Praetorian Outsource Marketing Anticipates Birmingham Enterprise Zone.

Praetorian Outsource Marketing is delighted that £125 million has been approved to kick-start the development of the Birmingham City Centre Enterprise Zone.

Praetorian Outsource Marketing, a direct sales company in Birmingham city centre, has been following the progress of the Birmingham City Centre Enterprise Zone carefully and is extremely excited by the potential for businesses in the city. Firstly what is an Enterprise Zone? Enterprise Zones are areas where local businesses get together and agree to commit a certain sum of money to be spent on schemes to improve the area. Once the money has been pledged, and the area of the zone agreed, those businesses decide where the money would best be spent. The Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP was announced in July 2011and includes 26 sites covering 68 hectares across the city centre. It is consequently one of the largest in the country.

A spokesperson for Praetorian Outsource Marketing explains why they think the scheme has so much potential, “What is great about these Enterprise Zones is that the government allows the LEP to retain any business rates growth within the zone for at least 25 years. Secondly businesses love the idea of having control of how their money gets spent, after all they know the needs of their customers and clients and they’ll know how best to improve services for them.”

Andy Street, the Chair of the Enterprise Zone  believes that the results will be spectacular. “Not only will we create a further 40,000 jobs, add £2 billion a year to the value of the economy and make available 1.3m sq meters of floor space over the lifetime of the EZ, but ultimately we will deliver our ambition of becoming a truly world-class city region.”

The spokesperson for the outsource sales company said, “In a tough economic climate these are ambitious goals but Birmingham is an ambitious city. We have repeatedly impressed investors and clients and for that reason they trust the businesses in this city to perform. Our industry of outsource sales is thriving, no more so than at Praetorian Outsource Marketing. We’re confident that this EZ is going to be a great success and that business in Birmingham will continue to boom.”

Praetorian Outsource Marketing Looks at Employment Figures

The latest figures show that employment has risen in the last quarter. Praetorian Outsource Marketing takes a look at whether the improvement is likely to be long-term.

Praetorian Outsource Marketing, a direct marketing and sales company in Birmingham, has frequently covered the ups and downs of the job market. Consequently they were initially pleased to see that figures released by the Office of National Statistics showed that the number of people in work in the UK had risen by 201,000 in the three months to June. A spokesperson for the direct marketing company said, “These figures on the surface look very encouraging however when you also take into consideration that in the same period our national output shrunk by 0.7% it suggests a deeper problem.”

The unemployment rate fell to 8.0% in the period, a 0.2% decrease from the previous quarter. The number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance also fell by 5,900 to 1.59 million in July. Analysts have suggested that the overall figures have been distorted by the Olympics. Shadow work and pensions secretary Liam Byrne said, “It looks like about 90% of the fall in unemployment has been in London where there has obviously been a boost from the Olympics. In about half of Britain’s regions you’ve got unemployment going up.”

The Praetorian Outsource Marketing spokesperson continued, “Whilst the Olympics has been fantastic for morale and for some businesses, the reality is that they were temporary jobs and we’re pretty certain that we’re going to see a rise in unemployment next quarter as a result.” The Trade Union Council has warned that the job outlook for young people is the worst it has looked since 1994. Their general secretary Brendan Barber said “Students looking to start their careers or continue in their education next month are facing the toughest climate for nearly 20 years.”

What does Praetorian Outsource Marketing think this means for graduates entering the job market? “We believe that graduates face a very tough time ahead and are going to have to be persistent and diligent to find careers that suit them. Experience counts for everything and the more work experience they can get in their chosen field the more chance they’re going to have of success.”

Praetorian Outsource Marketing On How Students Must Adapt to the Working World

As thousands of school leaders and graduates embark on their job search, Praetorian Outsource Marketing looks at the differences between education and the working world.

They say that your school and university years are the best of your life, an opportunity to spend time with your friends and prepare yourself for life ahead. There is a heavy focus in schools, colleges and universities to prepare young people for future careers. Praetorian Outsource Marketing has compiled a list of things that they don’t teach students, but which are incredibly important.

Schools and universities are hierarchical. Teachers ‘rank’ above students, and masters students over undergrads. Because of this many students believe that if they’re leaders they’re the ‘boss’ and if they’re not the boss then they have to do what they’re told. Praetorian Outsource Marketing is keen to point out that in working environments this simply isn’t the case. "Your standing in an organisation is based on how hard you work and what kind of impact you make. It doesn’t matter whether you’re 18 and you’ve been there for 6 months of you’re 60 and been there for 30 years. Even the most senior people in organizations can’t rely wholly on hierarchy. If they did then talented people would get stuck at the bottom and companies wouldn’t grow."

Schools and universities deal in certainties and finites. ‘If you learn this information you’ll get the question correct. If you answer the question in this style and put in the key facts, then you’ll get a high mark.” Unfortunately there often isn’t a right or wrong answer. “At Praetorian Outsource Marketing we deal with direct sales and marketing. Whilst completing a sale is an easily measurable entity, the way in which someone goes about it can vary hugely. There is no right or wrong way, simply different ways, which need to be adapted to the customer or campaign that we’re working with or on.”

As a student your sole focus is on you, improving your grades and bettering your CV so that you have a greater chance of getting a job. “At Praetorian Outsource Marketing we believe that the best leaders are ones that can manage their own career paths as well as helping others. People gain respect by showing that they can think beyond themselves for a bigger goal or wider cause. Those who focus solely on themselves will only get so far. There has to be a much bigger picture to really succeed.”

