The post September Monthly Round Up appeared first on Hatch - PR, Social, Content & Activation Agency.

PR, social and communications in general within sports have been a huge growing market for a long time now.

Back when attending live sporting events and playing sports recreationally were banned during COVID, social media platforms and the press became the only way sporting teams could keep in touch with their current fans. However, this also created a massive opportunity enabling them to reach and grow a whole new network of supporters.

Yet, sports PR & social is notoriously one of the hardest fields to come across as authentic. But why is this?

It goes back to the age-old phrase of: “It takes one to know one.”

Whilst you have some sporting spectators who sit on the fringe and don’t really align themselves to a core team, the majority are ride or die and could list you an entire team’s squad in just a breath.

Now, this is why it is such a hard market to crack. Your target audience probably knows more about your team or sport than the people writing the press releases and drafting social copy, meaning slip-ups are common and it can often lead to the ultimate sporting penalty, inauthenticity.

Here are 5 reasons why you need sporting fans running the show if you’re looking to PR your sport, team or brand:

1. Product Knowledge

You wouldn’t have someone pitching a new food or drink product if they didn’t know the taste or ingredients, and the same rule applies to sports. It’s essential for your creative comms team to be able to talk to the press and consumers organically, and really understand the ‘product’ inside and out.

In sports, the product tends to be a team or competition, the thing you’re pushing to the masses. Journalists want to get a full picture of what the team is going through, how they’ve performed, and any key player developments. If you’re unable to fulfil and share all of that with passion, you’ll leave yourself with a very unenthused and nervous journalist.

However, if you’re able to talk about the controversies from the weekend fixtures, speak confidently and insightfully about a new signing you want to be interviewed, or even share something with a deeper understanding that even the journalist hasn’t thought of, you’ll have a lot more success. For sporty people, this isn’t a chore for them, it’s not a script of bullet points they’ve written down before they pick up the phone, it’s their mastermind category, their love and their passion.

2. Journalist Contacts

Sports journalists are a different breed of press, in the best way possible! They spend their time not just filing copy but attending games, going to pressers, following social media as things unfold, and being able to fully engage them is a must.

Sports fans and people who work in sports PR are very similar (and in the best instances, the same). They’re spending their weekends and evenings catching up on match highlights, getting tickets to go witness once-in-a-lifetime sporting moments, giving them not only  shared talking points when pitching to the press, but also enabling them to be in a position where they’ll be bumping into their contact from TalkSPORT, or sharing a post-match pint with the new producer over at Sky Sports News. It means your product will be directly pitched to the contacts you want to reach regularly and organically.

3. By The Fans, For The Fans

I’m sure we can all think of moments we’ve seen a press stunt from a sports team and just held our heads in our hands thinking how could they get it so wrong? Chances are, it was probably orchestrated by people who’ve never set foot on a pitch and couldn’t explain the offside rule.

Fans are the first to sniff out when something feels inauthentic and out of line with the club and players. They’re the brand guardians you never asked for but will find impossible to ignore.

People pride themselves on the teams they support. They become part of their identity. They plaster stickers on their cars, tattoo club badges onto their skin, and put up huge amounts of money to attend games and see their heroes live. This is why they take fake performative campaigns to such personal offense.

By working with people who are fans of your product, they can help you not only create campaigns that are true to what you’re pushing, but also, they can be the sounding board before it reaches the wrong kind of Twitter meme page.

4. Thriving In Competition

People who play and follow sports are inherently competitive. They know how it feels to lose and they certainly know how it feels to win, and how much they want to win again. By working with people engaged in sports, you can bet that by nature they are going to be competitive. They won’t be happy just hitting the KPIs, they want to smash it out of the park. If they don’t get coverage, they won’t just chalk it off as a loss, they’re keep working and reworking until they get it just right, just as they would do on the pitch on a cold Sunday morning.

You want the competitive nature and drive, you want people who are hungry for success and as an extension, will ensure you get more than what you’ve asked for.

5. Passion

If people are passionate about something and believe in something, they will go above and beyond to meet expectations.

You won’t be an afterthought or a chore, you won’t be receiving the same washed-up rinse and repeat ideas. You will be a large part of their life, both at work and at home.

