br />
the chocolate industry and use<br />
our findings to come up with<br />
an idea for a new chocolate bar.<br />
With me being a huge chocoholic,<br />
I was in my element and<br />
the task highlighted my interest<br />
in market research, which was<br />
one of the reasons that led me<br />
to apply to Turquoise Thinking<br />
for the apprenticeship position.<br />
Marketing apprenticeship<br />
I started my marketing apprenticeship<br />
through Petroc here at<br />
Turquoise at the end of March<br />
<strong>2019</strong>. During this time, I have<br />
gained a pool of knowledge<br />
about market research and how<br />
the business operates. What<br />
made Turquoise stand out to<br />
me as a market research agency<br />
is their extensive cross-sector<br />
experience. They have worked<br />
with a mass of blue-chip clients<br />
in a wide number of sectors<br />
over their 30 years in the market<br />
research industry, and really<br />
understand how people work<br />
and what makes them tick.<br />
My first day<br />
I was thrown in at the deep<br />
end on my first day, where I<br />
was given the opportunity to<br />
travel to Somerset to attend<br />
a client presentation with my<br />
new teammates. On arrival at<br />
this highly secure site, we were<br />
invited to sit in a porta-cabin<br />
which had a poster on the wall<br />
with warning signs telling us<br />
to “run, hide and tell” if we<br />
were faced with any immediate<br />
threat or danger. Just the warm<br />
welcome I needed to settle my<br />
first-day nerves! However, we<br />
made it out alive after Laura<br />
delivered a fantastic presentation.<br />
Getting involved in client<br />
projects from the get-go has<br />
made me feel part of the team<br />
and allowed me to get a real<br />
taste for how Turquoise interacts<br />
with clients.<br />
APPRENTICESHIPS<br />
Diary of a market research apprentice<br />
Apprenticeships are fast becoming the best way for young people<br />
to start a career and for businesses to develop skilled people. This<br />
month Rosie Hayton writes about her first month as a marketing<br />
apprentice with Turquoise Thinking in Barnstaple<br />
Deep in thought at Turquoise: (from left) Lisa Ollerenshaw, Mark Harvey,<br />
Laura Scott, Rosie Hayton<br />
My introduction to the<br />
world of market research<br />
Since starting my apprenticeship,<br />
I have had the chance to<br />
work with different colleagues<br />
on an array of tasks each day,<br />
from data analysis to scripting<br />
questionnaires. This has given<br />
me an understanding of everyone’s<br />
role within the organisation<br />
and what part each person<br />
plays in taking a client project<br />
from start to finish.<br />
I was also given an exciting<br />
opportunity to experience<br />
a big kick-off meeting for a<br />
client in the water sector in<br />
Birmingham. The project<br />
set out to achieve objectives<br />
such as monitoring customer<br />
satisfaction and increasing<br />
awareness of service.<br />
Attending this meeting<br />
made me feel like I was a<br />
valued member of the team<br />
and gave me a greater understanding<br />
of the process that<br />
Turquoise goes through when<br />
undertaking a project.<br />
Getting on the phone!<br />
The team has helped to push<br />
me out of my comfort zone too.<br />
In my second week, I was given<br />
some training in the art of coldcalling<br />
. . . uh-oh! This took the<br />
form of first getting my head<br />
round the sales process, sales<br />
pipeline and how to introduce<br />
the Turquoise proposition to<br />
attract new business.<br />
We then moved on to roleplay<br />
which was particularly<br />
challenging, because let’s face<br />
it, who likes role-play anyway?<br />
However, the training paid<br />
off, and I had some good<br />
conversations, which actually<br />
resulted in being able to book<br />
a couple of appointments<br />
with universities who were<br />
interested to speak to us about<br />
our education sector market<br />
research experience with<br />
regards to upcoming research<br />
requirements. This really<br />
helped to build my confidence.<br />
Best bits<br />
My favourite thing about<br />
working at Turquoise is the<br />
variety that comes with the<br />
job. I get to work on tasks in<br />
different areas of the business,<br />
conduct research, present my<br />
findings to the team, and learn<br />
new things every day.<br />
I have really enjoyed my first<br />
month at Turquoise Thinking.<br />
I’m looking forward to what is<br />
to come and gaining experience<br />
and a full understanding<br />
of the market research industry.<br />
I would like to thank Turquoise<br />
for giving me the opportunity<br />
to help them expand their<br />
close-knit team and for being<br />
so welcoming.<br />
■■Details 01271 337100 or<br />
thinkturquoise.com<br />
Cranford <strong>Business</strong><br />
Services Limited<br />
www.accountsindevon.co.uk<br />
Old Stone, Cranford, Bideford, Devon, EX39 5QW<br />
07896 204 857<br />
Does your accountant...<br />
Listen to you and act on your needs?<br />
Explain your accounts in terms you understand?<br />
Arrange meeting at your convenience?<br />
Leaving you free to concentrate on what you do best!<br />
@businessactionm | <strong>August</strong> / <strong>September</strong> <strong>2019</strong> | business action 17