Author: Emma Wilde

Are you tired of navigating the world of college marketing alone? Well, fear not! The College Marketing Network (CMN) has unveiled an exciting new initiative just in time for Valentine’s Day: Marketing Matchmaker. This innovative strategy aims to connect college marketing teams, fostering collaboration, idea-sharing, and creativity.

Whether you’re a seasoned marketing veteran or just dipping your toes into the world of college marketing, Marketing Matchmaker is your ticket to finding like-minded individuals or teams eager to collaborate. No more feeling isolated in your marketing endeavors – with Marketing Matchmaker, you’ll be paired with another college marketing team or individual within a team, ensuring a perfect match for exchanging insights and strategies.

But wait, there’s more! The CMN ensures that matches are carefully curated to avoid direct competition, while still maintaining proximity for convenient in-person meetings. This means you can rest assured that you’ll be connecting with colleagues who are excited to collaborate without worrying about stepping on each other’s toes.

While the CMN already facilitates termly online collaborations among non-competing colleges, Marketing Matchmaker takes things to the next level by providing a dedicated service for smaller, more intimate partnerships. Gone are the days of feeling lost in a sea of marketing initiatives – now, you can connect with fellow marketers who understand your unique challenges and goals.

So why wait? Take the plunge and drop an email today to let the CMN play matchmaker for your marketing success. This Valentine’s Day, spread the love by embracing collaboration and joining forces with your fellow college marketers. Together, we can elevate the world of college marketing and achieve success beyond our wildest dreams.

The College Marketing Network’s annual conference, held earlier this week (29 January) in Birmingham, brought together over 150 marketing professionals from further education colleges and sixth forms across the country. The one-day event proved to be a hub of inspiration, offering new insights and ideas for attendees to implement in their respective institutions.

The College Marketing Network’s Conference is renowned for providing a platform for marketing professionals to share innovative ideas and best practices within the further education sector. This year’s conference, held at the Crowne Plaza, featured expert speakers and workshop hosts who discussed cutting-edge strategies and showcased successful practices.

The conference kicked off with an inspiring address by Michelle Dowse, Principal at Heart of Worcester College. With a wealth of experience in the further education sector, including her background as a former Marketing Manager, Michelle shared valuable insights about the ever-evolving landscape of further education and what the future holds for marketing professionals.

Delegates had the opportunity to customise their experience by selecting five workshops from a diverse collection of 15. The workshops covered a wide range of topics, including; social media best practice, subject area marketing, the admissions process, branding, the video revolution, student conversion, recruitment strategy, and much more, and were hosted by professionals from various institutions, including members of the College Marketing Network. This interactive format allowed attendees to delve into specific areas of interest, gaining actionable strategies and practical knowledge.

The conference also featured the support of exhibitors with extensive experience in the further education sector, including Forward & Thinking, Pathways, Prospectus+, Smart Distribution Solutions, Glued, Print Data Solutions, Media Partnerships Ltd, Purlos, Circyl, Upskill Reskill, Bluestorm, Next-Gen Media and Gecko Engage. These exhibitors showcased their services and solutions, providing attendees with valuable insights into the latest tools and resources available to enhance marketing efforts in further education.

“The College Marketing Network Conference continues to be a cornerstone event for marketing professionals in the further education sector,” said Emma Wilde, Executive Director. “We are thrilled to have brought together such a diverse group of industry experts, allowing for meaningful discussions and the sharing of innovative ideas that will undoubtedly impact marketing strategies across colleges and sixth forms nationwide.”

The success of the conference underscores the College Marketing Network’s commitment to fostering collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and continuous improvement within the field of further education marketing. As colleges navigate an ever-changing landscape, events like these play a crucial role in shaping the future of marketing in education.

CMN Conference 2025

Already in the planning, the next conference will be held on Monday 27 January 2025 at the Crowne Plaza in Birmingham. More details will be released soon!

With thanks to our exhibitors and workshop hosts:

Further education colleges and sixth forms from across the United Kingdom gathered in Birmingham earlier this week (29 January)  to commemorate their outstanding marketing accomplishments at the prestigious FE First Awards. As the sole event dedicated to recognising marketing achievements within the Further Education sector, the awards showcased the exceptional efforts of colleges nationwide.

Organized by Emma Wilde, Executive Director at the College Marketing Network, the event brought attention to the remarkable work of marketing professionals within the further education sector. Emma said: “It was a fantastic event celebrating the amazing marketing professionals that work so hard in the further education sector, which is always an honour.”

Recognising the challenges faced by marketing teams in the sector, she added, “These marketing teams do an incredible job on tight budgets, and for anyone outside the sector, it’s actually a very complex and high-pressure industry to work in, with multiple target audiences and complex funding.”

