Media experts help form Switch On To Swindon communication strategy

Local media representatives, journalists and online bloggers are helping shape the aims and objectives of a special network which is striving to put Swindon on the map - positively!

The Switch On To Swindon (SOTS) business ambassador network, now in its third year, is currently refreshing its strategy and used the expertise of the town’s local media and PR professionals to develop its forthcoming communications plan at a recent workshop in Swindon’s Carriage Works.

The SOTS network, which has grown to over 850 ambassadors, was created to harness the positive attitude of the local community and the Switch On To Swindon brand is now synonymous with local civic pride. Swindon has a strong and varied business cluster and the ambassadors work together to talk up the town.

The refreshed Switch On To Swindon vision is: Business Ambassadors working together to promote Swindon as a thriving community in which to live, work and invest.

The core values behind messaging and activity are: Ambition; Community; Honesty; Innovation; Positivity.

Three key aims were also agreed by the Switch On To Swindon Board including:

• Live: To promote the positive perception of Swindon as an ambitious growing town of the future to internal and external audiences.
• Work:  To inspire and support the development of talented people to enable growth and innovation.
• Invest: To work with partners to attract inward investment to grow the economy.

Over the coming months, a number of themes will support these three aims featuring business and ambassador case studies; press releases and editorials; social media and online content.

Switch On To Swindon Chair, Jenny Groves, said: “After we launched the TechSwindon campaign at the hugely successful Switch On To Swindon event at Nationwide Building Society in June, the Board has been working on refreshing and defining its core values and themes for the year ahead.

“With Ambassador numbers now over 850 and an even greater need for the business community to pull together and promote Swindon’s strengths to the outside world this was the right time to reflect on what has worked well and challenges and opportunities ahead.

“The media and online bloggers workshop was extremely insightful and strengthened our resolve to challenge perceptions and promote some of the fantastic qualities of Swindon, which have attracted companies and people from all over the world.

“Although the Borough has its challenges (like every other town and city), Swindon’s resilience and community spirit is one of its greatest assets and we look forward to working together for another year. ”

Liz Hutchings, of Total Guide to...Swindon was one of the media professionals involved with the plan. 

She said: "It's important for those of us who have a platform to help share the word about how fantastic Swindon is as a place to live, work and invest. It's the second most economically active place in the South West after Bristol and it's the economic hub of Wiltshire. We want others to see Swindon as we see it."

Another attendee was our business reporter and local PR specialist Fiona Scott. 

She said: "I'm proud to be part of this and want to encourage people to each take small steps to change the perception of Swindon. One person's positive message can travel a long way in today's world. We are a diverse, thriving and interesting community - not perfect by any means - yet wonderful too. Let's talk about those things and people who inspire us on our doorstep."

Rachael Booth, of Total Guide to also shared a comment saying: "Wonderful to see so many media and marketing professionals come together to support Switch On to Swindon as it's a wonderful place to live and work."