I’m Tanya Edwards, @EDWARDS_TE Communications Specialist at Jigsaw Homes Group, based in the North West.
As a marketing and communications professional, I am always on the lookout for events to attend where I can learn something new and network with other like-minded business people to help build my contacts within the industry.
The #CommsHero event hosted by the awesome team at We are Resource @WeAreResource is definitely one not to be missed if you work in marketing and communications. From start to finish, these events allow you to get your creative juices flowing. Quite literally this is what happened at the event this year in May. Social media guru at Innocent Drinks, Helena Langdon gave no end of hints and tips for pushing you out of your comfort zone, and was most definitely the most anticipated guest speaker of the event.
The guest speakers are always a deciding factor when choosing the right events and conferences, and #CommsHero always delivers on both the speakers and the content. This year was no exception. The high profile speakers from a broad range of backgrounds in marketing and communications, covered everything from engagement to leadership and digital strategy; all key areas for the attendees.
Highlights for me this year were Helen Reynolds (award-winning social media expert, who’s best known for her Comms Cartoons) who encouraged us to embrace our ‘Comms Unicorn’ and got us focused by thinking about our #CommsHero superpower through the use of sketch notes.; a great way to get the room motivated for the day ahead.
Sales and marketing strategist, Grant Leboff held the room’s attention by questioning what is meant by engagement today. In a world full of information, how do we grab our audience’s attention – by keeping them occupied, busy or engaged. And how do we do this? Through content and having bulk content ready to push out when needed.
Rachel Royall and Eva Lake shared their expertise into digital engagement across the NHS, advocating the power of internal communications with a staff-first approach, while Rob Jefferson and Liam Smith shared their insight from Doncaster Council and pushing the boundaries to get results.
The atmosphere at every #CommsHero event is electric and this is harnessed and pushed by the man behind the event, Asif Choudry who has brought this event to life, creating a unique community across social media, with the help of his We are Resource team. At every event you not only pick up key learnings from the highest calibre of speakers, but the personalised swag is the envy of teams across the land, and no #CommsHero event is complete without Krispy Kreme doughnuts. After every event there is also the opportunity for attendees to get their hands on a #CommsHero t-shirt, specially designed by themselves through the lead of Caroline King, Head of Brand and Communications at Torus , who facilitated the design stage at the event. The tees are emblazoned with slogans that represent what marketing and communications professionals face on a daily basis; a nod to the true heroics they perform.