By having a group of people who all operate and specialise in sports, you find the discussions (and fantasy leagues) never end. Not only is this good just for general talking points, but I can’t begin to put into context how many great ideas we’ve had at Hatch Group that has come from a chat over lunch about the weekend’s fixtures, or a campaign we’ve seen by another sports team which we think could have been done better.

Here at Hatch, we pride ourselves on being sports fanatics, we know the audience, because we are the audience. We know the fans because we are them ourselves and our repertoire backs that up. We’ve been lucky enough to work with The Rugby League World Cup, The FA, The EFL, British Triathlon and The Hundred to name just a few.

We get sport, in fact, we love it. Don’t let our record in the Leeds Dragon Boat Race say otherwise…

It’s a constant within our office, from discussing the impact of YouTuber Boxing on the mainstream boxing industry with Louis, playing ‘Footie Tic Tac Toe’ with Vik and Alex, to going through my Fantasy Football team with Cam. From playing one touch in our boss’s garden to having team outings to the races, rugby, football and cricket.

It’s what we love and it’s what we do, so let us do it for you!

If you have a sporting campaign you’re looking for PR, Social, Content or more then please drop in for a chat, or send me an email at elenabunbury@hatch.group, and we’ll be bringing home the silverware in no time!

The post For the Love of Sport appeared first on Hatch - PR, Social, Content & Activation Agency.

Our resident apprentice, Vaughn, shares his thoughts on why apprenticeships are an amazing way to kick start your journey in the wonderful world of work or to simply improve your skills.

So, a little bit about me, after I waved my GCSE’s goodbye, I decided to stay on at my high school’s sixth form to do A-levels, but after a while I decided that it was not the path I wanted to continue. That’s when I decided to start the search for an apprenticeship.

It did not take me long to find Hatch and I decided to apply for an A-level equivalent Level 3 Business Administration role. Since then, I have been immersed in everything across the business - from purchase orders to exciting video shoots in the office and even Spartying hard in Budapest for my 18^th birthday. What I am saying is that while an apprenticeship will require hard work and dedication, it will also provide you with many rewards.

What is an apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship is a great way to fast-track your career, it is paid employment with holiday leave - a way to gain work experience whilst learning skills for life and it is a fantastic way to meet new people but enough about what it says on the tin… What do you actually do?

During your apprenticeship you will be working towards a qualification which are graded as follows: ‘Intermediate – Level 2’ which is equivalent to GCSE level, ‘Advanced – Level 3’ which is equivalent to A-levels, ‘Higher – ‘Level 4/5’ which is equivalent to a foundation degree and above, and finally ‘Degree – level 6/7’ which is equivalent to a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree.

You will be required to record 20% of your time completing ‘off the job’ training set by your training provider. Your employer is required to give you this time to complete it, alongside your other workload. ‘Off the job’ training is either completed in university/college or in your office. The tasks can be worksheets, videos, or simply shadowing and learning from someone in your workplace.

At the end of your apprenticeship, you will take part in an end-point assessment which will determine your final grade. It works on the basis of the pass, merit, and distinction grading system.

How do you get an apprenticeship?

To get an apprenticeship you first need to find and apply for one! I got mine through my past job at Elland Road so you could say I got lucky, and it goes back to the old saying “’t’s not what you know, but who you know.” However, apprenticeship roles are also listed online on websites such as, gov.uk, Indeed, and LinkedIn. An amazing place to look is recruitment fairs that take place all across the UK and throughout the year.  Once you find an apprenticeship in the career you’re passionate about, apply! Be positive, hold yourself to high standards and always ask for feedback on ways to improve yourself, an employer will love that.

To get an apprenticeship you need to be 16 or over before the start date of your placement but you are able to apply before then.  Unlike full-time jobs, experience is not needed for apprenticeships, however if a job role is completely new to you it’s better to start on an entry level apprenticeship (level 2/3). Companies in the UK often advertise new apprenticeships during National Apprenticeship Week however this does not mean that it is the only time they are released.

