I get asked all the time how I got started in Business - and how I manage to keep growing a business. There are so many things - having a powerful vision and superb people are key.

There is something else... The public/customers/ the local community have to know what you do. There is no magic to this - a simple way is to get yourself in the papers on the radio and on TV.

Another way is to be active in your local community - meet loads of people and promote what you do.

The other day - the age old question of why A4e has not done a UK wide TV promotion came up at a get-together of 150 staff.

Some people seem to think that spending millions of pounds ( and the figures would be that high) to make sure everyone has heard our name would be a good idea.

I don't. I think it is an expensive ego trip.

What i do think is sensible - is every person in the organisation taking some responsibility for promoting what we do - inviting people to come and visit etc. ( This is something any company could do)

One woman said to me the classic 'THEY used to do the annual lord Mayors parade - with a great float - THEY don't do it anymore.' Of course those who are regular readers of my blogs - know what  words came next from my lips. 'Who are the mysterious 'they?'' Of course in my mind the 'they' was someone whom the woman could blame for the lack of participation in the parade. The truth is that she could decide to do a float - and feel a great sense of achievement and not wait for the mysterious 'they' to do it. Ummm - I wonder if she will?

The conversation developed - the staff said they loved to read about the company and its clients in the papers - they got a thrill when they saw A4e on the TV. They thought it was really important and we should do more. A straw poll showed that only one person in the room (out of 150) had actually contacted a paper to get some news in!

I could see that there was a reluctance and a misunderstanding of how the press works. The press (especially local press) want and need stories about local people and their successes. A4e spends all day working with local people helping to improve their lifes. Every day stories are happening. The only gap is that very few people think to let the press know. (Or they imagine that an enourmous and mysterious A4e press department miraculously knows everything they are doing and thiinks to contact the daily ad mag in their area with the story!!!)

I thought I could go round and round with this one - or I could set a challenge.

So - a challenge it is. For a trail period (see how it goes) - i declared i would pay £35 for every time a member of staff gets a story in their local press or radio.   

I know that we have already had some pay outs - brill - well done.

The responsibilty and ability to promote what we do lies with all of us. Looking forward to seeing who takes up the challenge...

Emma