UnLtd's Big Chat Breakfast Series... Part Two.

In my last blog post I set the scene of UnLtd’s Big Chat breakfast series hosted by Snapchat in their rather stunning offices! If you’ve not read it yet, just head back here before continuing on.

So, to the main event….

First up was Megan Gilmore from Missing School. Like many entrepreneurs working in the technology space, Megan’s motivation and drive comes back to people, and our emotional needs. For her, robots are for good. As there is so much fear-mongering about robots taking our jobs and potentially turning on us, it was nice to ‘meet’ a very friendly and co-operative robot designed to help sick kids stay connected to their peers. Not only does the telepresence robot enable the student to stay up to date with their lessons from home or hospital, but the robot also allows them to interact with their classmates so they don’t fall behind socially either. Operated by the student, the robots provide a two-way connection over which the student can move around the class, see, hear and respond in real time.

Through a tough personal experience, Megan wanted to provide her son with the knowledge that he was worth educating. She needed him to know this because she always believed he had a future. This lead her to set up Missing School, and lead research into the robots which will provide hope for so many children.

Following Megan, Max Learmont and Nolan Yu shared their current project for Hear for You. Utilising the existing game MineCraft, the boys have facilitated the creation of an online community of deaf or hard of hearing teens called League of Hearoes. Just like Missing School, the underlying motivator of the work is connecting real people. It was interesting listening to the boys ideas on how to grow and monetise the project from a marketing perspective with an aim to collaborate with brands through sponsorship and in-game advertising.

Sam Adams Nye provided the third and final presentation. Sam is the Head of Partnerships at Folo, part of The Pure Collective which believes “that despite our differences, the value we create together, is much greater than in isolation”. As a profit for purpose organisation, The Pure Collective is a family of social businesses with philanthropy at their core. Their cafes and restaurants not only raise funds for great causes, but also run scholarships to prepare refugee and asylum seeker students for employment.

As a step away from this model, Folo uses technology to raise money for select causes which embody Folo’s interpretation of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s). This is done in an ingenious way in which the consumer doesn’t need to part with any extra hard earned cash! So, how it works is you download a free extension for your browser which generates donations from your online shopping (as if I need an excuse…). The donation is a commission paid by the retailer to Folo for directing your sale to their website. So it’s good for partnering retailers as Folo promotes their store in search results, and its good for consumers as we can raise funds for valuable causes through our online shopping habits without spending any extra. Win-win! You can then select the

cause you want to support from the list of SDG’s through your Folo account dashboard. Easy!

So there we have it, three new ways technology is being used for good, right on our doorstep. In a time when we are experiencing a sometimes uncomfortable relationship with technology, it’s great to see ways through this, and a pathway into the next phase.

If you want to find out more about UnLtd and the work they do, head over to their website to see how you can get involved.

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Sunny days ahead!

By Kristina Gerdov • 11 Apr, 2024

When 72andSunny asked us to help them recruit a new Client Services Director to spearhead their next stage of growth, iknowho Lead Talent Partner Sheryn Small got to doing what she does best.

