MPA Inside Stories Podcast

Freelancing and Fresh Perspectives with Polly Ward and Rick Ward

Manchester Publicity Association — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 00:15:00 +0000

“We want to do nice work for nice people.”

Freelancers are key to supporting the industry, so how can they be better supported? Host and MD of MPA Cindy Simmons gets the perspective of Polly and Rick Ward, the father and daughter founders of We Are The Allies. Allies is a creative freelance network putting freelancers together with clients and exciting briefs.

As well as how to bring fresh energy into your work, you’ll also hear about the latest upcoming MPA events and how you can attend.

Both freelancers themselves, Rick and Polly bring fresh insights into how you can bring a freelancer onto a project and the benefits of doing so. They also divulge the most in-demand creative roles, plus how freelancers are adapting to a changing market with the rise of AI.

This podcast was produced by Purposeful Podcasts. If you want to build a community around your business or your brand, please do get in touch with the team at purposefulpodcasts.com.

Connect with the MPA:

Navigating 2024 with Lee Chambers and Richard Aldiss

Manchester Publicity Association — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 00:15:00 +0000

“Communicating and listening to our employees is critical”

What does 2024 hold for Manchester’s Communications community? Host Cindy Simmons brings together the insights of psychologist and workplace wellbeing consultant Lee Chambers, and Richard Aldiss MD of McCann Manchester, to discuss the evolving landscape.

This episode not only previews MPA events but also delves into the intricacies of hybrid working; the digital revolution, and the art of cultivating company culture.

Richard and Lee discuss the strategies that top industry leaders are employing to navigate the future of work.

This podcast was produced by Purposeful Podcasts. If you want to build a community around your business or your brand, please do get in touch with the team at

purposefulpodcasts.com.

Connect with the MPA:

MPA Supporting Prevent Breast Cancer

Manchester Publicity Association — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 00:15:00 +0000

“It’s about being an advocate for your own body”

Emma Slater from Wavemaker UK and Kelaine Blades from GroupM Nexus recently shared their inspirational journeys and battles with breast cancer, at an MPA event held in aid of the charity Prevent Breast Cancer. They were joined by Nikki Barraclough from the charity.

You’ll hear a mix of enlightening personal stories and expert perspectives on breast cancer and women's empowerment.

Host Cindy Simmons is also joined by Sue Benson from The Behaviours Agency, who previews a panel on achieving gender equality in business leadership roles.

Plus you’ll be brought up to date with other upcoming MPA events.

This podcast was produced by Purposeful Podcasts. If you want to build a community around your business or your brand, please do get in touch with the team at purposefulpodcasts.com.

Connect with the MPA:

The MPA Inspiration Awards

Manchester Publicity Association — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 00:15:00 +0000

“It’s that feeling of community in Manchester”

The MPA Inspiration Awards were recently held at the Midland Hotel in Manchester. It’s one of the biggest dates in the MPA’s calendar, and the awards are all about recognising the amazing talent across the city region.

They span the creative industries as well as innovation in digital and media industries.

Host Cindy Simmons brings you a flavour of the night as well as interviews with some of the winners.

Featuring:

MIC Media

Smart Media

Havas Media Manchester

Immediate Media Manchester

The Growth Company Manchester

Carat Manchester

Media Concierge

This podcast was produced by Purposeful Podcasts. If you want to build a community around your business or your brand, please do get in touch with the team at purposefulpodcasts.com.

Connect with the MPA:

TBWA Mcr Champions Two Wheels

Manchester Publicity Association — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 00:15:00 +0000

‘This is an example of why disruption works’

TBWA Manchester have spent the summer working on a campaign for British Cycling, which is the national governing body for the sport of cycling in Britain.

It’s a prestigious client for the city, so Cindy Simmons, Managing Director of the Manchester Publicity Association, caught up with Tom Holmes and Emily Adams from TBWA, to get insight into their pitch and details on the campaign itself.

This podcast was produced by Purposeful Podcasts. If you want to build a community around your business or your brand, please do get in touch with the team at purposefulpodcasts.com.

Connect with the MPA:

Manchester Moves For Dentsu Uk And Wavemaker

Manchester Publicity Association — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 00:15:00 +0000

‘Manchester is full of fantastic media and creative talent’

Mark Brogan, the Managing Partner at Wavemaker and Charles Reid, Client Managing Director at Dentsu UK, join hosts Christian James and Cindy Simmons, to talk about their recent office moves.

As Charles says, Dentsu UK and Wavemaker are:

“two multinational global, creative, and marketing businesses who are choosing to invest significantly in one of the best cities in the goddamn world!”