If you feel like you’re not ready for an apprenticeship it’s not the end of the world! You can apply for a traineeship which can last from 6 weeks up to 1 year, however most traineeships last for 6 months. A traineeship will help you with getting work such as writing a CV, finding a job, and will assist with english, maths, and basic digital skills if needed.

How has an apprenticeship benefited me?

Doing an apprenticeship has definitely helped me mature as a whole and is giving me valuable work experience. The whole appeal for me was to fast-track my career and it has done exactly that so far. I’ve taken part in video production shoots, the general day-to-day life of a Business Admin, and probably the best 18^th birthday ever and this is all down to me making the jump to an apprenticeship. So, what are you waiting for? Get applying now!

The post National Apprenticeship Week 2023 appeared first on Hatch - PR, Social, Content & Activation Agency.

And just like that, January 2023 is wrapped up! Here at Hatch, we kicked off the New Year on a high and came back to the office raring to go and overflowing with new ideas, despite the normal January blues.

Having taken part in the first pub quiz of the year at The Canary and coming 4^th place (due to a technicality…wink), as well as a variety of networking events, it’s been a very damp Jan at the Hatch headquarters.

This month, we hit the ground running with lots to celebrate already such as welcoming on board two new accounts, both Pushfar and VW Festival, and welcoming our most recent Fledgling, Robbie Carney. Excited to explore new areas and ideas, we can’t wait to tackle the rest of the year ahead!

However, January  has been bitter-sweet as we said our goodbyes to Hatchling and social queen Evie, as she jets off to explore the world for the next three months… good luck and safe travels, we will miss you!

Eager to continue the year on a high, we all took a trip down memory lane to look back on the last 15 years of Hatch in our all-agency strategy day. It was a great opportunity to look back at the successes of Hatch so far as well as sharing exciting plans how on we are making 2023 one to remember. So, with spirits high and big things in the pipeline, here’s to the rest of year!

But that’s enough about us, here’s some of our favorite campaigns from 2023 so far…

Cry Me a Cockroach- Texas Zoo

One of my personal favorites has to be the ‘Cry Me a Cockroach’ fundraiser by Texas Zoo. Ahead of Valentine’s Day, Texas Zoo will name a cockroach after your ex-partner and feed it to one of its animals in its annual fundraiser.

The initiative was in an aim to support the zoo’s ‘vision for securing a future for wildlife in Texas. Last year, Texas Zoo received more than 8,000 donations from all 50 states and 30 different countries- what a great way to go viral.

So, if you’re feeling extremely petty this Valentine’s Day, submit you ex’s name here before February 14^th. You can even send them their very own digital card.

Vimpto Campaign by Vimto

Vimto launched a great campaign on social media this month too, playing on the fact that consumers are constantly pronouncing its name wrong. Despite being on the shelf of nearly every supermarket and convenience store for the last 115 years, it’s a very common and repetitive mistake yet, Vimto saw a great opportunity and jumped all over it, causing a lot of controversy and discussion around the brand. Simple yet very effective- Genius.

Train Strikes & National Express

Finally, from more of a social perspective, we absolutely loved this TikTok video courtesy of National Express.

With TikTok on the rise and no signs of slowing down, National Express have taken advantage of the ever-lasting train strikes and the most recent TikTok trend with this video encouraging people to purchase one of their coach tickets through the link in their bio. It’s safe to say this video was a great success with over 75,000 interactions!

Looking to run an eye-catching campaign? Drop us a line at hello@hatchpr.co.uk to see how we can support your brand.

The post January 2023 Monthly Round Up appeared first on Hatch - PR, Social, Content & Activation Agency.

The PR industry is one filled with both exciting opportunities and fascinating work. Before starting here at Hatch, my knowledge of the company was limited but after falling into a trance of background research on previous projects and work the company has done, I was beaming with excitement to get started. I was lucky enough to get the job through a connection of mine so shoutout to James for giving me the opportunity to join the team!

As a current Sports Marketing student in my second year at Leeds Beckett, I thought this would be a fantastic opportunity to gain some experience while I complete my studies. Before I started here, I felt a mix of emotions, mainly optimism with a hint of nerves as I was about to venture into the unknown. “Am I going to fit in?” Will I enjoy it?” were the two main questions echoing through my head and it’s fair to say that the moment I walked through the door, these questions were answered… for the good!