Top Tips for Successful Onboarding

By Kahli Fenn • 27 Mar, 2024

Did you know that approximately 80% of people that start in a role will make the decision of whether they will leave in the first few months?Yikes! Talk about pressure to get it right. It’s like they say, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. So let us help you stand out and set your employee up for success! Onboarding starts before the start date Let’s not make the mistake of thinking that once the contract is signed that the hardest part is over. What comes next is your chance to shine! 1 week before the start date - get in touch with your new recruit to say you’re looking forward to having them join the team. Include where, when, and who to ask for when they arrive. If you don’t have this detail yet, let them know that someone will get in touch a few days before to set them at ease that it’s all organised and under control. Develop a structured induction program and block time in diaries for those involved to ensure that all colleagues have this time allocated and can plan ahead. 1 day before the start date - send them a text message. A simple “Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow!” can help new starters feel welcome and will calm any first day jitters. Ensure you have all tech ready to go, including computer passwords, logins, swipe cards etc. It’s a good idea to have IT on standby too as some sort of technical issue is bound to come up. 2. The first day Ever started a new role and looked around to realise it’s a ghost town? Not a great look. Plan to have them start on a day where the majority of people are working from the office rather than from home - we know that culture is key for marketers, so make sure they experience it at its best from day 1. Energy and vibe play a big part in this. Welcome pack. Include a “surprise and delight” when they first sit down at their desk. This could be a mixture of company branded items (like notebook and pens) to a handwritten card or note from them team welcoming them. You may also like to include some added details like the best places for lunch or coffee in the area. Think about your employer brand and tone of voice and what kind of welcome would best represent your style, after all, that’s what the candidate has bought into. I once started a new role and had 3 x coffee vouchers for the best café around the corner, it’s the little and thoughtful things that leave a lasting impression. Assign them a buddy - usually a colleague in a similar role that they can shadow and ask any questions about process, systems or where the bathrooms are! The line manager may not always be available so having this person helps them feel welcomed, supported and part of a community from the get-go. 3. Employee retention How you engage in the first few months is crucial to employee retention. Just as much as it’s time for the candidate to showcase why you hired them, it’s also time for you to deliver on what you discussed in the interview process too e.g. company culture, values, management style. It’s important to set your employee up for success by setting time-bound expectations and objectives, ensuring you’re both on the same page. Breaking these down by month and structuring regular catch-ups to discuss feedback are a great way to have open conversations around performance. E.g. Expectations from months 1-3 vs 3-6. In the first month, we recommend a daily more casual check-in for junior candidates and at least weekly for more senior candidates. Having these diarised, even if short meetings, are essential to allowing open discussion and ensuring everything in on track. We know finding the right person for the role takes time, money and effort, so ensuring you have a solid onboarding process in place is a crucial element to a successful hire. By investing in a well thought out and purposeful process that reflects your employer brand, you are not only investing in your new employees but also in the long-term success of the company. As your recruitment partner, we’re here to support onboarding new hires into your business to help you get the best outcome. Keen to chat on how we can do that for you? Reach out to one of our Talent Partners to discuss.

the word freelance is written in scrabble tiles next to a keyboard

Could a freelancer be the gift your team needs?

By Christine Gilbert • 29 Nov, 2023

At iknowho we understand how busy both agency and in-house marketing teams are in the lead up to Christmas. There are many benefits of using short term freelancers, so let’s explore how they can be a valuable addition to your team through the busy Christmas / New Year period. Short term freelancers offer your team: Flexibility Short term freelancers are available and can usually start within a week. Whether you need a specialist for a short-term campaign or additional support during busy periods, freelancers offer the flexibility and agility needed to meet rapidly changing workloads & high project timelines. They give you the flexibility to hire talent on-demand without the commitment of a long term employment contract (and using our payroll services can help you get around head count issues too!). The skills you need You know the exact projects a short term freelancer will work on, allowing you to hire someone with the specific experience / skills needed complete the tasks at hand. Diverse Experience & Energy Many agency suits and marketers build a career through freelancing. Their diverse experience working with different businesses results in freelancers having a fresh perspective & injecting fresh energy into the team. Competitive Rates iknowho freelancers are paid a day rate which includes a loading for leave entitlements. There are no upfront fees, you only pay for the days they work. And we can also offer payroll services if needed. Download our salary guide for day rate equivalents, or use our day rate calculator here . They hit the ground running With experience in similar positions, freelancers join your team with a fresh perspective and focus on delivering specific tasks. Their ability to hit the ground running and work independently also frees up your time! Although permanent hiring traditionally slows down this time of year, the use of short term freelancers usually picks up. Our clients commonly use short term freelancers to: Deliver high volume work in a short timeframe Cover staff holidays Get around head count freezes Manage ad hoc projects outside their teams’ usual scope of work or current capabilities So, whether you are looking for an AM with integrated experience, a SAM with CRM and social skills, an integrated campaign manager, digital marketer, or even a more senior suit to support team leadership and manage senior clients? We’ve got you covered! Reach out to one of our experienced Talent Partners to discuss your needs today.