Cindy and Christian hear about what it’s like keeping teams motivated during a time of great change like this and how moving to a different space has improved opportunities for collaboration in this new, hybrid working world.

This podcast was produced by Purposeful Podcasts. If you want to build a community around your business or your brand, please do get in touch with the team at purposefulpodcasts.com.

Connect with the MPA:

Next Gen

Manchester Publicity Association — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 00:15:00 +0000

"It's a safe, inclusive space to network and learn"

The MPA recently launched its Next Gen initiative. It’s all about supporting young people who work in PR, media and the creative industries, to help them grow their own networks and collaborate effectively.

Christian James and Cindy Simmons hear from Max Brookes, from Universal McCann and Sophie Hill from Hearst, who along with Sophie Yesufu from Mediaforce, are the brains behind Next Gen.

This podcast was produced by Purposeful Podcasts. If you want to build a community around your business or your brand, please do get in touch with the team at purposefulpodcasts.com.

Connect with the MPA:

The Inside Story On: Nicky Unsworth

Manchester Publicity Association — Thu, 25 May 2023 00:15:00 +0000

Nicky Unsworth was CEO at the award winning creative agency BJL for 15 years. In 2019, BJL was sold to Dentsu, one of the largest global marketing and advertising agency networks in the world. Nicky is now a Non Exec Advisor, who works with independent agencies to deliver growth.

Host Lisa Morton hears Nicky’s Inside Story and gets some great insights into where Nicky has come from in her career.

Lisa and Nicky discuss the skills you need to lead a busy agency - from juggling multiple tasks; to the importance of diversity in your team and the best ways to lead. Lisa also discovers why it was so important to the team at BJL that the values of their business would be incorporated into Dentsu’s approach moving forward.

This podcast was produced by Purposeful Podcasts. If you want to build a community around your business or your brand, please do get in touch with the team at purposefulpodcasts.com.

Connect with the MPA:

Championing Disability Inclusion In The Creative Industries

Manchester Publicity Association — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 00:15:00 +0000

"Disability isn't a dirty word. Say it and be proud"

The MPA held an event recently with ITV, all about diversity and inclusion when it comes to disability.

The MPA’s landmark study on D&I in 2019 found that we need to do more to champion greater disability inclusivity in the North West’s creative industries. ITV have been working hard to transform their approach to this.

Hosts Christian James and Cindy Simmons bring you highlights from the event. You’ll get an insight into how ITV’s Diversity Acceleration Plan has transformed their programming, recruitment and staff policies, and how you can learn from their experience and research.

A number of useful organisations are mentioned in this discussion:

ITV Able is ITV's Disability network for ITV colleagues. We are here for everyone who wants to learn more about Disability.

Triple C Dank - works with and brings together professional disabled artists and key decision/change makers in the industry to take a solution-focussed approach.

Purple Goat is a marketing agency providing disability marketing to some of the world’s biggest brands

Evenbreak offers careers advice for disabled candidates

This podcast was produced by Purposeful Podcasts. If you want to build a community around your business or your brand, please do get in touch with the team at purposefulpodcasts.com.

Connect with the MPA:

What's Up, What's On? at the MPA

Manchester Publicity Association — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 00:15:00 +0000

What's up and what's on in the communications industry in Manchester?

Christian James, the MPA's Chair and Managing Director Cindy Simmons, bring you up to date with the latest industry news and events from Manchester's Publicity Association.

This podcast was produced by Purposeful Podcasts. If you want to build a community around your business or your brand, please do get in touch with the team at purposefulpodcasts.com.

Connect with the MPA:

Welcome To Inside Stories From The MPA

Purposeful Podcasts — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 00:15:00 +0000

‘Media, digital or creative - we look after your interests’

The Manchester Publicity Association connects you to the communications industry in Manchester.

For this first episode of ‘Inside Stories from the MPA’, hosts Christian and Cindy turn the tables from their presenting duties, by asking MPA member Darren Proctor to interview them.

Darren is well known in the MPA community. He’s been a presenter on Hits Radio and more recently he set up his own radio station, Happy Radio. He’s also very well known for keeping order every year as a host at the MPA Christmas party!

Darren finds out about the history of the MPA and its purpose. He also discovers how membership of the MPA can help you, if you work in the digital, media or creative industries in Manchester.

This podcast was produced by Purposeful Podcasts. If you want to build a community around your business or your brand, please do get in touch with the team at purposefulpodcasts.com.

Connect with the MPA: