The Challenger Sessions
We host regular virtual events, bringing in inspiring speakers from across the PR & marketing industry to share powerful work and explore challenger brand thinking.
For more info, or to sign up to our guest list click HERE or contact Holly Dedman
Building Confidence in the Return to the Office
23.06.21
SPEAKERS
- Clare Marland, Workspace
- Guy Montague-Jones, React News
- James Ralph, Good Relations
Whether or not life restarts on the 21st June 2021, smart real-estate communicators are already looking ahead to 2022 and beyond. Covid-19 has undoubtedly disrupted the norms of office working, so as the world begins to return to work, how can those with prime real estate on their books rebuild confidence in the value of purpose-built offices?
In our next Challenger Session, we’ll be exploring the stories we should be telling to build back confidence amongst key stakeholders; from employees and employers to investors and the wider market.
We’ll hear insights from Clare Marland at Workspace and Guy Montague-Jones at React News on the role communicators have to play in showing the value of matching businesses with the right workspace.
Finding your Reputation Building Strategy in a Recovering World
10.06.21
SPEAKERS
- Rupert Gowrley, Bupa Group
- Nick Jones, Experian Group
- Neil Bayley, Good Relations
Work from home. Maintain service. Support the NHS. Keep workers safe. Open safely. Help customers. Care for the vulnerable. Protect jobs. Streamline to survive.
The business communications agenda during the Covid-19 pandemic has been shaped by unprecedented challenges and needs. We’ve seen many organisations find their feet, adapt and take on new roles shaped by their purpose and values.
But what’s the role for businesses as we thankfully move into this new phase of recovery? The world in which they operate has changed dramatically. Health and wellbeing has taken on a new level of importance. Economic prosperity is returning for some sectors and segments of society, but others have been deeply affected.
The global landscape looks drastically different, so how has this impacted the way brands see their future growth and role in enabling progress? And what does this mean for their communications strategies and reputation goals?
Join us for a panel discussion with senior speakers from Bupa and Experian to hear their thoughts, experiences and ambitions for reputation building in a recovering world.
Engaging the Retail Consumer of the Future
26.04.21
SPEAKERS
- Liv Walker, Depop
- Peter Gasston, VCCP
- Madison Schill, Livescale
The past twelve months has seen the trend for online shopping accelerate at a startling pace. Deloitte’s global consumer tracker recorded five years of growth in online market share in a matter of weeks and recent statistics indicate that some changes in consumer behaviour are here to stay.
In our next Challenger Session, we’ll be exploring the latest global trends in marketing that are fuelling this dramatic shift to online retail and how brands can use communications to engage the retail consumer of the future.
Engaging Communities to Inspire Action
22.04.21
SPEAKERS:
- Lucy Dormandy, Aviva
- Sabrina Nixon, British Red Cross
Our next Challenger Session event will look at the role of communications in mobilising communities to provide local support, inspiring individuals to take action, and sparking local initiatives.
We’ll explore the role of creative storytelling, the content and channels that are most effective in targeting and engaging new communities and the power of corporate/ NGO collaboration in building advocacy and support amongst volunteers, influencers and policymakers.
Marketing to women: Connecting authentically in 2021
15.04.21
SPEAKERS:
- Charlotte Davies, LinkedIn
- Tanja Grubner, Bodyform, an Essity brand
This year’s International Women’s Day saw brands championing female empowerment, tackling taboos and, crucially, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the Covid 19 pandemic on women.
In this session, we’ll explore how brands can authentically connect with women and help forge a gender equal world as they embark on strategic planning for life post Covid.
We’re delighted to welcome guest speakers from LinkedIn, who will be sharing insights from their first global IWD campaign, and Bodyform, who will go behind the scenes on their award-winning #Wombstories campaign and their latest #Painstories activation.
Talking to Gen Alpha: The New Rules of Engagement
31.03.21
SPEAKERS:
- Helenor Gilmour & Pete Maginn, Beano Brain
- Saffron Clague, LEGO Group
Generation Alpha is the demographic cohort succeeding Generation Z, a generation set to exceed two billion people worldwide by 2025, and one with dramatically different behaviours and values to those before it.
But who really is Gen Alpha? And how can brands meet their expectations; both in terms of matching their activist spirit and providing interactive, responsive digital experiences?