One of my favourite things about Hatch is how welcoming and friendly the staff has been. The chilled but enthusiastic working environment has really resonated with me as I view myself as a relatively relaxed person but still have that drive to succeed. In terms of the work side of things, I’ve definitely gained bags of valuable knowledge and experience that I will cherish as I progress through university and life in general. My time here has allowed me to develop my skills through various avenues of interesting work. Writing press releases was a personal highlight of mine as I enjoy writing and the topic was Premier League football, which is a strong interest of mine and it was great to be allowed to write so freely about it.

Reaching out to journalists to secure coverage for clients such as Ellers Farm Distillery was another fun aspect to the job as it was good to build relationships and a nice feeling getting that first piece of coverage that spurs you on to do your best. The work I have been doing has been so refreshing and a nice change from writing essays and reports!

Another bonus of my experience here, is that I feel as though I’ve made some real friends, who I would like to keep in touch with for sure. I’m in the early stages of my journey but this is a stage that I will look back on fondly and remember for all the right reasons. As I look forward, I am highly optimistic and have a strong hunger to succeed more than ever before. Thanks to everyone and hopefully our paths cross again in the future!

Team Hatch thank Robbie for all of his hard work over the last few weeks! If you're interested in learning more about the world of PR, Social, Video, Design, Events or Sponsorship get in touch at hello@hatch.group

The post The Start of Something Good appeared first on Hatch - PR, Social, Content & Activation Agency.

**TW: This blog covers the topic of mental health and may be triggered to anyone struggling. If you need help, please contact the Samaritans on 116123

"Just because no one else can heal or do your inner work for you doesn’t mean you can, should, or need to do it alone." – Lisa Olivera

This is my first blog for Hatch. I cannot count the number of times I have attempted to begin blogs online through the years.  November is officially men’s mental health month, a month where men are encouraged to reach out, share their feelings and ask for help. It's a time when all companies, brands and charities are pushing men to be brave and speak out, so I wanted to do just that.

So, hello, I’m Dan and I work in the production department at Hatch. I write, direct, edit, plan, and shoot video content for all our clients and, along with the team, make things look pretty for a living.

Despite painting positivity onto all the work that I produce, I struggle sometimes to apply this work ethic on to my own personal mindset. This is because at the age of 18 I was diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and mild PTSD.

Taking myself firmly out of my comfort zone, I’m going to discuss what it’s like working within a busy agency whilst living with various mental health conditions and how best to deal with it all when things may become too much.

Six years ago, I left university after doing Film and Television Production and managed to get a job within the industry within a month of leaving - great. Career wise I was on the way to working hard, getting contacts, and working my way up the ladder.

However, I had this overshadowing black cloud of a dirty secret, my mental illness:

“Oh my god, I have just left university, I have this great position and prospect, what if they think I cannot cope with the job? What if they think I am not capable? What if they think I am a liability?”

So, I did what most young people would do in this position. I hid. On reflection, was this a good idea? Absolutely not. Lo and behold the inevitable happened, I became too wrapped up in my own panic and paranoia that I made myself incapable of doing simple tasks through fear of being found out.

I worried more about keeping it hidden, which made my mental health worse, which caused me to be in a position where I HAD to tell them about it. Thus, making it far more of a bigger deal than it ever needed to be in the beginning.

I bit the bullet; I opened up and just like that problem solved, things began to fall into place. Work was great and they gave me extra support, extra chats, cups of teas and catch ups, whatever I needed to make work that bit more achievable they were more than happy to oblige.

Now, I cannot sit here and say every single workplace will be the same. I was lucky that this turned out that way, but the moral is, you have to eventually be open to discussing your mental health.

However, I must stress, do it on your terms and on your own individual timeframe.

"Your mental health is everything – prioritize it. Make the time like your life depends on it, because it does." — Mel Robbins

Fast forward to Hatch...

I’m now 10 years into my diagnosis, and I am pretty much my own mental health expert.

I know my triggers, I know my weaknesses, I can spot the signs, I have done more bouts of therapy and counselling sessions than I count, and I know what works for me.