The FE First Awards featured 15 entry categories encompassing a wide array of marketing topics, including Events Management, Sustainability, Web Design, and Internal Impact. Moulton College secured the Marketing Team of the Year award in the small team category, while Milton Keynes College Group emerged victorious in the large team category. Milton Keynes College also claimed the coveted ‘Best of the Best 2024’ award, having earned four additional awards during the ceremony.

The awards received support from businesses operating within the education sector, including marketing agencies, website specialists, and education-related tools. Sponsors included: Forward & Thinking, Pathways Career, Prospectus+, Qlue, Itineris, Concept4, JC Decaux, System Live, Bloomsbury Institute, Gray Manning, and Next-Gen Media.

The College Marketing Network, now in its 37th year, offers support to marketing teams in the further education sector across the country. Members benefit from free workshops, peer support, best practice sharing with fellow marketers, online resources, and an annual conference. The FE First Awards, established over 20 years ago by the College Marketing Network, remains the only awards event dedicated to marketing in the further education sector.

Emma Wilde concluded: “I would like to congratulate all the winners on their achievements. They should be very proud and know that the work they do is outstanding.”

All of the award winners can be viewed here.

FE First Awards 2025

Next years event is set to be held on Monday 27 January 2025 at the Crowne Plaza in Birmingham. Further details about how to enter will be available soon.

With thanks to our sponsors:

Are you ready to unlock the future of college marketing? We’re excited to announce the College Marketing Network Conference 2024, a one-day event that promises to provide you with new insights, inspiration, and practical ideas to elevate your college’s marketing strategies. Join us on Monday 29 January 2024, from 9:00 am at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Birmingham City Centre.

Why Attend?

The College Marketing Network’s Conference is renowned for bringing together expert speakers and workshop hosts who will showcase and discuss innovative ideas and best practices in the field of education marketing. You’ll leave the conference feeling inspired, armed with new skills, and armed with invaluable insights that you can start implementing immediately. The event is not just about learning; it’s also a great opportunity to network and connect with like-minded professionals in the education sector.

Program Highlights

As a delegate, you’ll have the opportunity to choose from a selection of five workshops to attend during the day. The conference will also conclude with an insightful keynote address from a prominent figure in the education sector who is deeply passionate about marketing.

Workshop Highlights

Here’s a sneak peek of some of the workshops you can expect at the College Marketing Network Conference 2024:

1. “Are You Engaging with Your Audience?” – Hosted by Forward & Thinking, this workshop explores the synergy between creative content and targeted media channel strategies to engage students and influencers.
2. “Get (and Keep) Their Attention” – Hosted by Smart Distribution Solutions, this session delves into the effectiveness of door drops and direct mail for grabbing and maintaining attention.
3. “From Click to Classroom, Maximizing Student Conversion” – Milton Keynes College will guide you through maximizing student recruitment through personalized, persona-based contact plans.
4. “The Future of the Prospectus” – Prospectus Plus will explore the history, emerging trends, and future possibilities for college prospectuses.
5. “The Power of Subject Area Marketing” – The Manchester College (part of the LTE Group) will demonstrate the effectiveness of subject area marketing in building better relationships and unearthing curriculum USPs.
6. “Brand – Oh, Are We Having a New Logo?” – Uncover the importance of branding and its role as the DNA that defines an organization in this workshop hosted by Elvie-Jo Shergold from Bloomsbury Institute London.
7. “Top 10 Social Media Musts to Engage Prospective Students in 2024” – Hosted by HyBrid, more details about this session are coming soon!
8. “Using AI, First Party Data & Superior UX to Maximize Student Acquisition” – Hosted by Itineris, more details about this session are coming soon!
9. “The Video Revolution: Increase Student Numbers with the Power of Video” – College Videos By Media Partnership will reveal the transformative potential of video content in student recruitment.
10. “Successful Recruitment to Degree Courses” – Glued will take you through the journey of a degree-level application campaign, discussing creative development, media brief, and more.
11. “UX & UI Web Design Best Practice – Promoting the College & Recruiting Students” – Hosted by Concept4, this workshop will delve into the best practices of web design for college promotion and student recruitment.

Check out the full programme!

Opening Keynote Speaker

The conference will kick off with an inspiring keynote address from Michelle Dowse, Principal at Heart of Worcester College. Michelle brings a wealth of experience from the further education sector, and her insights about the future of education marketing are not to be missed.