Praetorian Outsource Marketing is a direct marketing and outsource sales company based in Birmingham with offices in Southampton. For more information on our services please visit http://www.praetorianmarketing.co.uk

Praetorian Outsource Marketing Unsurprised Birmingham one of the Best Places to Invest

Praetorian Outsource Marketing was delighted to learn that Birmingham is now one of the most attractive places in the country for foreign investment.

The outsource sales and direct marketing company has always known that Birmingham was one of the best places for business in the UK, however, they thought  they were a little biased.  Now they have the statistics to back it up! The figures released yesterday by the Marketing Birmingham Regional Observatory showed that the number of foreign investment projects in the UK fell by 2% last year. However, in comparison in Birmingham there was a 37% increase with 26 new projects in the city. The result of this was far reaching, it has created more than 5,700 jobs and safeguarded a further 5,000 jobs across the West Midlands region.

What does Praetorian Outsource Marketing think the reason for this is? A representative for the company said, “Birmingham has consistently been an attractive place for foreign investment over the years. We are famous for our manufacturing industry and indeed the figures show that 70% of all investment is going into this sector. In general there is a very proactive, can do attitude to business in the region. As a community we don’t rest on our laurels and wait for contracts to come to us, we go out there do a fantastic job and our reputation and hard work brings us clients. We believe this attitude is what has seen Praetorian Outsource Marketing grow so consistently over the last few years.”

Wouter Schuitmaker, from Business Birmingham, praise local industry for “creating an environment for growth” and said that the levels of international investment in the region were a “considerable achievement.” Big projects in the region which have seen investment included £1.3m at MG Motor Longbridge factory and more projects at Jaguar Land Rover.

The representative from Praetorian Outsource Marketing continued, “With our reputation as a strong place for international companies to invest we’re confident that this is only going to serve Birmingham further in the future. We already have the reputation as the UK’s second city and that accolade is only going to strengthen in the coming years as we draw in more and more investment. At Praetorian Outsource Marketing we will continue to work hard for our clients, we know our colleagues around the city will do the same.”

Praetorian Outsource Marketing Pleased Business Confidence Increased

Praetorian Outsource Marketing was pleased to learn that business confidence in the West Midlands has steadily increased since the beginning of 2012.

As a direct sales and outsource marketing company Praetorian Outsource Marketing has been riding high this year. So they were delighted to learn that their business partners around the West Midlands are sharing the optimism that they feel. The report released by Lloyds TSB Commercial called Business in Britain, showed that business confidence around the country has improved since January 2012 and no more so than in the West Midlands.

The overall business confidence balance in the West Midlands is 20 which is a 12 point increase from January when it was down at 8. The managing director for Praetorian Outsource Marketing is unsurprised by the confidence. “You only have to look around Birmingham and see small and medium sized businesses managing to stave off the recession. Our own field of outsource sales and marketing has been booming as companies have been looking to cut their costs and outsource to a specialised sales team like us. It’s been a trying time but I think that the fact that so many have ridden out the problems is testament to the support, forwards planning and hard work of so many businesses in this region.”

Of course there is still more to be done, “There are still some worrying trends” he continued. “Companies are still keeping major investment on hold and the report suggests that the long-term effect of this is that we will lose out to global competitors.” Praetorian Outsource Marketing understands from the report that 46% of businesses state that their investment will stay the same, 21 % intend to increase and 16% feel that they will need to cut investment before the year end.

John Robson who is the director for Lloyds TSB Commercial in the Midlands and North is more positive about the findings. He said, “It is encouraging, after a tough first half, to see that SMEs are exhibiting a lift in confidence and that they expect to see improved sales and orders over the next six months. Businesses have proved resilient in a tough economic climate and this is exactly what is required to see the UK economy grow.”

With confidence on the increase Praetorian Outsource Marketing is certain that the West Midlands and Birmingham in particular will continue to be a hotspot of business development and primary and secondary homes for major companies from both the UK and abroad. Exciting times are ahead. 

Praetorian Outsource Marketing Pleased as UK Jobless Rate Falls

Praetorian Outsource Marketing was thrilled to learn that the UK jobless rate has fallen to a nine month low.

In the quarter through May the UK unemployment rate has fallen by 65,000 to 2.58 million according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Praetorian Outsource Marketing has been reporting on the wavering jobs market for some months and believe that while this is encouraging there are still some underlying problems.

The ONS figures show that that the number of people in employment is now 29.35 million, a rise of almost 181,000. Economists believe that the holding of the Olympic Games is currently providing a boost in employment but warn that this could be temporary and there could be relapses within a year. The north east of England still has the highest unemployment rates at 10.9%. Praetorian Outsource Marketing, a Birmingham-based outsource sales company, was pleased to see that the West Midlands was faring better even than London with figures at around 8.6%. The South West of England once again seems to be holding out against unemployment best with only 5.9% of people out of work.

Praetorian Outsource Marketing has been discussing the plight of graduates and young people in the job market for some time and were pleased to see that unemployment among 16-24 year olds fell by 10,000 to 1.02 million. The managing director of Praetorian Outsource Marketing said, “This is really very encouraging. We hope that as people graduate and look for jobs over the next quarter that this improvement can be sustained. There is still a lot more work to do but we’re pleased to see things moving in the right direction for young people.”

