Did someone say the C word?

According to BBC Radio 1, November 1 is the time when Christmas really kicks off. With the merry tones of Mariah blasting out across the office on said day, we decided it was time to join in the spirit and begin planning for silly season.

So, with our merry drummers drumming, here is a little list of our 5 GOLD RINGS THINGS to do in the lead up to Christmas. Whether you’ve been naughty or nice, our little list includes a small selection of all that is on offer just a stone's throw from our Calvermont HQ, in the centre of the lovely Royal Tunbridge Wells.

Local clients, we hope we’ll see you there. And those further afield, perhaps we can tempt you over here? After all, if you can’t say it at Christmas, when can you?

1. Hurling into our top spot at high speed is Bavarian Curling. Where better to get in the winter spirit than on the local ice rink surrounded by festive stalls aplenty. Returning to Tunbridge Wells for its twelfth consecutive year, the Twelfth Night connection isn’t lost on us either…!

2. Get your skates on quick, as our next choice is already underway. One Warwick Park has been hosting a series of artisan gift markets which are a treasure trove of crafty products. With just one market still to go on November 20th , make sure you don’t miss out.

3. To further fill that stocking (kids we’re talking about Santa here), then head to the wonderful Wealden Times Midwinter Fair at the Hop Farm anytime between November 17th-19th. The South-East’s largest shopping event, this year there are an incredible 260 businesses taking part so an amazing opportunity to support them.

4. Talking of the kids, Trinity Theatre has a brilliant programme of productions for all of the family. Laugh your Christmas stockings off (sorry) at The Aliens who Saved Christmas, or enjoy a classic Christmas movie brought to life at Miracle on 34th Street.

5. To create your very own classic Christmas space at home too, then head to a festive wreath and candle making workshop with The Outdoor Candle Company. Bring home a fabulous wreath for your door and discover ways to add atmosphere with seasonal candle scents too.

Are you a local business with something fun planned for Christmas? If so, get in touch and we'll give you a Christmas discount if you're local, for any piece of media coverage we place for you, and for no charge at all, send us your stories and we’ll share them across our @calvermontsocial Instagram feed.

Merry Christmas one and all.

Word of mouth can be brilliant, but it can also sometimes bite

At Calvermont we spend a great deal of our time advising our clients on how best to engage with audiences. Whether it be community, media, partners or stakeholders - every. single. word. is. important. 

Our conversations and the way we talk about something shape our relationships, our understanding and our emotive response. The more someone knows, the less they are likely to get wrong. The less someone knows, the more they are likely to fill the void with misinformation. ‘Chinese whispers’ are real and sometimes they can bite.

Whilst a misinformed group or individual can become your biggest challenger, those informed can become your most powerful supporters. And this is where we at Calvermont have our sweet spot. 

We help our clients devise and place messaging across media and groups to boost recognition, reputation and support. We can do this even when there is a need for anonymity, as there was on a project recently…

…Due to the sensitivity of a protected site our client opted to remain private, but still wanted to reassure interested and invested parties. We stepped in on their behalf to ensure all information heard was accurate, placing ourselves as interim point of contact and achieving positive feature coverage and community support for the important site news.

That said, usually our clients are happy to front activity - which in most situations is our recommendation - to build personality and trust. In this scenario we regularly provide media training and lead community engagement activities to ensure our clients put their best foot forward in any interview situation, as well as everyday conversations too.

Get in touch for any messaging, crisis or PR management support at studio@calvermont.com

Entering the world of the Elizabeth line (Crossrail)…

Earlier this year we were approached by the multi-disciplinary design consultancy, Maynard Design Group, to support with communications and video for the announcement of their merger with TDC (Transport Design Consultancy).

This announcement marked Calvermont’s first major venture into the transport and railway industry, having worked with architects and designers on many placemaking and infrastructure projects previously. Coverage was secured with national press as well as placed in international media and key industry titles while the film continues to be streamed across the company's social channels.

Most recently we have worked with Maynard Design to promote their involvement in the Elizabeth line (Crossrail) as part of the core C100 design team leading on the wayfinding and some of the products along the line such totems and lighting, and were influential in the overall design of the underground tunnels.