Entering Hatch was a daunting yet exciting experience. Up to 40 employees is a big jump from 5 or 6 (on a busy day). Would I fit in? How would I manage my Black Dog days in an open social office with more people? Would they like me? Would they understand it? Have they time to deal with me?

The answer to all of these was simple. Day one, I told them, and they understood. Not only that, but they embraced me. We have Hatch staff trained up in mental health awareness and the wellbeing of all staff are a priority.

When the bad times happen and the Black Dog looms, you need a break, you need a minute, you want to scream, you want to hide, you need to talk, you need to run, whatever it may be, you need to make sure that whatever it is you do works for you and that those around you can support whatever it is you need.

Letting people know what you need rather than sitting and suffering quietly at your desk, carrying that massive burden on your mind and shoulders is not healthy, it is suffocating. Telling someone at work helps you unwrap that tight coil around your chest and helps you to breathe a sigh of relief. You are all on the same team, and nobody wants you to fail.

If you would have told me 10 years ago when I was confused, ashamed and still beginning to understand my afflictions that I would be as open and understanding of myself as I am today, I would not have believed you. And a lot of that confidence to be open has been built from the workplace accepting me for who I am.

Yes, it will take a lot of internal hard work on your own self-care but inviting others to help you on that journey does not make you weak, it shares the load and gives you time to build yourself even stronger. Men’s mental health awareness month is so important, especially in a workplace.

We do not know what happens behind closed doors and we do not know what anybody is going through in their own minds. But learning to spot the signs and acting on a gut instinct can change a person’s entire mindset instantly.

I will not do the usual practice and share the statistics of suicide rates within men, the amounts of cases because we are all aware it is higher than it should ever be. We need to make it stop and we need to do all that we can to help those around us to know that they are part of our team and that they are never alone.

If you’re worried about your co-worker, speak to someone in the office who is trained to help them. Are they your friend in the workplace? Invite them for a coffee at lunch and ask how they are.

Little moments can make a big difference.

Here are some links to some useful resources which may help either yourself or someone you work with:

• https://championhealth.co.uk/insights/spot-mental-health-issues-at-work/
• https://uk.movember.com/mens-health/get-support
• https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/mental-health-issues/

Here are some helplines also:

• NHS – Call 111
• Shout Crisis Helpline – Text 85258
• Samaritans – Call 116 123

Stay safe everyone and keep going.

Dan

The post Managing in a busy office on a bad mental health day appeared first on Hatch - PR, Social, Content & Activation Agency.

If you’re looking for an exciting, creative, and fast-paced industry to work in, a career in public relations is a great choice.

PR is something we absorb everywhere, but many people outside of the sector don’t understand what it is and why it is so important. With a wide range of misconceptions out there as to what we do, public relations is SO much more than the cliches of brunches referenced in pop culture.

Whether you’ve recently graduated or are looking to switch to a new sector, it can be hard to get your first foot on the career ladder and stand out from the crowd, particularly in PR with the job market being so competitive.

Last year I joined the team at Hatch as a PR Account Executive, after freelancing as a PR Assistant after finishing my final year of studies at university. Here are a few pointers on how to get into a public relations career and stand apart from the rest of the crowd!

Experience is Key

Gaining experience in PR is vital more than ever in today’s current employment market, with two-thirds of employers favouring candidates with relevant work experience.

Keep your eye out for opportunities that will help you develop your skillset and help you decide if a career in PR is right for you. Websites like Indeed and Rate my Placement will list a wide range of internship opportunities, and make sure to reach out to PRs on LinkedIn to see if they’re open to offering work experience.

You’ll learn so much from your fellow PR professionals, providing you with experience beyond what you may have previously completed – plus, you can showcase your experience in your portfolio when you’re applying for your dream job.

Here at Hatch, we launched our Fledglings Intern Programme earlier this year. Considering applying? Follow us on social for details on how to apply for 2023!

@hatchgroup

Get reading

As a PR professional it’s incredibly important to have an awareness of what’s going on in the world, so make sure to immerse yourself in the media. Look at how you’re consuming news, whether it’s from online news platforms or TikTok, you need to be clued up on it all, from sport to finance.