Also incredibly interesting to Praetorian Outsource Marketing were the figures that showed that the number of self-employed people had risen by 32,000 accounting for nearly half of the jobs created during the period. “We’ve often spoken about how people have been taking matters into their own hands and starting their own small businesses to fight back against unemployment. These figures are fantastic news, being self-employed is a great way to take control of your own career and is incredibly rewarding. We’re pleased to see people being so resourceful."

Employment Minister, Chris Graying feels that there is still work to do and that unemployment figures were “still much too high.” He did continue however, “But, I’m at least encouraged, in what are difficult times economically that we’re seeing improvements, across the board.” Praetorian Outsource Marketing hopes that this pragmatic approach will mean that the government and private sector continue to work hard to make long-lasting improvements to help people into work. A spokesperson for the company said, “Business in our sector is still booming as companies continue to outsource their sales to specialist teams like ours. This continues to be a very confident and fast-moving industry that we’re fortunate to play such a prominent role in.”

Praetorian Outsource Marketing Unsurprised at University Application Fall.

Praetorian Outsource Marketing has learnt that applications to universities have fallen by 7.7%.

Praetorian Outsource Marketing has frequently reported on the difficulties faced by graduates entering the job market. It now seems that going to university at all is becoming increasingly difficult as tuition fee rises have made going to university an unobtainable dream for some. The Universities and College Admissions Service (UCAS) says that the total number of applicants to all British universities has fallen by 7.7% with a 10% drop in the number of English applicants.

UCAS believe that about 15,000 English 18 year olds who might have previously applied for universities have not done so this year.  Universities hardest hit include Sheffield Hallam, Manchester Metropolitan and Leeds Metropolitan universities. The University of Derby saw applications figures fall by 25.4% and the University of Surrey say a fall of over 20%.

A representative from Praetorian Outsource Marketing said, “The government’s argument that anyone who wants to go to university will be still be able to is just not true. Yes of course people can access student loans that will cover their fees but this is just a quick fix. The reality is that most students will be left with at least £30,000 in debts from tuition alone and this figure is not something that young people want to be facing when they enter a tough job market.”

With graduates finding it harder and harder to find jobs when they do complete their degrees, many feel disillusioned. With experience now the biggest requirement for many employers many young people are wondering whether they would be better off entering the jobs market after school and getting the experience they need whilst they are earning as well.

Despite their disappointment in the figures Praetorian Outsource Marketing believe that some good may come out the fee rises. “There is a case to be argued that the fee-increases will put off people who are not entirely committed to going to university. The purpose of university is not simply to have a great time but to also gain academic, employment and social skills that will help you in later life. Unless people are 100% sure that a university pathway is right for them they should look at the wealth of other viable options available to them. Apprenticeships, internships and entry-level jobs are all fantastic ways to learn the skills to have a great career and people should give serious consideration as to whether university is worth the investment.”

Praetorian Outsource Marketing is a outsource sales and direct marketing company based in Birmingham and Southampton. They offer world-class, cost-effective sales solutions to companies in a wide-range of industries. To find out more please visit: http://www.praetorianmarketing.co.uk

Praetorian Outsource Marketing Learns Gadgets waste £1.3bn on Energy Bills

Praetorian Outsource Marketing learnt recently that Britain’s households waste £1.3bn simply by not turning off everyday gadgets.

Praetorian Outsource Marketing works with a number of clients who provide utility funded home insulation schemes. Consequently they’re all about helping their clients' customers to reduce their home energy bills. So when they learnt that such a huge sum was being wasted each year because people leave them on, they decided to spread the word!

Research from the Energy Saving Trust and two government departments has revealed that every year homeowners a wasting a combined £1.3bn of their hard-earned money by not fully turning off computers, televisions and other electronic devices. The study worked out that homes were spending between £50 and £86 a year on gadgets that are on standby. This is equivalent to 9%-16% of the average electricity bill.

A spokesperson from Praetorian Outsource Marketing said, “That is a huge figure, not just as a whole but as a percentage of people’s bills. Our clients provide solutions that help people to get their houses properly insulated which is the biggest cause of energy wastage in the home. What we hadn’t realised was that this is also a huge factor, and something so easy to rectify.”

What the research further showed was that single-person households were using as much, and in some cases more, energy to run appliances such as ovens and washing machines as the average family. It calculated that a washing machine and tumble dryer costs on average £80 of energy a year to run and £35 is spent on powering computers. Shockingly to the team at Praetorian Outsource Marketing if you own a home cinema style set-up you could be spending £300 a year to power it!

This research certainly throws preconceptions on their head. At Praetorian Outsource Marketing we can definitely understand that it would be frustrating to fully switch off the TV and computer throughout the day but it’s very easy to turn them off fully at night when they’re going to be on standby for 12 hours. If you’re not convinced why not do a test, suggests Praetorian Outsource Marketing? Take a meter reading at the beginning of the week and carry on as usual, take another meter reading at the end and then have a week where you make an effort to switch everything off. When you take the reading at the end of that week you’ll be able to see if your usage has gone down!

Praetorian Outsource Marketing is a national outsource marketing and sales company based in Birmingham with offices throughout the West Midlands and in Southampton. For more information please visit http://www.praetorianmarketing.co.uk

Praetorian Outsource Marketing Backs Birmingham City University Move

Praetorian Outsource Marketing is fully behind recently unveiled plans by Birmingham City University to move to a new £125million campus in the city centre.

