8 March 2011

News on the YMP Organisation - W & G Baird trophy

The YMP organisation has just celebrated its 82 years in existence and has proved a valuable tool in developing people during that time in our industry. Over the weekend 27/28th February I attended the National Conference in Blackpool. It was a busy weekend, including a full day's training.  A group task centred around marketing, giving each group a product and they were asked to start from the ground floor upwards and produce a marketing plan. Things to consider were where and what was the potential market; how big; ROI; logo; strap line; promotional literature etc. The results were then presented to investors of the product. Finally we were given video cameras and asked to produce a one minute advertisement for the product, film it, voiceovers and edit. The results were presented at the Gala Dinner that evening.

At the dinner the South East Region were presented with the W & G Baird trophy for attracting the most new YMP members during the last year. Many thanks to all members for your efforts in helping achieve this result. We now need to get old and new members together to plan a number of events/training for 2011.

There is a visit organised to tour the production facilities at Newsfax International in Rainham on 30th March. They produce the Metro along with a number of other newspapers.  This is an opportunity to experience a huge sector and see how the newspaper industry works and the drivers for the business. There will be an opportunity for the group to meet, network and discuss the YMP programme for the future.

Please make every effort to attend, maybe bring a work colleague and make 2011 a successful and rewarding year for YMP.

Bob Davies
South Eastern Regional Director
YMP Secretary