National Social Marketing Centre

I went to a fascinating presentation at a recent Chartered Institute of Marketing event  ‘ How social marketing changed attitudes and behaviour towards the army in Afghanistan and the Church in Wales. The event was part of the CIM’s social marketing interest group’s event’s calendar and focussed on marketing in war and religion.

I am just back from a really interesting, busy, (but occasionally relaxing!) trip to the British Virgin Islands.

Following six months hard work, the participants on our first Intensive Social Marketing Training Programme graduated in front of the Head of USAID Mission in Amman, Beth Paige.  The students on the course who have all developed plans on their own social marketing projects will now apply to USAID for funds to implement these projects over the next 12 months.  The projects vary from a student led anti-litter campaign to a programme that will persuade investors to fit water saving devices in all of their new residential developments.  The next cohort will be

Ogilvy Change hosted a fascinating talk last week Wednesday from Matt Watkinson on his book ‘The Ten Principles behind Great Customer Experiences’

That was a quote today from one of the delegates at a seminar I ran today at the Child Welfare Congress in Helsinki. (I don't mean to show off but I am very excited about being in Helsinki and also I wanted to let people know where the quote came from!)

I am in Helsinki this week running four workshops straight after running The NSMC Level 4 Award Course in Cookham. Running the courses back to back really highlight how much you have to adapt your style and content to your audience. In Finland, I am using more visuals and slowing down the speed of my delivery (it is hard enough to learn about social marketing in English let alone in a second language - so I have massive respect for the course attendees.)

We have just arrived back following delivering a two week intensive social marketing training course in Amman, Jordan.  The course is part of a six months programme we are running for USAID which is helping six organisations to use social marketing /behaviour change techniques to combat serious environmental issues affecting the Kingdom.  Over 97% of energy needs are imported into the country while water shortages are a way of life for everyone living in Jordan.  At the end of the six months training we hope to launch six major programmes which will be targeting ene