Look at the news with a savvy eye – can you tell the difference between a successful stunt or not, and what makes a clickbait story clickable? Having this skillset will most certainly impress your prospective employer and demonstrates your knowledge of the media landscape.

Write, write write!

Whether it’s starting your own blog or practising writing press releases, being a great communicator is vital in PR. In a world where journalists are constantly receiving content from PRs across the country, having a well-written press release can make or break whether you secure media coverage, draw visitors to your website or reach your target audience.

When completing any work experience, make sure to ask for honest feedback on any content you may be required to write. Every client will have their own unique writing style, so experiment with varying tones of voice to ensure you’re communicating most efficiently. Plus, you can showcase your writing technique in your portfolio when applying for that dream job or internship.

Resources such as VeryGoodCopy and CopyBlogger offer a wide range of tips and tricks to help you create content that will drive traffic and resonate with your target audience.

Network and Build Relationships

Networking is one of the most important skills to possess in PR – if you can’t communicate well with others then how will you communicate well with journalists who receive thousands of press releases every day?

I never would have landed my freelancing role if it wasn’t for building connections with fellow PR Professionals. Networking opens the door for new opportunities that might have been out of reach otherwise and could even inspire someone to recommend you to a prospective employer to help you land that dream role.

Attend networking events (BrightonSEO and PR Week have a wide range of events throughout the year to get involved in!) and maintain your relationship with contacts you’ve made from any work experience – you never know when someone will reach the branch out to offer you new and exciting opportunities!

Whilst putting these tips into practice won’t necessarily guarantee a dream role in PR, they will help you stand out from the crowd in a highly saturated market and will showcase your skill set positively. Think initiatively, and be persistent, and you’ll be a PR Pro in no time.

Looking to join an award-winning agency that delivers the unorthodox? Take a look at our current openings, or drop us a note at hello@hatchpr.co.uk

The post How to get into Public Relations appeared first on Hatch - PR, Social, Content & Activation Agency.

I found out about Hatch and its internship programme through my network on LinkedIn. As a 2^nd year student in BA(Hons) Public Relations with Journalism in Leeds, this was the perfect opportunity for me to spend a month over summer learning the ins and outs of working in a PR agency and expanding my network further.

Having previously done an internship with another agency online, I found Hatch was a much better opportunity as it was for a longer period, so I could see most projects through to the end and being in-office meant I could get the full hands-on experience and get a feel for the team.

Everything about Hatch has been very positive and I have really enjoyed working with such a lovely, helpful, and fun team! Being able to get stuck in with the work while also being able to have a laugh with ‘the pod’ makes a great working environment.

No other company I’ve worked for has done training mornings or initiatives like Academy, which I find so important to keep the mind fresh. Every week people can learn something new and useful for their day-to-day work.

Even though prior to my internship, I said I wanted to focus on PR, I’ve had the chance to try out different tasks in different departments such as the Studio – which includes design and production, and social, where I was able to challenge my creativity. This allowed me to explore other areas relating to the communications industry I could go into, which I had never thought of doing before this.

The production team took me out to Manchester City’s training ground where we filmed and interviewed England and Man City Women’s Captain, Steph Houghton MBE, which I never thought I’d get to do. Planning a shoot for North Yorkshire Water Park and learning all the ways you can use different equipment for filming was another task which was both very fun and interesting.

On the PR and digital side, the Sky Bet x Ebor Festival project was especially good to work on as there were some hurdles but as a team, we managed to get great coverage and media partnerships to gain entries and made it a huge hit!

I did lots of press release drafting, pitching and content planning for social media, as well as research and learning how to use different tools and tricks to gain brand exposure. This will prove very useful as I go into my final year of university as well as starting my career in the near future doing something I now know I definitely enjoy.

This internship has certainly widened my knowledge in all areas of PR and Comms, and I now have a huge portfolio of work to be able to show for myself. You never seem to get bored as every day you’re doing something different and working on various accounts. It’s great to be able to put something like this on your CV.

I have absolutely loved my time here and am very grateful to everyone I’ve worked with for making it the best experience, and I hope to see everyone again soon!