According to the University the new 24,000 square metre campus based in Eastside will be a ‘gateway to high-tech technology and international transport links.’ The design of the new campus is also intended to create a stronger and more integrated learning community for students. It will also be more responsive to the needs of its students and the accommodation is set to be more environmentally friendly. A spokesperson from Praetorian Outsource Marketing commented that, “The more central location of the campus will also further help to reduce the carbon footprint of the University’s staff and students, as it will mean an increased use of public transport over driving to and from the university.” He continued that, “This is particularly important for Birmingham, as a reduction in traffic congestion and pollution is needed for the UK’s second biggest city.”

Praetorian Outsource Marketing also believes that the move will help make Birmingham City Centre more profitable. Students from the university will be a whole new market that the shops and firms of the Eastside area can cater to. Revitalising city centres is particularly important in Britain currently, as many town and city centres are struggling to stay lucrative. If plans are approved this week then it is believed that the first phase will be ready and open to students by September 2013, which can only benefit Birmingham, and its residents. Also planned for the Eastside area is a new ‘museum quarter’, which will be based around a new public square outside the intended high-speed rail station.

Although business leaders in Birmingham have put forward their support for the University move, local Labour MP Khalid Mahmood has opposed the plans saying it would be an ‘economic and social disaster’ for his constituency of Perry Barr. He believes that University officials have failed to consider the impact that the move would have on the local economy where the campus is currently based.

Despite these objections to the move, Praetorian Outsource Marketing considers that the Perry Barr area will still benefit from the University’s Halls of residences and Doug Ellis Sports Centre that will remain there. The university has also pledged to remain a keen investor in the suburb.

Praetorian Outsource Marketing is keen to see how the plans for the campus move of the Birmingham City University progress and hopes that the planning application is approved.

Praetorian Outsource Marketing: How to Deliver a Great Speech

After a recent client meeting in Birmingham, Praetorian Outsource Marketing decided to hunt down their top speakers and ask them for their top tips on public speaking.

Being able to speak well is part and parcel of a marketing and sales job, you need to be able to connect with customers and sell your product well. But what happens when you move beyond one-on-one conversation? The team at Praetorian Outsource Marketing are well equipped to answer that, they recently spoke at a meeting in Birmingham with over 500 delegates.

If there is one thing that we make a big deal of at Praetorian Outsource Marketing it’s ‘Practice Makes Perfect.’ Practicing your speech is incredibly important. You should do it the whole way through, in front of someone and in an room close in size to the one where you’re going to be doing the real thing. The more your practice, the less you’ll need to refer to your notes and the more comfortable you’ll feel. If you lose your way, you should know the content well enough that you can freestyle until you pick it up again! 

One of Praetorian Outsource Marketing’s speakers from last weekend recommends that you don’t try and memorize your speech, unless it’s really short. She said, “The stress of trying to remember your lines will put you off and often it can sound stilted.” You’re much better to have some clear points, the punch lines and beginning and end written down, then practice what you’re going to say over and over again. You won’t have a full script, but you’ll have enough to feel confident without it sounding too rehearsed.

The managing director of Praetorian Outsource Marketing implores you to think about your body language. “It’s important to keep your feet planted and stand up straight, this will give off the impression of poise. Don’t look too stiff and wooden but it’s definitely preferable to being slouched or leaning against something. People often complain that they don’t know what to do with their hands. If you have a lectern that you’re standing at then put your hands on that and forget about them. You will naturally gesticulate as you talk and it’s somewhere easy and comfortable for them to return to.”

Praetorian Outsource Marketing hopes that these hints will give you the skills to approach any public speaking engagement with confidence. Don’t forget eye contact and you’re ready to go, good luck!

Praetorian Outsource Marketing is a direct sales and marketing company specialising in the telecommunications industry and in utility-funded insulation schemes. Their main offices are situated in Birmingham and Southampton. For more information visit http://www.praetorianmarketing.co.uk

Cheers from Praetorian Outsource Marketing as England Win Soccer Aid!

Praetorian Outsource Marketing are already getting into the football spirit with the Euro’s coming up in June, but in the meantime what better way to spend a Sunday evening then watching Celebrities and football legends battle it out on the pitch?!

Praetorian Outsource Marketing was amongst several armchair supporters of the fourth Soccer Aid event that took place at Old Trafford on Sunday night in aid of UNICEF. The game saw a whole host of celebrities from home and across the pond playing in what turned out to be a very eventful game indeed!

Praetorian Outsource Marketing was cheering for England, but admittedly it was difficult with glittering Hollywood names such as Will Ferrell, Gerard Butler, James McAvoy, Woody Harrelson and Mike Myers playing for the opposition! Sergio Pizzorno from Kasabian was voted man of the match after scoring a magnificent goal for the Rest of the World against English goal keeping hero David Seaman. This turned out to be the Rest of the World’s only goal despite a fantastic line-up of footballing legends including Jaap Stam, Van der Sar, Crespo, Keane, Seedorf and Ljungberg. TV chef and former footballer Gordon Ramsay, who was playing for the Rest of the World, felt the full force of English football legend Teddy Sheringham and had to be carried off on a stretcher.

The England team was fronted by captain Robbie Williams who is co-founder of the event alongside best friend Jonathan Wilkes. Stars playing for the home team included Aston and Marvin from JLS, Ollie Murs, comedians John Bishop and Paddy McGuinness and Mark Owen, Robbie’s Take-That band mate. As well as Teddy Sheringham, England’s line-up of footballing legends did not disappoint. Graham Le Saux, who was capped 36 times for the official England squad, scored one of the three amazing England goals. Co-founder Jonathan Wilkes and legend Kevin Phillips also scored for England, taking the result to 3-1. Completing the England football legends line-up were David Seaman, Kevin Phillips, Martin Keown and Des Walker.

