Kamiqua Lake (nèe Pearce)

⏳ Just 4 days left to make your voice heard! We're calling on all Black PR and comms professionals to share your experiences. Together with PRWeek UK and Opinium, our One Step Forward Two Steps Black survey aims to uncover the truth about inequities, celebrate successes and set a new standard for our industry. Back in 2020, nearly half of Black communication pros told us they’d never received an internal promotion. We want to know if things have changed. Are you being hired, recognized, and rewarded fairly? Your input is crucial to shaping meaningful recommendations for change. The survey is anonymous and takes just 6 minutes to complete. 🔗 Hit the link below to participate and help us pave the way for a more equitable future in PR and comms. 📅 Remember, the survey closes this Friday, 28th June 2024. Let's make a difference together! ✊🏾 https://lnkd.in/eM--X-Fs

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Back in 2020, nearly half of Black communication professionals reported never having received an internal promotion. That's shockingly dismaying! As a 100% BME-staffed agency, we encourage every Black PR professional to join the survey. Let's see what progress (hopefully) has been made, and most importantly, affect change!

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2014 - became self-employed as wanted to make PR & brandbuilding affordable 2015 - hired my first employee 2016 - eight person full time and freelance team with an office in east London 2017 - first baby, shared parental leave, four-month tour of France 2018 - made team redundant worked on projects two days a week 2019 - cofounder of my kids joined my business, second baby, starting raising my profile and a newsletter. Lived in and out of hospital for 7-months with baby and 3 open heart surgeries and one wound infection. 2020 - wrote my first book, launched my first physical product set up DIY training. 2021 - attracted brand partnerships, speaking, workshops and wanted to stop agency work. Delayed stress to ❤️ stuff. 2 miscarriages. 2022 - tested out France. Moved to France. 2023 - 🌈 surprise rainbow baby. oct launched substack. Husband left business. Finally got confidence and platform to work in a way I love 2024 - here to help you Hype Yourself My Substack “success” is ten years of self-employed practice and five years of walking my own talk and raising my profile in public. If you are not there yet, you have time! Hold on in there.

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Are you Black/ethnic minority food and drink producer? Want to get your product in front of supermarket buyers?   Imagine getting that supermarket listing   Spill the Beans, UK’s only event for Black/ethnic minority food and drink founders?   Hear our panel ⬇ Charlie Odunukwe II. Odunukwe, founder, Riddles ice tea  known as the Chemist Charlie, embarked on a passion project named Riddles. →His aim was to craft a refreshingly unique beverage suitable for both health-conscious individuals and social gatherings. He coined it as 'a riddle for your taste buds' and aptly named the blend Riddles - Alcoholic Ice Tea.   Troy Johnson, founder, Sweet Dee's Jerk’s Jerk In 2017, Sweet Dee's Jerk, burst onto the culinary scene of South London. →Combining Caribbean flavours with modern innovation, they quickly became pioneers as the first Black-owned Caribbean business in Selfridges history. Nadia Hamila , founder, Amboora →Amboora began with the mission of bringing pioneering North African delicacies to the UK. →Nadia Hamila's Moroccan and Tunisian heritage, coupled with her love for sharing new flavours, inspired her to start this venture. →Selling in Selfridges & on Sell on Amazon and part of “BUY WOMEN BUILT”- A campaign to mobilise consumers to buy from female founded businesses   Shadia Al Hili, founder, CUZENA →Cuzena started its journey as a solution for busy individuals seeking to savour the slow-cooked magic of the Middle East conveniently and effortlessly. →The first company to introduce Ful Madamous in a ready-made format to launching innovative resealable on-the-go Chip & Dips, Cuzena has continuously evolved.  →Stocked in Asda, Spar, Co-op, Nisa, train lines, and ferries Stefano Cuomo, CEO, Macknade →For 13 years, he has been leading this award-winning food & drink brand, taking it from a partnership to a limited company back in 2014. →Stefano leads the business, inspiring a team of over 80 people to deliver emotive spaces and experiences   Wycliffe Sande, founder, Blue Turaco Coffee →Wycliffe Sande is pioneering change with BLUE TURACO COFFEE, the first Black African-owned coffee brand to grace leading UK supermarkets' shelves. →Stocked in Waitrose & Partners, Co-op and online   🎟 ➡ https://lnkd.in/e3nZxY28   🎤 Indie Love Gordon   🎥 Jeffrey Oyinlola   🥘 🥟 Natasha Orumbie, Dawn Burton     📌P.S. 7.1. % ethnic minorities secure startup funding   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 👋I’m Colin, aka (“the food scene’s Kanya King”) a London-based food and drink Content Creator🧙‍ 📚Helping foodie brands promote themselves via storytelling. Founder, Spill the Beans - UK's sole event for Black/ethnic minority food producers to meet supermarket buyers 💻Connecting foodie brands with their target audiences via social media 🗣 Wanna chat? 📲Connect with me, and we can talk about your projects😁

