PechaKucha!

On Thursday evening I took part in Springfield’s 20th volume of PechaKucha 20 x 20. PechaKucha involves a simple presentation format where you show 20 images, each for 20 seconds. 

It was created by two architects in Tokyo in 2003 because architects (according to the organizers) talk too much. The idea is, that if you give someone just 20 slides and 20 seconds to talk about each slide they will be forced to present in a comprehensive, but succinct fashion.

So, I had a go. My topics was, of course, Guernsey. In the US the easiest way to explain Guernsey’s location is ‘a British island, near France’ so that was the title of my presentation. 

Castle Cornet and a cruise Ship

I want to say a massive thank you to Guernsey photographer Chris George who supplied us with high resolution images and to my pal Zoe Ash of Visit Guernsey. I talked about our beautiful island, its rich history and the part it plays in the finance world. 

I’m telling you all this because wouldn't it be something to have a PechaKucha night in Guernsey or Jersey? It’s a great opportunity to promote your business or interests in front of a group of people from all walks of life. At Gem PR & Media we’re always looking for PR opportunities for our clients and we aim to lead by example. So, Guernsey, Jersey let us know if you would like more information about PechaKucha. 

Gemma discussing Guernsey Cows

Flexibility Through Outsourcing

Today the need for pro-active and strategic specialists is paramount whether in public relations, human resources or information technology, for example.

The biggest advantage to outsourcing certain areas of your business is the ability to flex your resources, dependent on what you need and how pro-active you want to be. You may have an internal HR, PR or IT team for example, but also need additional support to assist at peek times, to cover leave or manage a project from concept to completion. Often, with all three disciplines above, there is also a need for crisis support - whether down to human or technical error, business changes or economic developments.

Katie Bellingham Non-Executive Director Gem PR & Media Ltd. and Director of The Focus Group Ltd.

If you are just starting up then you may need guidance and support to help get you on the right track. Consultancy provides a cost effective approach, by engaging expertise in their field at a critical time, you’ll save money in the long run, and paying only for the support you need, when you need it. This is true for a number of outsourcing services. If you have policies, plans and procedures in place from the start, you will have a better idea of where you are now and where you want to go in the future. Not only will you be better prepared for the expansion of your business, you will also be better placed to avoid any mishaps that could serve to compromise all your hard work.

In our role as HR consultants we provide our clients with the chance to pro-actively manage employee relations. We often find that in small businesses, where there aren’t individual departments for IT, HR or PR, rely on the managing director, the financial director, or the office manager to pick up the critical business matters in addition to their day job. However, if you truly want to be cost effective and grow your business, it’s best to seek the help of experts as managing a hazardous HR issue, updating technology, and media relations can all lead to problems for your business if not handled correctly.

If you are uncertain about outsourcing, but know you do not have the staff or knowledge to do all of your HR or PR in-house, you could start by considering outsourcing certain parts. Whatever you decide is the right thing for you and your business; it won’t harm to consult an experienced practitioner about the best course of action. 

-Katie Bellingham is the Non-executive Director of Gem PR & Media Limited, Guernsey. She is also the co-founder and co-director of HR and business consultancy, The Focus Group. Katie excels at problem solving, within small businesses, independent organizations and large corporations. Her key skill is in business sustainability; advising on marketing strategies, employee incentive plans, resourcing needs and finance. Visit focushrs.com for Katie’s full bio.