All at Praetorian Outsource Marketing are big fans of Soccer Aid, not just because it is entertaining but also as it raises money and awareness for a fantastic cause. The event has raised £4 million for world Charity UNICEF, the children’s charity that works with over 190 countries. Praetorian Outsource Marketing is now excitedly waiting for the Euro’s to begin. In such a big year for the country, let’s hope the official England Squad can see a similar success.

Praetorian Outsource Marketing Concerned at High Speed Rail Delays

Praetorian Outsource Marketing was concerned to learn that there are delays expected on the new high-speed rail line to be built between London and Birmingham.

Praetorian Outsource Marketing were understandably excited when they learnt that a new high speed line (HS2) was due to be built between London and Birmingham. However, the former transport secretary Lord Adonis has said that the line, due to be open by 2026, might not be achieved in the 2020s due to “endless dither and delay.”

Although the line has been controversial, with an expected cost of £33bn, the team at Praetorian Outsource Marketing were excited that transport links between their home city and London was going to be improved. The network was given the go-ahead in January. The HS2 will be a high capacity railways which is designed to standard European high speed specifications which is different to those of conventional UK rail. Experts have forecast that by 2020 the technology will exist to develop passenger trains that can travel at up to 400kph. The HS2 line is going to be capable of carrying trains up to those speeds in the future and the expected changes to travel times are consequently significant. The current average journey time between London and Birmingham is 1hr 24min. They project that this will be cut to 49 minutes with the new line.

A spokesperson for the outsource sales and marketing company said, “We’re not talking shaving off a few minutes, we talking taking a third off the journey time. To be able to get to London in the time that it can sometimes take to drive across Birmingham is going to do huge things for businesses in the area.” The line is eventually expected to go beyond Birmingham up towards Manchester and possibly into Scotland. Praetorian Outsource Marketing is hopeful that the necessary  consultations will take place on time to ensure this exciting project can get under way.

Praetorian Outsource Marketing specialises in outsource sales and direct marketing for the telecommunications and energy industries. For more information please visit http://www.praetorianmarketing.co.uk

Praetorian Outsource Marketing Southampton Celebrates the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee

As Southampton Guildhall is hosting their 60^th Hampshire beer festival today in honour of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, Praetorian Outsource Marketing Southampton asks: How will you join in the celebrations?

As we prepare to enjoy the extra long bank holiday weekend millions of people across the country are preparing picnics and parties in honour of Queen Elizabeth.

School children across Hampshire have already begun their Jubilee celebrations by wearing red, white and blue outfits. Others have decorated buildings and streets to match the vibrant atmosphere and community spirit! Praetorian Outsource Marketing Southampton believes the patriotic festivities are really paving the way for the highly anticipated arrival of the London 2012 Olympics.

PraetorianOutsource Marketing Southampton believes the nation could do with a reason to celebrate as we take yet another dip into the recession. However the celebrations have been met with some criticism. Some claim it is just a waste of money and time, especially for businesses. Praetorian Outsource Marketing Southampton feels instead that the costs are far outweighed by the benefits as the events surrounding the Jubilee weekend can only serve to boost the economy and national moral.

Asked of his thoughts on the Jubilee and accompanying celebrations, the Managing Director at Praetorian Outsource Marketing Southampton said, “I can understand the arguments; however, it’s a great chance for people to celebrate the country! In terms of business, I am a strong believer that anything that can bring a community together in such a positive way can only benefit business as a whole. We could also view this as a test run for the Olympics. After the incredible weather that we’ve been having all of us here at PraetorianOutsource Marketing Southampton hope that everyone has a fantastic Jubilee weekend.”

Praetorian Outsource Marketing is a national outsource marketing and sales company based in Birmingham with offices throughout the West Midlands.

Praetorian Outsource Marketing's Top Tips for a Great CV

Why is it so important to have a great CV? The labour market is becoming increasingly competitive and there is fierce competition for jobs. Praetorian Outsource Marketing sees a CV as a vital component to getting ahead in your chosen career, as it singles you out above others. Your CV is also the first opportunity you have to show why you are suitable for the role.

Praetorian Outsource Marketing realise just how important a CV is, so have devised some top tips to help make sure that yours stands out and gives you the best chance of being selected for an interview! Here are four suggestions:

Focus on the positives

Keep it short and sweet! Employers look through hundreds of applications so try and stick to under two pages of A4.

Use an appropriate email address: It takes no time at all to set up a professional-sounding email address to attach to your CV.

List the skills you feel you have gained from each job or work experience. This helps your future employer to see the relevance of each role that you’ve had and relate it to the position they’re offering.

There are many (hilarious) examples of blunders people have made on CV’s and they must be avoided. Possibly the most common CV mistake to make is letting typos slip through. Spelling and grammar errors are easily avoided so proof reading is a must; spelling errors shows a lack of conscientiousness and gives off the wrong impression. Don’t forget, no lies! By all means make the most of what you have got, but do not make things up.

Presentation is very important too: One candidate wrote their CV in pencil on a page ripped out from an exercise book and another reportedly had chocolate and grease stains all over the paper!