Exhibitors

We are delighted to have a range of exhibitors attending the event, including:

• Forward & Thinking
• Prospectus Plus
• Go Live Data
• Pathways
• Glued
• Purlos
• Print Data Solutions
• College Videos by Media Partnerships
• Circyl
• Bluestorm
• Smart Distribution Solutions
• Hybrid

Don’t miss this opportunity to stay ahead in the dynamic field of college marketing. Join us at the College Marketing Network Conference 2024 and unlock the future of education marketing. Stay tuned for more details, and secure your spot today!

For more information and and to book, visit: https://m-network.org/conference

We look forward to seeing you in Birmingham for this exciting event.

In the dynamic world of education, marketing plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of colleges and sixth forms across the UK. Recognizing and applauding the efforts of these marketing teams and individuals, the FE First Awards 2024 is back to honor their outstanding achievements. Organized by the College Marketing Network, this prestigious event stands as the beacon of excellence in further education marketing. And what makes this year’s event even more special? It’s the incredible lineup of sponsors who are stepping up to support and celebrate the best in the field.

Before we delve into the remarkable sponsors, let’s mark your calendars. The FE First Awards 2024 will take place on Monday, 29th January 2024, starting at 7 pm. The grand venue for this gala event is none other than the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Birmingham City Centre. This is an evening you won’t want to miss!

The FE First Awards are a unique celebration within the education sector. Unlike other awards ceremonies that cover a wide range of categories, these awards focus exclusively on marketing in further education. They acknowledge the dedication, creativity, and innovation demonstrated by marketing teams and individuals in colleges and sixth forms all over the country. It’s a platform where these unsung heroes are finally brought into the limelight, and their hard work and dedication are acknowledged and celebrated.

The best part? These awards are open to all further education colleges and sixth forms. Whether you’re a member of the College Marketing Network or not, you can enter and showcase your institution’s remarkable marketing efforts. It’s an inclusive opportunity to stand out in a highly competitive field.

Meet the Sponsors:

Now, let’s shine the spotlight on the remarkable sponsors who are making the FE First Awards 2024 possible:

1. Forward & Thinking: Forward & Thinking is a leading marketing agency that specializes in education. With a strong track record of helping colleges and schools achieve outstanding results, they bring valuable expertise to the awards.

2. Pathways: Pathways is an education marketing platform that helps institutions reach prospective students more effectively. Their support adds a strategic edge to the awards.

3. Prospectus+: Prospectus+ specializes in creating compelling college prospectuses. Their creative vision and dedication to showcasing educational excellence align perfectly with the FE First Awards.

4. Itineris: Itineris is an award-winning digital marketing agency that understands the unique challenges of the education sector. Their digital expertise will undoubtedly benefit the awards.

5. Bloomsbury Institute: Bloomsbury Institute is a higher education institution known for its quality education. Their commitment to excellence resonates with the values of the FE First Awards.

6. qlue: qlue is an expert in digital engagement for colleges and universities. Their support enhances the reach and impact of the awards.

7. Concept4: Concept4 is a creative marketing agency with extensive experience in education. Their creative insights will undoubtedly add a touch of innovation to the awards.

These sponsors play a pivotal role in making the FE First Awards 2024 a reality. Their support not only adds prestige to the event but also reflects their commitment to fostering excellence in further education marketing.

Don’t Miss Out!

With the award entry deadline fast approaching on 17th November 2023, now is the time to showcase your institution’s marketing achievements. Whether you’re a marketing team member or an individual marketer, this is your chance to shine on the grand stage of the FE First Awards 2024.

In conclusion, the FE First Awards 2024 promises to be an unforgettable evening, celebrating the best in further education marketing. With these remarkable sponsors onboard, the event is poised to be a resounding success. Mark your calendars, submit your entries, and get ready to join us on January 29th, 2024, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Birmingham City Centre for an evening of recognition, inspiration, and celebration. See you there!

The countdown has begun! With just 10 weeks left until the submission deadline, the FE First Awards 2024, organised by the College Marketing Network, are back to celebrate excellence in marketing within further education colleges and sixth forms across the UK. This prestigious event, highly regarded in the sector, is the only one of its kind, solely dedicated to recognising the remarkable achievements of marketing teams and individuals within the further education arena.

What are the FE First Awards?

The FE First Awards are an annual celebration of marketing excellence in further education. They shine a spotlight on the hard work, creativity, and innovation that marketing professionals bring to their respective institutions. This event provides a unique platform for colleges and sixth forms to showcase their achievements and be recognized on a national level.

Who Can Enter?

One of the most fantastic aspects of the FE First Awards is that they are open to all further education colleges and sixth forms in the UK. Whether you’re a member of the College Marketing Network or not, you have an equal opportunity to enter and compete. It’s an inclusive competition that welcomes everyone striving for marketing excellence in the further education sector.