Coverage was secured in national infrastructure, design and architecture press, with further opportunities coming up such as features in Monocle and Les Echos, and Managing Director Julian Maynard being a guest on The Urbanist Podcast to name a few.

Calvermont are proud to have a client who was so crucial in the success of the Elizabeth line. It has been great to see the initial designs come to life, having leafed through the original sketch books to seeing the real thing on the official opening day to the public. But nothing beats witnessing the passion from the team that worked on it since 2009. It is fascinating to understand the intricate crafting that went into every single detail, and why certain materials, design elements were used, and the eventual finish and desired effect they had in terms of customer experience.

With the former head of architecture Julian Robinson joining the team and another of their high profile wayfinding projects - Wimbledon Championships - making headlines over the next two weeks, we will be busy with plenty of content and that's not including the Australian & New Zealand studios who we look forward to meeting soon... watch this space...

A barking mad April Fools - Calvermont recruits first canine client

As many of you may have seen on April 1st, Calvermont added a new client to our books…Pip the Golden Retriever, as he made his much-anticipated debut onto West Kent Radio.

However, it was in fact an extravagant April Fools thought up by the Calvermont team, along with Nigel at West Kent Radio and Pip’s owner Brian. But that didn’t stop many getting involved and sending in music requests for Pip’s Golden Hour on the radio.

The announcement post, which was shared on Instagram and Twitter, received praise both locally as well as internationally, with song requests being sent in from across the globe, including Twitter users from Australia and the Americas.

In total across all social platforms involved, the posts received close to 1000 likes, as well over 70 retweets and shares, and over 35 requests for songs during the hour Pip was on air.   

It’s safe to say, Pip’s radio show was a great success, and it was a fun and imaginative way to celebrate April Fools with the locals of Tunbridge Wells – now to start planning for next year!

A record press coverage day for Calvermont

Can you believe it’s nearly Christmas? October flew by here at Calvermont, and as well as experiencing the colder weather, we also experienced a record coverage day following the Chancellor's Autumn Budget announcement.

Our client Cluttons, a strategic property consultancy based in London, Oxford and Manchester, has experts across all real estate services, who watched the Budget with anticipation, waiting to provide their verdict on anything real estate-related.

Partners Raoul Veevers, Darren Zitren, Ryan Jones, Mike Hampton–Riddington, John Gravett and Ian Paton all had some insightful comments forecasting the impact of the budget on business rates, climate change, planning and connectivity.

It was a very hectic but successful day, with Cluttons’ comments being featured widely across national, business and property publications. Comments featured in The Evening Standard, the Daily Mail (three times!), Property Week, Yahoo, and sustainability title Edie, amongst many more. Safe to say, Cluttons were extremely happy with the coverage which had a combined reach of over 80million.

At the same time as the budget mayhem, we also placed a key appointment piece for our client Lateral Investment Management across the key property trades, making it an all-round success, and negotiated some corporate profile opportunities for the Government Property Agency.

We celebrated with a glass of wine (or three) in our local - The Barn!

When the social media world stopped - the detox we didn't know we needed.

The majority of the social media world came to a halt on Monday with Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp all down, causing panic for many social media managers and digital marketing professionals across the globe.    

Nowadays, social media is the main way you drive and advertise your business, whether a large corporate or a small local enterprise.  

A significant amount of us also uses social media outside of work, with most people documenting what they get up to at the weekend, who they have bumped into, or a new bar or restaurant they have tried out. It is a way for many of us to keep tabs on friends and family, without having to make active contact.   

Our brains have been rewired to check notifications first thing in the morning or whenever we have a pocket of free time, and a lot of us (myself included) spending a significant amount of time scrolling through our feeds aimlessly, without really engaging our brains.  

The danger of social media that has come to light in recent years is that it can paint a fake or rose-tinted view of the world, with many only posting about the best parts of their life online, leading many of us to unhealthily compare or not recognise the often more complicated reality behind the smokescreen.  

The black out of some of the main social platforms allowed a lot of us to switch off from that world. Rather than WhatsApp-ing our family and friends, we had to pick up the phone and speak to them. Rather than seeing what other people were up to that evening, we could focus on what we wanted to do, without any need of consolidating our activities by putting up an Instagram story.   

It forced us to completely switch up our daily routines that we didn’t even know we had, and to also change our mindset from having to show others what we were up to, to just enjoying what we are doing in the moment.   

There have been many benefits cited from having regular detoxes from social media, including improved self-esteem, reduction in anxiety, conquering your fear of FOMO (fear of missing out) and much more.   

This sudden absence of the social channels has reminded a number of us to have a break occasionally, in order to reconnect and regroup, and rediscover what really makes us tick.   

Social media is a key part of many of our lives and shows no sign of slowing down. With more and more things becoming digital and the platforms only getting bigger, we can take back some control for ourselves by having a digital detox and going back to basics every once in a while.   

Now...I'm off for a sea swim. 

Calvermont goes Carbon Neutral and relocates to Royal Tunbridge Wells town centre

After an extremely busy couple of weeks, and along with the recent expansion of our team and list of clients, Calvermont has moved into a new office in the centre of Tunbridge Wells. This is as part of our wider commitment to go Carbon Neutral, in an aim to reduce our Carbon footprint and make a positive impact on both our local environment and community .  

Encouraging statistics released by Carbon Brief, states that the UK is now halfway to meeting its target of “net-zero” emissions by 2050. Using the BEE, Brand Emissions Estimator, with Climate Neutral, we are taking responsibility for our personal carbon emissions as part of a continued effort to reduce them over time.    

For us, business is more than just retaining an income, and we strive to make a positive impact on both a personal and a local level. Both living and working in Tunbridge Wells, we feel it is our responsibility to make wiser and more environmentally friendly choices and decisions.   

In recent years, the environment has increasingly become a priority for many, and as we are all learning, small changes in our lifestyle can make a big impact.  

The central location of our new office means that we can now walk to work rather than traveling by car. Furthermore, if we are travelling elsewhere, there are plenty of available bus links and a short walk to the train station, further reducing the need to use our cars to travel. 

In 2019, carbon emissions of UK transport equated to 27%, with 91% of road vehicles making up the majority of this percentage. By changing the way we travel to work, it is one of the most effective ways to ensure the reduction of our carbon emissions as individuals and as a company.   

Additionally, with all the environmental positives of alternative ways to travel to work, there are increased mental and physical benefits too. It enables us to exercise and actively encourages us to get out of the house and enjoy the outdoors. This positive environmental and lifestyle change will both help improve our mental health and well as our physical health.  

One of the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic that benefitted the environment was hybrid working. Working at home was made a necessity and became more accessible. With many now able to go back into offices, a lot of individuals are choosing to split their time between working at home and in the office. Again, this is reducing the need to travel to work, and also allowing individuals to spend more time to juggle other commitments, such as family life and child-care. Calvermont have enabled this type of flexible working for our employees, in another effort to reduce our carbon footprint and enhance employee wellbeing.

Calvermont are proud to be consciously making changes and decisions that will positively impact the environment, as well as our wellbeing and lifestyle.  

Calvermont expands with new team member, as well as significant local and national clients

It’s a positive and exciting time here at Calvermont, as we welcome new clients and expand our core team. Due to the rapid growth of business in the last year, we are pleased to announce a new addition. Recent graduate, Eve Foster joins as PR & Marketing Executive, to support both myself and Laura Gibson, as well as our team of creatives. 

As a Tunbridge Wells local herself and with prior experience in content writing and social media, Eve has a strong knowledge of the local businesses in the surrounding area, alongside property interiors and design experience. 

Eve says: “When I saw that Calvermont were hiring, I applied almost immediately. For a long time, I have admired Calvermont and the presence they have both in and out of Tunbridge Wells. I feel confident that under Olivia and Laura’s direction I will learn a great deal, particularly whilst being exposed to so many different industries and areas in PR and marketing.”  

With a large and diverse client base both locally and in London, Calvermont has significant cross-sector experience, with a focus upon property, destination and community. 

Our local clients include Hospice in the Weald, a charity providing free care to those with life limiting illnesses across Kent and Sussex, and Turkey Mill, a heritage business destination with flexible modern offices in an idyllic yet accessible location.  

In London, we have recently helped launched Lateral, an investment manager bucking the trend with modern, sustainable and ready to work office spaces; and during lockdown welcomed new client Cluttons, to drive awareness of their residential and commercial properties across the country.  

Calvermont has also been providing marketing strategy, brand positioning and communications leadership for Government Property Agency (GPA). The GPA is responsible for delivering the Government’s national property agenda, so an exciting win for our Tunbridge Wells team who are now signed up to progress with activity for the next 12 months too. 

Laura Gibson, fellow director at Calvermont, said: "During lockdown we were able to put in place our business growth strategy, welcoming a number of clients such as the Government Property Agency, Cluttons, Lateral and Hospice in the Weald, amongst others. Eve's appointment is key to supporting the leadership team in delivering for our clients, using her skills in content-writing, marketing and social media together with her experience in property and design.  

"As more companies revaluate their in-house resource and working practices post Covid, our growing team at Calvermont is well-placed to support. We work as an extension of existing teams to devise and implement powerful brand marketing and PR strategies, particularly in the property, destination and charity fields where we have significant experience and results." 

May 19th is finally here & so many places to celebrate in Tunbridge Wells!

We are extremely excited about our fave indoor eateries and drinking spots all being open once more.
Here's our guide to some of our Tunbridge Wells favourites, so see if you agree and tell us who else should be on the list!

For a business lunch:

The Ivy, High Street

Steak restaurant, Chapel Place

Framptons, Pantiles

Esquires, Mount Pleasant

For a great glass of wine or cocktail:

Geography, High Street

Common Rooms, Mount Ephraim

The Wine rooms, Pantiles

Chapel Place Wine & Gin

For a post-work wind-down:

The Warehouse, Warwick Park

Sussex Arms, Pantiles

Prince of Wales, Camden Road

The Grove Tavern, Berkeley Road

For a fun night out:

Sopranos, High Street

Town House, Calverley Road

White Bear, High Street

Mount Edgcombe, Mount Ephraim

For a special occasion:

Vittel and Swig, Camden Road

Thackerays, London Road

The Warren, High Street

Sankeys Old Fishmarket, The Pantiles

The Lyle, Forest Road

For some good old pub grub:

The Compasses, Little Mount Sion

The Barn, Lonsdale Gardens

The Claremont, Grove Hill Road

For exotic flavours:

Kai's Kitchen, Mount Pleasant Road

Sucheera, Calverley Road

La Casa Vecchia, Pantiles

Bengal Brasserie, Vale Road

Argentinian Grill, Central Market, RVP

For live music:

Tunbridge Wells Hotel or Kirthon for Jazz on the Pantiles every Thursday until the Autumn

The Bedford, Vale Road on Saturday nights

The Royal Oak, Prospect Road for Sunday Sessions

The Forum, London Road has its first listings again from 31 May

…and of course festivals return - Pub in The Park, Local & Live, TW Fringe

For brunch:

The Ivy Brasserie, High Street

Juliet's Cafe, High Street

The Black Dog, Camden Road

Gails, High Street

For a chilled coffee and cake:

Basil, Lime Hill Road

Esquires, Mount Pleasant

The Cake Shed, Pantiles

Hollie's Little Cakery, Pantiles

For a family feast:

Creams, Good Station Road

Pizza Express, High Street

Estro, Mount Pleasant

Bills, Lime Hill Road

For baby-friendly refreshments:

babycino, Chapel Place

The Inside, Calverley Park

Dunorlan Park cafe

Gusta, Royal Victoria Place

For health and wellbeing:

Coco Blush, One Warwick Park, Chapel Place

The Spa Hotel, Langton Road

Champneys Retreat, High Street

Beauté, The Pantiles

For family and friends to stay:

Tunbridge Wells Hotel, Pantiles

One Warwick Park, ChapelPlace

Hotel du Vin, Church Road

Whatever you want to do you can do it in Tunbridge Wells

#gladtohaveyouback

#lovewhereyoulive

#welcomebacktw

It is Dying Matters Awareness Week, so lets talk about Hospice in the Weald

TODAY is the first day of ‘Dying Matters Awareness Week’, so we felt it was the right time to mention the outstanding work of our charity client hero, Hospice in the Weald.