The managing director of Praetorian Outsource Marketing explains just how important it is to have a good CV. “The four tips mentioned above should help you get on the right track to developing a good CV, and they are certainly the things we look for. Try sending over your CV to someone you used to work for or someone who regularly looks at CV’s to help you gain a second opinion and a different perspective on what you have written.”

Praetorian Outsource Marketing Announces New Southampton Office

Praetorian Outsource Marketing, the experienced outsource sales and marketing company have opened the doors of their brand new office in Southampton. Bringing industry expertise acquired over time, the new managing director of Praetorian Outsource Marketing Southampton talks about why he made the decision to move to Southampton, and what this means for business in the area.

The Birmingham born managing director, who recently moved to Southampton, has talked about his decision to move and the exciting prospect of helping Praetorian Outsource Marketing expand: 

"Southampton really is a great place to be and has a lot to offer, with both a modern and historical appeal.  The city is one of the top ten most populated metropolitan areas in the UK and consequently we felt there was definitely a demand for our services as well as a gap in the market ready for us to fill. We're incredibly excited about this new venture and are confident that it is going to see us and our clients grow significantly."

Praetorian Outsource Marketing specialise in providing a high quality service to clients using their specially developed outsource sales and marketing strategies. Using tried and tested methods Praetorian Outsource Marketing are able to provide a great brand awareness and enhancement for their clients at low cost.

The managing director of Praetorian Outsource Marketing Southampton added,

"This is a very interesting time for Praetorian Outsource Marketing as a company and also for me individually. Moving to a new environment and putting my knowledge and industry experience to the test is something I am very excited about. We’re working with fantastic clients, bringing them success and growing in a time where other businesses are struggling. We are looking forwards to delivering products and services to a new wave of customers."

Praetorian Outsource Marketing continues to expand and the launch of the new Southampton office is just one of many exciting ventures planned for the near future. The company's aim over the next six months is to bring existing projects that are in the pipeline out into the open. "We have a couple of new clients that we are in the process of building campaigns with, it's an exciting time for us and for them."   

Praetorian Outsource Marketing Anticipates 1m New Olympic Tickets

 The final block of Olympic Tickets are to be released for sale on Friday. Praetorian Outsource Marketing looks at what to do to get your hands on them.

With the London 2012 Games only weeks away now, people all over the world are looking forwards to a spectacular games. Unlike many previous Olympics, the Games organising committee LOCOG seem to be well on schedule. A couple of the team members at Praetorian Outsource Marketing have even been able to attend the London Prepares Series that have been taking place in the Olympic venues. However if there is one area that Praetorian Outsource Marketing has heard complaints, it has been the sales of tickets.

The ballot process which took place last year received a lot of criticism, with many people applying for huge numbers of tickets but not actually obtaining any. As a result Praetorian Outsource Marketing was pleased to hear LOCOG say that priority would be given to those who had been unsuccessful in previous ballot rounds. They have been as good as their word and just under one million remaining tickets will be released on Friday morning with 20,000 unsuccessful applicants given first dibs in a 31 hour period prior to going on general release.

LOCOG chairman Sebastian Coe said of the ticketing, “We know thousands of sports fans were disappointed when they missed out in the initial sales period because of massive demand for tickets.” The former Olympic medalist continued, “We promised we would prioritise these fans when we released the contingency tickets, which is exactly what we are doing.”

A spokesperson for Praetorian Outsource Marketing expressed his hope that local people would be more successful this time round. “Although the whole country is entitled to getting tickets you have to feel sorry for those people who live right around the corner and have to deal with all of the disruption, but haven't received any tickets. Its fantastic that tickets for all sports will be available, we hope people have more luck this time round!”

Praetorian Outsource Marketing is an outsource sales and marketing company that specialises in direct fact to face advertising, event management and in store promotions.

Praetorian Outsource Marketing on How to Sell Yourself in 15 Seconds.

Praetorian Outsource Marketing has spent a lot of time reporting on the difficulties facing graduates and young people when it comes to finding a job. There is no doubt that at the moment the job search is incredibly hard, but that doesn’t mean you should give up hope. So the direct sales and outsource marketing company from Birmingham wants you to be prepared when opportunity comes knocking at your door.

As a job seeker you should be prepared to pitch yourself at any given moment, you just don’t know when there might be someone with a job to fill. Even more importantly you should be able to do it professionally, succinctly and impressively. How on earth can I do that in 15 seconds or less, you might ask? Praetorian Outsource Marketing has a few tips.

Firstly practice makes perfect. Never allow yourself to be caught off guard. You should have a self-pitch ready to share at any moment, it must be clear, simple and impressive and you should be able to deliver it with confidence. Praetorian Outsource Marketing would recommend that you write it out to make sure you include all the important points then practice it until it doesn't sound rehearsed.

We’re taught not to boast but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t sell yourself. It is a fine art to blow your own trumpet but in a classy way. Practice it on a close friend, they will tell you honestly whether it sounds on the right side of impressive or boastful.

Finally it’s important not to simply reel off your CV. A spokesperson for Praetorian Outsource Marketing advises, “Instead of telling someone how long you were in your last job focus instead on the impact you made there and what your future career goals are.”

Keeping yourself on the lookout for opportunities at all times, and being ready for them when the chance presents itself, will ensure that you give yourself the best possible chance of success. Praetorian Outsource Marketing believes that by keeping your pitch to 15 seconds or less, you’ll keep their attention and hit all they key points. Praetorian Outsource Marketing wishes you the best of luck in your search.