Team Hatch thanks Madison for throwing herself into the internship and becoming a very valued member of the team. Best of luck, Madison! If you’re interested in learning more about work experience and internships at Hatch across PR, social media, events, design or video production please contact hello@hatchpr.co.uk

The post Interning at Hatch – What to Expect appeared first on Hatch - PR, Social, Content & Activation Agency.

At University, it’s all about building your skill set and knowledge for when you step into a real workplace. The knowledge I have learnt at University really set the foundations for me when starting at Hatch. But what is it actually like transitioning from education to work, and from studying PR to working in a dynamic PR agency?

Studying PR

I was lucky enough to study Public Relations at University and knew straight away that it was the course and career for me. Throughout many modules over the three years I spent studying, I learnt theoretically and practically to prepare me for life after University and the working world of PR. From digital PR to personal branding and current affairs to celebrity and the media, I definitely built a solid foundation of knowledge that helped me slot right into agency life at Hatch.

Transition time

Now this was the nerve wracking bit. You know you’ve got the knowledge and skills behind you to set you up for a perfect start in working life, but what will it actually be like once you get there? I had all the feels ahead of my first day at Hatch. So excited to get started, meet everyone, see the office and be introduced to my accounts and clients. But at the same time, I was nervous and apprehensive about if I was going to know enough, and if everything I had learnt was going to make sense to me in a working environment. Thank goodness it did, and within the first day I slotted right in and everything I had learnt came flooding back as I began working with my first clients at Hatch.

Agency life so far

Fast paced. Just those two words. I’m joking, but seriously, I don’t think University emphasised how busy agency life can be. It’s a good job I enjoy the fast paced life, but I was taken aback by how busy the team is all day long. I am absolutely loving every second so far of working at Hatch. Seeing how the skills and knowledge learnt at University is applied practically at Hatch is so rewarding after working so hard at University. There is so much that happens in one day, but I love it that way because no day is ever the same and you never know what is going to happen tomorrow.

[caption id="attachment_4766" align="alignnone" width="600"] The Flock at Hatch HQ[/caption]

What I have learnt working in a PR agency that University doesn’t teach

Even though I believe University prepared me in the best way it could for life in an agency, there are certainly some things that just can’t be taught, and need to be learnt through hands-on experience in the working world of a PR agency.

Let’s start off with the obvious after the previous section; time management. I thought I had pretty good time management skills before starting at Hatch; I did pride myself upon this skill before I started working in an agency, but WOW. This skill has really stepped up a notch thanks to agency life. I quickly learnt to get myself a notepad and write a bit of a plan of action down each morning so I could manage my time throughout the days and weeks as effectively as I could.

It’s kind of expected, but I didn’t realise there would be so much to know when writing emails or releases within the agency. At University there were many workshops that taught the foundations, but when you’re firing out emails and releases left, right and centre, you’ve got to pick up the exact technique pretty quickly. The team at Hatch have taught me everything I need to know with the layout and protocol of emails and different types of releases so I can (almost) write them with my eyes closed now!

After being thrown straight into client meetings in my first couple of days at Hatch, I have definitely learnt more about the meeting etiquette, which comes with experience of being in the client meetings. As I have learnt more about my clients and gained confidence when working on the accounts, I have even started delivering reports and feedback to clients and can’t wait to gain more confidence when speaking about the work I have been doing in the agency for them.

[caption id="attachment_4771" align="alignnone" width="600"] Hatch HQ[/caption]

Lastly, and in my opinion, most importantly (probably because I do this all the time), ask everyone as many questions as you want! I am definitely guilty of this, but I quickly learnt at Hatch that everyone is so supportive and willing to help, no matter how silly you think your question may be. Even though University teaches this from an education perspective, you don’t truly understand the team work behind a PR agency, and with this comes asking lots of questions to your team! Never be afraid to ask!

Agency life at Hatch so far has made me so excited for the future in Public Relations. After studying so hard for the past three years, finally being able to use my skills and knowledge practically at work has been so rewarding and exciting. So, to anyone who is nervous about starting your career after studying at University, it’s going to be daunting and you’re going to be pushed out of your comfort zone. But that’s how we all learn and improve, right? It’s so exciting, so enjoy every moment and soak up all the new experiences!