Hospice in the Weald provides care completely free of charge to patients with terminal illness, their families and carers in West Kent and Northern East Sussex.

We first got to know the team in January 2021, when we were appointed to help promote the 'Right Now!' campaign to help relieve NHS bed-pressure created by the Pandemic and let locals know that they didn’t need to die alone in visitor restricted hospital.

Our campaign featured across BBC, KMTV and our key local papers, and we heard from a huge number who got in touch to let us know how they had personally touched or supported by the charity. The free care the dedicated team provide to our local community members at the end of their lives has an invaluable impact, not simply through access to medical support, but also in terms of mental wellbeing for all involved.

Funded predominantly by donations, Hospice in the Weald has been able to remain open throughout the pandemic and has helped over 1685 patients, alongside their friends, family and support networks, thanks to the tireless efforts of the team. It has been one of the only places in the UK where, despite Covid-19 restrictions, people have been able to see out their final days in quality accommodation, free of charge and surrounded by loved ones until the end. The difference this has made, and continues to make, to each and every patients and the families they leave behind is immeasurable.

Coupled with our love for the Hospice and everything they do, our Director Laura Gibson has her own story…

“Five years ago I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, an auto immune disease. It hurt to even walk. I went on a journey with various medications before finding one that worked and now, all this time later, I am regularly running long distances thanks to brilliant doctors and a bit of perseverance! When Team Hospice mentioned the London Landmarks Half Marathon 2021, it seemed the ideal opportunity to marry this new found strength with fundraising for an amazing cause. Like many, I have lost loved ones through the course of the pandemic and haven't been able to say goodbye in person and that is something that will stay with me forever. So I am running this for all those people lost, the people they've left behind and hoping to help the Hospice reduce such experiences for the future through donations and raising awareness of what they do.”

• If you want to donate, click here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/lauravgibson

• If you want to learn more about the Hospice visit:https://www.hospiceintheweald.org.uk/

• If you have a relative or loved one that the Hospice may be able to support, get in touch directly on: 01892 820500

God bless.

There's a buzz of excitement in the Royal Tunbridge Wells air

When Calvermont and DigiTom went around town to film retailers and restaurants preparing to reopen, we were expecting to stage shots of excitement and preparations for a town promo, it being two weeks in advance of reopening.

We didn't need to. There was a genuine buzz and a hustle bustle with the countdown to a significant reopening palpable. From Brittens Music treating us to a tinkle on the ivories to The Art Hub lining up the wonderful colourful pictures hanging in the gallery, smiles were abundant beneath the facemasks and excitement was in the air all around us.

The last year has been tough on all high streets, that's for sure, but what's been great about Royal Tunbridge Wells is the support of the neighbourhood for our own local people and that has kept businesses' energy up and trade ticking over.

With over 50% of Tunbridge Wells retailers and restaurants independent, the characters behind the businesses are known and loved by many while also attracting shoppers from miles around and, talking to them during the filming, it's clear how important this reopening is to them, and to our beloved town.

The stories of support during the pandemic have underpinned this 'together' culture. Retailers banded together to offer delivery services while non-essential shops were closed; the community continued to promote their favourite outlets on social and Tunbridge Wells Together, the town's BID, has worked tirelessly to promote all businesses throughout lockdown.

Of course Tunbridge Wells is lucky in many ways - other than the scores of independents, we have character in abundance from the quirky and edgy Camden Road to the diverse and characterful outlets on Monson Road, the newly decorated Royal Victoria Place, the mix of brand and local on Mount Pleasant, the retail mixed with views on Mount Ephraim, the cobbled walkways on the High Street and Chapel Place and, of course, the Pantiles and all in between offer a real plethora of options for eat, shop and play. And, while it is still a month until hospitality can get properly back into gear, those restaurants that can, have worked their socks off to get al fresco ready for this week's next steps out of lockdown.

Beer gardens are booked up, restaurants have heat lamps and blankets in abundance and retailers are smiling. Let's make this week a good one and continue to #supportlocal. Tunbridge Wells is springing back and I, for one, can't wait.