Praetorian Outsource Marketing Understands Graduates To Face Earning Slump

Praetorian Outsource Marketing has learnt that graduates are to expect a tough time on leaving university with rising fees and an earning slump.

Praetorian Outsource Marketing has been reporting over recent months that graduates, and young people in general, are expected to have an incredibly tough time in the job market for the foreseeable future. For those that are fortunate enough to find a job it seems that they should expect lower wages than their predecessors might have enjoyed. New figures released yesterday show that real graduate pay has fallen to its lowest level in almost a decade.

Though the average starting salary for university leavers is unchanged at £25,000 this is actually a significant fall when you take into account rising prices. Once they are inflation adjusted, starting salaries are the equivalent of £18,705 which is less than the £18,839 paid to new graduates back in 2000. Praetorian Outsource Marketing can also report that the demand for graduate positions is still incredibly intense with on average 43 applications for each vacancy, up 12 per cent from 2010.

A spokesperson for the outsource sales and marketing company said, “There is a glimmer of sunshine from the Incomes Data Services (IDS) research which expects a 9.1 per cent increase in graduate hiring this year. However nine out of ten firms will still freeze graduate starting salaries.” The freeze also seems to be hitting the traditionally highest paid graduate jobs with new lawyers unchanged at £36,000 and those in banking and finance at £31,250.

Praetorian Outsource Marketing has reported that in the wake of the economic downturn many young job-seekers and graduates have decided to follow less traditional routes to ensure they are earning. “We’ve heard a lot of stories about young people joining family businesses and indeed starting their own businesses, rather than leaving their employment fate up to a stagnant job market. At Praetorian Outsource Marketing we are impressed by the ingenuity of these young people and believe that as a result of the downturn we will see a new wave of entrepreneurs. We wish them all the best of luck.”

Praetorian Outsource Marketing Delighted Graduates to get Helping Hand with Start-Ups

Entrepreneur First plans to help graduates start their own businesses. Praetorian Outsource Marketing looks at the scheme and the investors.

Entrepreneur First is a new initiative to encourage the brightest graduates to start a business instead of heading down a traditional career path. Praetorian Outsource Marketing, a marketing and outsource sales company based in Birmingham was delighted when they first heard of the scheme which is backed by investment from organisations like Microsoft, Silicon Valley Bank and successful entrepreneurs such as Songkick founder Pete Smith.

The scheme was inspired by Teach First, a scheme which encourages the best graduates who would not previously have considered a career in teaching to work in some of the toughest schools in the UK. The first set of applications saw 425 entries from 88 universities and 34 will be chosen from those. The successful applicants will start making a business plan over the coming months and then they will start their companies, along with their peers, in September.

What do Praetorian Outsource Marketing think this means for graduates? A spokesperson for the company believes it is a really exciting prospect, “With the incredibly high rate of graduate unemployment we have been encouraging graduates to look for less traditional career routes for some time now. This scheme is a fantastic initiative and will give young graduates the support they need to do something incredible, to start their own business.”

One of the graduates on the scheme is Emily Brooke who quit her physics degree at Oxford to study product design at Brighton University. She said “At Oxford, all I could see was a City career mapped out ahead of me and I wanted to do something more creative.” Praetorian Outsource Marketing believes that this scheme will encourage more people that there are other career options out there.

Microsoft is on hand to offer places on the software giant’s graduate scheme if after two years the participants wish to opt for a more conventional career. The Praetorian Outsource Marketing’s spokesperson continued, “This is an incredible win-win scenario for these graduates. They get a chance, and the support to follow their dream, but have a fall-back plan if they decide it’s not for them. We believe this scheme will put entrepreneurship on the radar for the best and brightest students.”

Praetorian Outsource Marketing Asks: Can Mary Queen of Shops Save Birmingham High Street?

8 shopping centres in Birmingham are turning to Mary ‘Queen of Shops’ Portas to help them to solve their problems. Praetorian Outsource Marketing looks at the bids and asks, will it work?

The government recently enlisted the help of TV show host Mary Portas to help rescue the struggling high street. Praetorian Outsource Marketing, a outsource sales and marketing company based in Birmingham city centre, is well aware of the problems facing small businesses and were interested to see what she would do. Portas has put together a pilot scheme, to which 8 bids from Birmingham have been submitted, to see if they can revive independent shops that have been struggling in the financial downturn.

Praetorian Outsource Marketing has seen shop after shop close in Birmingham, aside from in the city’s flagship Bullring which seems to be weathering the storm. Independent retailers have seen rents have go up and sales go down. A total of 12 high streets from around the UK will be selected to get grants of up to £100,000 each. The competition was launched in February after Portas submitted a report on struggling high streets which suggested 28 improvements to try and revive the shopping areas.

The managing director of Praetorian Outsource Marketing is delighted that something is being done to help small businesses around the UK by the government. He said, “Huge shops like ASDA and Tesco have been forcing out smaller businesses for years but when the recession hit these shops struggled even more as they just weren’t able to compete on price when there were less people buying. I’m thrilled to see that 8 impressive looking bids have been submitted in Birmingham.”

The bids include rock ‘n’ roll themed branding for Erdington, a loyalty card scheme for Kings Heath and start up shops for new retailers in Boldmere. Does Praetorian Outsource Marketing think that Mary Portas’s scheme will work? “Well we feel it’s had a positive effect already, it has brought the problem to the forefront of the governments attention and they are finally doing something about it. If it encourages people to support their local shops and also revive some dreary looking high streets then we’re sure that it will be effective.”