David Wiles, Executive Director, Consumer at Good Relations will be chairing this session featuring guest speakers from two leading lights in youth marketing, Beano and LEGO Group.
Creating partnerships to drive sustainable change
25.03.21
SPEAKERS
- Isabel Giulia Silva Oliveira, Santander
- Victoria Coltman, Alzheimer’s Society
Partnerships between corporates and not-for-profit organisations are an increasingly prominent element of corporate responsibility programmes but the spectrum of activation ranges from short-term marketing campaigns, to those that deliver against business strategy and drive meaningful change.In this session, we’ll be shining a light on a unique and sector-leading strategic partnership between Santander and Alzheimer’s Society, a collaboration which was established in 2019 to improve financial inclusion as well as drive employee fundraising activities and volunteering.
From Mission to Movement: How to create positive impact through communications
17.03.21
SPEAKERS
- Sarah Gillard, John Lewis & Partners
- Alec Mills, DAME
This year the spotlight is on businesses to help tackle the biggest social and environmental challenges of our time like never before.
Consumers are actively seeking out brands that reflect their values and the pressure on companies to do the right thing and address key issues, from poverty to social justice and climate change, is on the increase.
For our next virtual event, we’re delighted to be welcoming speakers from two purpose-driven organisations at opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of size and heritage, both committed to putting corporate responsibility at the forefront of business decision making. We’ll be exploring how brands can use communications to create a movement around their mission for multiple stakeholders, from employees to consumers.
Channelling creativity to combat the lockdown employee engagement slump
11.03.21
SPEAKERS
- Tom Coleman, Holland & Barrett
- Huw Morgan, Good Relations
After 12-months in lockdown, many employees are suffering from cognitive overload; drained by Zoom calls, overwhelmed by the increased volume of emails and IMs and hankering after the simple pleasures of a chat with a colleague over the desk.
This lockdown slump has prompted employees to treat all but the most relevant and effective of internal communications as spam. But with insight, creativity and purpose, you can achieve cut through and engagement; even in the most challenging working environment in living memory.
Join us for a discussion about how best to channel creativity to combat the lockdown engagement slump. Our special guest speaker from Holland & Barrett will join us to share how they have found innovative and effective ways to keep their people informed and engaged while stores remain open.
How to become best in class in B2B social media
20.01.21
SPEAKERS
- Fredrik Borestrom, LinkedIn
- Anthony Rosendo, Airbus,
- Robert Anderson, Good Relations
The global events of the past twelve months are transforming B2B communications, accelerating digital transformation and fundamentally reframing stakeholder relationships.
In the next event in our ‘Challenger Sessions’ series we’ll be exploring how brands can get ahead of the game to deliver maximum impact across B2B social media in 2021.
We’ll be welcoming guest speakers: Fredrik Borestom from LinkedIn who will share examples of best practice from B2B brands on the platform, along with an overview of trends for 2021 and Anthony Rosendo from Airbus who will be sharing the secrets to the brand’s success on social media channels.
Maximising social media impact in 2021
03.12.20
SPEAKERS
- Gord Ray, Brand Development Lead at Instagram
- Louise Cruttenden, Marketing Director at Huel
- Robert Anderson, Executive Director, Social media at Good Relations
The extraordinary events of 2020 have made for seismic shifts in our digital habits. We’ve become ever more reliant on social media as one of our main windows on the world.
Join us for our next event in ‘The Challenger Sessions’ series as we get ahead of the curve and explore how to deliver maximum social media impact in 2021.
We’re delighted to welcome Gord Ray, Brand Development Director at Instagram who will be sharing insights on how brands can tap into cultural trends to maximise social impact in 2021, and Louise Cruttenden, Marketing Director at Huel, who will be sharing the secrets to the brand’s success on social media channels.
Building Corporate Reputation: The Value of Taking a Stand
26.11.20
SPEAKERS
- Natalie Deacon, Executive Director, Corporate Affairs, CSR and Sustainability, Avon
- Alex Murphy, Head of Marketing, Admiral Group Plc
- Leigh Marshall, Associate Director, Good Relations
For many of us, devising campaigns that address big social, economic and political issues is what gets us up in the morning. But the challenge of convincing businesses to put themselves out there on an issue, and take a stand, is easier said than done.