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We went along last week for The Marketing Society Scotland's Digital Day 2024 and came back with a few top insights on the latest strategies from brands who are reimagining the future of marketing. Ready to see how they're pushing the boundaries? Check out the blog - https://lnkd.in/d4xjXeGp #DigitalDay #MarketingSociety #MarketingInsights #MadeBrave

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Are you doing incredible award winning things but struggling to find the time to enter awards? Or are you questioning whether awards are worth all the time and effort? We have some Plain Speaking thoughts to share on the topic ... 👇 #Norfolkbusiness #PRagency #Businessawards #PRforgood #Copywriting

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Is it still one step forward and two steps Black? The UK Black Comms Network together with PRWeek UK and Opinium has opened the One Step Forward Two Steps Black survey to uncover inequity where it exists, recognise successes and provide a benchmark for the industry to make change. Initially launched in 2020, the One Step Forward Two Steps Black survey found that almost half of Black PR and communication professionals had never received an internal promotion, with talent having to move to a different agency or company to rise up the ranks.   Has progress been made? The survey is open now and open to Black, PR and comes professionals working in the UK, link here: https://lnkd.in/eM--X-Fs Together our voices will drive the change we are all striving for! You can read more in PR Week here: https://lnkd.in/ewPJbcE4 Bookmark https://lnkd.in/d9yAgcu to stay updated

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One step forward two steps Black? We want to hear your experiences of what it’s like to be Black in PR and comms today. Together with PRWeek UK and Opinium, we are opening our One Step Forward Two Steps Black survey to uncover inequity where it exists, recognise successes in creating a diverse pipeline and retaining talent, and crucially - to provide a benchmark for the industry to make change. The inaugural One Step Forward Two Steps Black survey in 2020 found that almost half of Black communication professionals had never received an internal promotion, with talent having to move to a different agency or company to rise up the ranks.  Has progress been made? Are you having a more equitable experience? Are you being hired, recognised and rewarded for your contributions? We need to know so we can shape recommendations to drive change. The anonymous survey takes just 6 minutes to complete. Complete the survey here: https://lnkd.in/eM--X-Fs Kamiqua Lake (nèe Pearce) Founder of UK Black Comms Network says "As the old adage goes: what gets measured gets improved. The industry's focus continues to be on attracting Black talent into entry level roles. We want to understand what progress our industry is making on this and how organisations are rewarding Black talent within their companies."   You can read more in PR Week here: https://lnkd.in/ewPJbcE4 Special thanks to Eliza Wiredu Rhoneece Patterson Priya Minhas

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Want to have more creative ideas? Get a dog. Turns out walking can boost creative thinking by 60 per cent.  As a kid I hated ‘going for a walk’ but things change and I’ve often exhorted colleagues to walk - especially to pitches - to kickstart their brains. So I’m delighted to discover some proper solid science proving walking boosts creativity - in particular the ability to ‘think outside the box’. It’s a combination of exercise helping flood more of the brain with oxygen plus the act of ‘incubating’ an idea as the mind wanders as you walk, jog or pedal. The good news is that light exercise - walking the dog - is much better for sparking creativity than a hard 10k. Indoor exercise - on a treadmill or stationary bike - is just as effective. And you can even grow your brain so you become even more creative. So, get a dog. Or an exercise bike. Either works. Or just go for a walk. Remembering walks and talks with Jana C. Smythe Anne Visintin Niké Lapite James Dunne Darren Ennis amongst others. Links in comments! #creativethinking #creativity #neuroscience #dogwalking

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The Bard of Avon, Master Marketer? In the bustling streets of Elizabethan England, William Shakespeare wasn't just a literary genius – he was a marketing pioneer! His influence stretches far beyond the stage. Let's delve into the marketing playbook of the Bard himself: 1) Crafting Catchphrases ➡️ Long before hashtags, Shakespeare coined iconic expressions like "wild goose chase" and "love is blind." These timeless phrases are a testament to the power of impactful language. 2) Storytelling that Captivates ➡️ Shakespeare revolutionized storytelling. He introduced complex characters with real struggles, forging emotional connections that transcended the stage. Marketers, take note: understand your audience's desires and aspirations. Go beyond personas and create narratives that resonate on a deeper level. 3) Appealing to a Diverse Crowd ➡️ Shakespeare's plays attracted audiences from all walks of life. His secret? Tailoring his performances. From high drama to bawdy humor, he kept everyone entertained. 4) Messaging that Gets Attention ➡️ In a stroke of marketing genius, Shakespeare used visual cues to signal play genres. Black flags for tragedies, white for comedies – even illiterate passersby were intrigued. 5) Lessons for Modern Marketers ➡️ Shakespeare reminds us of the power of creativity and inclusivity. Balance targeted messaging with a cohesive brand narrative. Shakespeare's legacy continues to inspire marketers. From iconic phrases to audience engagement, the Bard's influence is undeniable. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gwr3tf8f #marketing #shakespeare #storytelling #communication #branding