If you're interested in working at Hatch, keep an eye on our social channels for job updates or drop a CV to hello@hatchpr.co.uk

The post Fleeing the nest of education into agency life appeared first on Hatch - PR, Social, Content & Activation Agency.

The life of a creative is one that people often seem genuinely curious to know more about, with the question “so what is it you actually do?” being one that I’m asked frequently asked, whether it’s by a family member or an uber driver. I feel it’s time I give a definitive answer, so here goes…this is what a day in the life of an agency creative is actually like and just before we start I ought to clear up that it’s only partly gallons of black coffee, all black outfits and clear framed glasses…

The Commute

My day starts in a similar fashion to most, get up, get ready and go. It’s the ‘go’ part of this morning ritual that my day really starts to shape up, ever since my first role as a graphic designer years ago I’ve found that the commute is one of the best places for idea generation and coming up with creative solutions. The commute transitions itself from a menial repetitive task that I do every day into a 20-minute brainstorming session, which I can call back to throughout the working day. The commute offers a friendly jump start to the day which I feel ought to see the recognition it duly deserves.

The Morning

Following my morning commute and initial creative burst it gets serious - emails need to be read, briefs need to be understood and the day needs a set plan to begin. It’s here that the role of a designer is most visible. Attention to detail that is evident in their work is translated into their own way of working. Having a detailed plan of action for the day makes for a smooth flow of work even when the clients shift. Needless to say, the morning is crucial for a designer and ultimately the faster all the planning is done the real fun can begin!

Designing

Once all is sorted with the prep work it’s on, time to get started! My day is split into allotted time slots making the creative process really important to follow. The creative process is something a designer works to ensure a project is done properly and to its full potential, what is interesting I have very rarely met two designers who work to the same process so I will quickly outline the basic steps which are essential as well as explaining additional steps I use to take on my projects.

The Brief

A brief is the first step and is what the ultimate outcome is based upon therefore this where I have to eliminate any ambiguity by asking the client and the account team questions, so I can properly align my creative to the client’s needs.

[caption id="attachment_4683" align="alignnone" width="700"] A collection of Harry's design work at Hatch[/caption]

Research

After understanding the brief and client’s needs, it is time to look further into the client’s brand and industry. This section of the design process is where you start building the initial blueprints for the final design but it’s the next step where you can really start bringing it to life.

Idea’s start on Paper

For all who know and work with me, they know that I love to sketch out my thoughts earlier on and even whilst I write this I am surrounded by three open note books of various sizes heavily scribbled on with various scamps and visuals, much like a journalists shorthand. They outline the important aspects of where my designs are heading and also, similarly to shorthand, most of my colleagues have trouble deciphering them.

Designing on Screen

Once the foundations are laid and I have shortlisted my initial ideas it’s time to go digital. This is usually the part that most people think about when imagining what designers do all the day. It is usually at this point that people are enamoured by a designer equipped with a Mac, much like a carpenter’s saw, in that it gives me the ability to turn an idea into something complete.

Outputting

Outputting is a simple enough sounding job at first but it is also one that is incredibly important for streamlining the whole creative operation. This doesn’t only relate to saving the file for web or print but for presentation too. When the client first sees the design it should be perfect and ready to go with the client’s approval.

Feedback

No doubt if you speak to designers like me or have worked with one in the past you will know amends happen and they have to be planned for, if not at least anticipated. The work I put out goes to the masses, so the more eyes that clock it the more likely it is to be ironed out and ready to be put into action.

Send off & Sign off

Once all amends are finalised the work is sent off, I file away the project neatly to be used as a reference for further designs, be it for inspiration or reworking. Keeping the files organised helps in the long run and ultimately makes my life as a designer easier.

My final thought

Overall the role of a designer changes every day someday it can be logo generation others may be full of concept generation for big campaigns and others everything in between but once thing that’s a certainty is that it’s always fun and a great profession to be in!

If you're a brand interested in hearing more about of creative work or a designer who's interested in working for us, drop us a message at hello@hatchpr.co.uk

The post A Day in the Life of a Designer appeared first on Hatch - PR, Social, Content & Activation Agency.