With the nation in lockdown earlier this year, Admiral launched their “Stay at Home Refund” returning £110m to their car insurance customers. While Avon’s promise to help end violence against women and girls is backed by a real commitment to put resources, people and energy behind its efforts.
Join us to hear from the people involved in these campaigns about how their businesses found the courage to take a stand and what this has done for their corporate reputation.
Lessons from a New Generation of Challenger Brands
04.11.20
SPEAKERS
- Ryan Martin, Global Business Marketing – Program Manager at TikTok
- Maya Orr, Head of Marketing and Communications at LADbible Group
- David Wiles, Executive Director, Consumer, Good Relations
On 4th November, we’ll be hosting a discussion on what it means to be a challenger in brand communications with insights from TikTok and LADBible Group, two hugely successful challenger brands in the media industry.
We’ll be discussing the challenger behaviours that have driven their growth, the brands that are using their platforms most effectively and what we can expect to see more of in 2021.
The New Rules of Placemaking
11.11.20
SPEAKERS:
- David Barnett, Founder and CEO at LN (formerly Londonewcastle)
- Hugo Cox, Property writer at The Financial Times and The Times
- James Ralph, Director, Property at Good Relations
With the country once more under lockdown, we invite you to join us for our latest property thought leadership discussion to learn how you can keep your 2021 placemaking strategy relevant in the face of Covid-19.
We’re delighted to welcome David Barnett, founder and CEO of prominent London developer LN (formerly Londonewcastle), who will be discussing challenges presented by the de-urbanisation agenda and trends for more sustainable living.
He will be joined by Hugo Cox, the award-winning international property correspondent who writes for the Financial Times and The Times. Hugo will be speaking about some of the best examples of placemaking he has witnessed from businesses in different cities, and what he thinks great placemaking will look like in the future.
Employees as brand champions: how to leverage your most powerful marketing tool
22.10.20
SPEAKERS
- Simon Groves, Director of Brand Marcoms – O2
- Andrew Cocks, Head of Communication Strategy – O2
- Huw Morgan, Director, Employee Engagement – Good Relations
The pandemic has prompted businesses to be ever more agile and creative as they adapt their commercial strategies to meet today’s market challenges and customers’ needs. With employees one of the most trusted sources for customers, it’s more critical than ever that brands leverage the support of their people.
Join us for a discussion about how best to engage employees to ensure they are your most powerful marketing advocates.
Our guest speakers from O2 will share how they put employees at the heart of their latest brand campaign, starring Bubl, the blue robot.
The Need for Fresh Thought Leadership in Real Estate Communications
24.09.20
SPEAKERS
- Charlotte Whitley, Head of Communications – British Land
- Sally Hickey – Finance Reporter, Property Week
- James Ralph – Director, Good Relations Property
The world is experiencing its greatest economic and social shock in more than a generation, little wonder that there is a lack of consensus on the prospects for commercial and residential property. Surging accommodation prices here in the UK are mirrored across the Atlantic, while every week seems to see a different voice and perspective on the future of the office.
Why is this? Are we seeing an excess of optimism amongst industry thought leaders about the prospects for commercial and residential property, or are the cynics finding it tough to express their doubts against such a pessimistic backdrop? From the hybrid office to destination retail and last mile logistics, join us to understand how top brands are expressing their beliefs and shaping market opportunity from uncertainty.
Mind the Covid -19 Confidence Gap: How Can Brands Retain Trust?
17.09.20
SPEAKERS:
- Una Kent, VP International Pharmacy, Retail and Brand Communications at Walgreens Boots Alliance
- Jace Tyrrell, Chief Executive at the New West End Company
- Richard Moss, CEO, Good Relations
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a confidence gap, not just in business, but amongst consumers, employees and wider stakeholders. It is arguably the biggest challenge that communicators have had to face in a generation.
As we ease into the ‘new normal’ join us for a discussion of the challenge at hand and how communications can bridge the COVID-19 ‘confidence gap’, creating an environment that supports business growth.
Our expert panel will share insights into the communications strategies they have deployed to date across multiple stakeholder groups and the challenges they expect to face over the coming months.