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LPF INDUSTRY LEADERS - HELEN DARLINGTON OF WOVEN AGENCY: This week LPF Founder Priya Rawal sat for an exclusive interview with Helen Darlington and CEO OF Woven Agency. Head to The LPF Insider for this special “in conversation with” piece! Helen is such a positive, kind and inspiring leader and we are honoured to have her as part of The LPF Community. https://lnkd.in/e6DPN3Cq Woven Agency, is a creatively led brand engagement agency specialising in the luxury sector. Their mission is simple: to make brands work beautifully. When asked what her advice would be to the next generation of industry leaders she said: “To listen, not to reply, but to understand what challenges a client is facing and how best we can possibly help them on a human level. It shouldn’t always be about billings, human relationships are just as important. I have a large number of client friends who I’ve helped over the years, and who continue to help me when asked, because human to human, we’re better together.” Head to The LPF Insider via the link for Helen’s full interview. For more information about Woven Agency head below. https://woven.agency #luxury #property #branding #industry #leader #interview #inspire #woven #empowerment #exclusiveinterview

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How can established businesses keep up with sustainability-focused challenger brands? Our latest blog post from our ESG and Sustainability Lead, Hannah Hughes, explores this question with insights from industry experts. Key takeaways include the importance of integrating D&I and sustainability into business models, the role of education and leadership, and the need for brands to be activist and campaign for change. Read more about how big businesses can navigate these challenges and future-proof their value here: https://lnkd.in/gBfGjTWg

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In the second instalment of our series on effective Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) communications, we explore the importance of crafting a cohesive brand identity… Establishing trust starts with a strong brand narrative that can be used repeatedly across all your marketing and PR. For more top tips on delivering your SEND communication plan, visit the link in the comments 👇 #Westco #communications #SEND #brandidentity

Looking for inspiration or advice on charity brands? From top tips for bold branding to the reasons for a rebrand, our brand hub explores the expertise and experience of charity communicators leading charity brands across the UK: https://lnkd.in/eSuUNhpS Which brand blog would you most recommend (on our hub or beyond)?

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Honest diary of a CEO: not afraid to say the things you are thinking It is that time of year when I start to feel icky …………… but this year it just feels wrong Whatever people are saying on here, the last 18months have been, quite frankly a bin fire. The advertising and communications sector has been hit hard, due to a myriad of external factors affecting our client base and subsequently our businesses. Corporate restructures, financial constraints and redundancies client side have led to programmes of work being cancelled or delayed, budgets being reduced, projects taking an absolute age to get signed off and programmes of work reduced to the bare bones that is needed to (sort of) get the job done. Sector wide we have seen redundancies, pay and hiring freezes, agency mergers (aka reducing head count) and freelancers struggling to find work. Revenues are patchy and judging by the PR Week tables, downturn in revenue was evident in 2023 and is still impacting 2024. Seeing agency leaders flying off to Cannes, to spaff thousands and thousands of pounds on swanky sets, poolside cocktails, fancy pants merchandise and heaving goody bags, particularly this year, just feels wrong. Not to mention the environmental impact. Yes, the green shoots are coming back, and I feel optimistic for the future, but is this really a “good look” for the industry and what does it really achieve in the grand scheme of things?

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Did you see our wonderful founder, Rachel Allison on PRWeek this week? She weighed in on the rise of umbrella agencies ☂️, she spoke about intersectionality in the industry, social mobility and what it really means to be diverse at your core. 🤫 But we won’t spoil it for you - read it in full below https://lnkd.in/gRqEgs76

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What goes into creating winning award entries? We're lucky to have a few wins under our belt, as well as judging industry and comms awards across the years. Missive's Whitney Simon, Erin Lovett, Nicola Koronka and Emma Ross reveal what the judges are looking for when they're deciding on the all important gold medals, including: 🟡 Why entering awards is important 🟡 How to win awards 🟡 Telling a compelling story with your entry 🟡 Providing quantifiable results and evidence https://lnkd.in/eJM_NnHc

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Stronger Together: Why Crisis Communication and Proactive PR Have a Mutualistic Relationship It’s natural for organisations to want good publicity and strong stakeholder relationships, but crises are inevitable. Some companies focus solely on positive PR and delay creating a crisis communication plan. However, proactive public relations and crisis communication go hand in hand, greatly benefiting business objectives. In this article Colby Gallagher from AKCG - Public Relations Counselors discusses four reasons why crisis communications preparedness and proactive PR should both play a significant role in your strategy. #CrisisCommunication #ProactivePR #PRStrategy

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