Key Details:

• When: Monday, 29th January 2024, starting at 7:00 PM.
• Where: Crowne Plaza Hotel, Birmingham City Centre.

Submission Deadline:

Please mark your calendars and take note of this crucial date: the submission deadline for the FE First Awards 2024 is 17th November 2023. This gives you precisely 10 weeks from today to gather your materials, perfect your entries, and submit them for consideration.

Why Should You Enter?

1. Recognition: Winning an FE First Award is a testament to your hard work and dedication. It’s a badge of honor in the further education marketing world.
2. Networking: The awards ceremony at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Birmingham City Centre is not only an evening of celebration but also an excellent networking opportunity. Connect with peers, potential collaborators, and industry experts.
3. Showcase Your Institution: These awards allow your college or sixth form to showcase its marketing excellence on a national stage, attracting potential students and staff.
4. Inspiration: Seeing the innovative ideas and strategies employed by others in your field can inspire fresh thinking and creativity in your own marketing efforts.

Categories:

The FE First Awards feature a range of categories, each designed to recognize different aspects of marketing excellence. These may include awards for campaigns, publications, digital marketing, branding, and much more. Be sure to review the full list of categories to determine which best suits your achievements.

How to Enter:

Entering the FE First Awards is a straightforward process. You’ll find all the information you need, including guidelines, entry forms, and submission details here.

Conclusion:

With just 10 weeks remaining until the submission deadline, now is the perfect time to start preparing your entries for the FE First Awards 2024. These awards are your chance to gain recognition, network with industry peers, and showcase the fantastic work you’re doing within your further education institution. Don’t miss this opportunity to shine in the spotlight of the only awards event dedicated to further education marketing. Submit your entries and mark the date, January 29th, 2024, on your calendar – it promises to be a night to remember!

The College Marketing Network (CMN) is proud to announce the launch of a pioneering marketing campaign aimed at combating the declining participation of adults in education, specifically part-time courses. In a concerted effort to reignite interest and inspire lifelong learning, CMN has collaborated with over 20 of its esteemed member colleges from across the United Kingdom for this unprecedented initiative.

In the face of dwindling budgets and the formidable challenge of meeting recruitment targets, college marketing teams have united in a collective endeavour to maximize their return on investment through innovative collaboration. This strategic alliance not only reinforces the value of education but also emphasizes the significance of fostering a supportive and accessible learning environment for adults of all backgrounds.

Set to run throughout the months of August and September, the campaign is a concerted effort to reverse the trend of diminishing adult participation in education. Collaboratively crafted, this ambitious endeavour has brought together the expertise of the creative minds at media agency Forward and Thinking, along with the exceptional visual storytelling prowess of Media Partnership Ltd.

What sets this initiative apart is its national scope, engaging colleges from various regions of the UK. This collaboration marks a remarkable milestone, as CMN leads the way in pioneering a unified, nationwide approach to promoting adult education. By pooling resources, knowledge, and expertise, CMN and its member colleges seek to foster a culture of continuous learning and professional development among adults of all backgrounds and career stages.

Leveraging cutting-edge technology, several colleges are utilising the ground-breaking platform “Upskill Reskill.” This revolutionary tool empowers adults to assess their existing skills and gain insights into potential career paths that align with their passions and ambitions. The Upskill Reskill platform not only assists in identifying new career avenues, but also offers opportunities for individuals to refine and expand their current skill sets, enhancing their prospects in their chosen fields.

“We are excited to spearhead this ground-breaking national campaign in partnership with our member colleges, media agency Forward and Thinking Limited, and Media Partnership Ltd,” said Emma Wilde, Executive Director at The College Marketing Network. “Our joint efforts aim to not only address the decline in adult education but to inspire a newfound enthusiasm for learning among adults across the UK.”

The campaign will span a multi-channel approach, encompassing television broadcasts, social media engagement, print media, and a comprehensive digital presence. By utilising a diverse range of communication channels, the campaign aims to reach a wide audience and underscore the transformative impact of adult education.

The colleges involved, included: Bedford College, BMet, Boston College, Bradford College, Cambridge Regional College, Capel Manor College, Central Bedford College, Dudley College, Furness College, Halesowen College, Milton Keynes College, Moulton College, Peterborough College, RNN Group, Shuttleworth College, Solihull College and University Centre, Stamford College, Stoke-on-Trent College, The College of West Anglia, Tresham College, Warrington and Vale Royal College, Warwickshire College Group and Wigan and Leigh College.

As the campaign unfolds, it is anticipated that this collaborative effort will serve as a catalyst for change, inspiring individuals across the UK to embark on educational journeys that unlock their potential and reshape their futures.