Council member of Bourneville, Timothy Huxtable, said “the bids are all designed to improve the vibrancy of these local centres. I have been very impressed with the range and quality.”

Praetorian Outsource Marketing are keen to see which bids win and is hopeful that some of the Birmingham bids will be among them.

Praetorian Outsource Marketing 2012: 3 month review January-March

Praetorian Outsource Marketing has started 2012 with a bang, seeing some of their best ever results and solidifying plans for expansion over the next six months.

The Birmingham based outsource sales and marketing company has seen remarkable results for their clients in the last 3 months. Their clients, including a high profile telecoms and broadband provider, have seen customer levels in Birmingham rise thanks to Praetorian Outsource Marketing. Plans are now in full motion to expand with a further four offices set to open in as many months in cities across the UK.

PraetorianOutsource Marketing is an Outsource Sales and Marketing company based in Birmingham. Specialising in client representation, Praetorian offer clients a full service approach to direct marketing and outsource sales by providing professional and sustainable direct marketing campaigns.

The managing director for Praetorian Outsource Marketing commented on their recent success.  Attributing the results to ‘good old fashioned hard work and determination’ he said ‘At Praetorian Outsource Marketing we have had a fantastic start to the year and seen some great results for our clients of which we are incredibly proud. However, we are only in the first quarter of the year, meaning this really is just the beginning of the results we expect to achieve for our clients over the next 12 months. Due to the results we’ve seen, we are set to expand to new cities and add additional clients to our repertoire, with solid plans to open up four new offices in the next few months. The opening of new offices is also set to offer new opportunities to work alongside Praetorian Outsource Marketing which is an additional positive’.

The opening of four new offices will mean that Praetorian Outsource Marketing will be able to implement the same service that has brought them such great success, five times over. This will allow the company to reach new areas, more customers and even new clients.

Praetorian Outsource Marketing Reports: What will the X Factor Contestants do Next?

Praetorian Outsource Marketing are pretty huge fans of the X Factor and have followed it over the years, so when the live tour made its way to Birmingham this weekend, the Birmingham outsource sales and marketing company were hot on its heels!

‘I don’t even think you can call it a guilty pleasure anymore!’ a spokesperson for Praetorian Outsource Marketing exclaimed, ‘It’s no secret that Praetorian are huge X Factor fans and so when the show comes to Birmingham there are no prizes for guessing where we will be! We were fortunate enough to get tickets for the full tour experience including backstage access to meet the stars which is also very exciting’.

So, Praetorian Outsource Marketing wonders, what will the finalists do once the tour has finished? ‘Little Mix won the competition this year and judging from the audience at the live tour alone they have a massive fan base’ says a spokesperson for the Birmingham based Outsourcing Company. ‘I would predict we’re more likely to see a success story like Alexandra Burke, rather than a Steve Brookstein ‘who is he?’ return to obscurity’.

Praetorian Outsource Marketing are aware however that it is not just the winners who can achieve success from the show, just take Ollie Murs, Diana Vickers, Cher Lloyd, JLS and of course One Direction! So who out of this year’s finalists do Praetorian Outsource Marketing think could join the likes of JLS and One Direction? ‘To be honest, the standard of the contestants this year has been fantastic and most of the acts could easily build a successful career. The acts who usually do well from X Factor are the ones who can deliver the whole package and Marcus Collins who came second is definitely on track, he’s already released his debut single and it’s doing pretty well’.

With several of the other acts rumoured to be preparing material for albums, it’s only a matter of time until we see who will follow in the footsteps of the likes of JLS and One Direction. In the meantime, Praetorian Outsource Marketing looks forward to finding out!

Praetorian Outsource Marketing aims to provide elite and total direct marketing solutions to our clients through our exceptional results, customer service and professionalism.

Praetorian Outsource Marketing Reports: UK Online Industry on the Rise.

Praetorian Outsource Marketing has learned recently that there is set to be a boom for UK internet industry and it comes as no surprise. As reported over Christmas the high street is increasingly losing customers due to the convenience of the internet. The fact that it is cost effective, weather resistant and effortless, are just three reasons why people turn to the internet to shop.

Research by The Boston Consulting Group has found that in the UK, the internet contributes more to our economy than any G20 nation and that industry online is set to grow annually by 11%.

Praetorian Outsource Marketing relies heavily on the internet, as it is one of the fastest and most efficient forms of communication. A spokesperson for the successful outsource sales and marketing company commented:

‘We use the internet to communicate with each other, with our potential clients and people who would like to work alongside us. It allows us as a small independent business to let people know exactly who Praetorian Outsource Marketing are, what we do and why. It also allows us to keep up with the trends, by using social networking sites such as Facebook to stay up to date and regularly stream information.’

As a new business owner, starting up online can be a more cost effective option. Depending on the nature of your business, you could even run it from home. This saves money on renting office or shop space. There is also the option to supply on demand; therefore money is dispensed more efficiently, as and when needed.

The internet is also a fantastic way to effectively market and spread the word about your brand without spending large amounts of money on promotional materials and expensive advertising campaigns. Praetorian Outsource Marketing has pages on Twitter (https://twitter.com/#!/praetorianmktg ), Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/praetorianmarketing) and several other social media sites, allowing them to regularly post news and information without the cost.

The spokesperson continued,

‘The internet has definitely contributed to the great success of Praetorian Outsource Marketing, as it has allowed us to cast our net further afield and work alongside more and more fantastic people’.