Why NOW is the time to invest in your brand

It's been a tough year for pretty much every business going. Healthcare and construction aside, the majority of us have had to learn to work remotely, rely on technology, adapt to contracts being put on hold and accept that workers/contractors/suppliers and clients are not available like they used to be.

But out of that challenge has come opportunity and there has never been a better time to adapt, reimagine and reposition your business. And that means your brand.

A brand is not a logo, nor a strap line. It is the feeling and perception that all stakeholders have in association with your company. It requires cultivation and care, research and analysis, understanding of all stakeholders and drivers, precise strategies and careful implementation. 

As many of us wait eagerly for the various dates in April, May, June to start the roadmap to normality post-pandemic, the window is closing to make a real impact to your brand, your business and its goals with this 'new world' in mind.

What have we learned?

• Brand loyalty has increased for those that have communicated transparently, provided insight and intelligence for customers, and thought creatively about what their customers want - even if they cannot be physically present. This needs harnessing in the long-term.

• Flexibility is key. The value proposition of a brand or service needs to retain the power to adapt.

• Covid has accelerated changes, rather than necessarily created new ones. Those that have already invested in digital, wellbeing and connectivity will win, and those that haven't, should do and fast.

• Local engagement, communication and support has never been more important.

• Clear communication of messages and services are key. 

• Tone of voice is especially important. Now is not the time to be tone deaf to the major issues and concerns of businesses and the wider public.

What should businesses look to take forward?

• Now is the perfect time to take stock and implement change if you haven't done so already.

• Brands need to be clear, consistent and speak directly to heir target audience.

• Investment in brand in the short-term will pay off in the long-term.

• Take advice on tone of voice and the issues to be seen to stand for.

• Don't do anything half-heartedly - commit to an agenda and ensure it runs through all messaging, internal communications and activities.

• Engage with your audience proactively and responsibly - if you cannot interact physically with employees and customers, devise and implement a plan that will reach them and maintain their interest and engagement.

We work with businesses to gain a thorough understanding of ambition, targets and hurdles. We analyse perceptions and consider audience drivers, challenging and re-defining USPs to drive opportunity and results.

We deliver innovative brands that engage, inspire and last well into the future. We work fast and smart to ensure business change is effective and timing is optimised.

Think we can help you? Get in touch.

A pandemic positive: the home office from home

Despite driving us all slightly bonkers (home schoolers, we hear you) the pandemic is likely to have at least one positive lasting impact...the ability to work more flexibly.

With most unable to travel to offices over the last year, new systems have been put in place which are allowing us to work remotely and with greater flexibility. And this shift is expected to remain, at least to some extent, post lock-down - with companies adopting a more fluid workforce and global corporates shifting towards a hybrid network and flexible leases.

Here in Tunbridge Wells, we have been working with key influencers, businesses and politicians to ensure the town is ready to welcome this larger workforce, with the quality and amenities available for real success. You can see some of what we've been up to here at our new site www.tunbridgewells.works, a portal for all those looking to embrace the change with new work space in the town. A home office from home if you like, for all local workers ready to say goodbye to the 5 day commute.

One of the key drivers behind this campaign is Ross Feeney, CEO of Royal Tunbridge Wells Together. We recently set-up an interview for him with the areas leading paper @Timeslocalnews to talk more about the situation. In case you missed it, you can read it here...

Why post-pandemic the entire business community needs to reevaluate what's important

15th February 2021

Here, Ross Feeney, CEO of Tunbridge Wells Together, talks of the post pandemic business opportunities available to the town.

We've all been separated from our loved ones for almost a year, give or take the odd socially distanced walk. Post-pandemic, most of us will be reunited, but unfortunately the same cannot be as easily said for all UK firms. 

As CEO of Tunbridge Wells Together, the BID for the town's local businesses, I believe we must stay positive and resilient.

Tunbridge Wells, as a town, has more chances than most to return swiftly to business. Despite national retail and hospitality concerns, I have faith that we can ride this out and demonstrate the resilience that has made Tunbridge Wells one of the longest success stories in the UK.

We are home to a unique mix of heritage and modernity, open spaces and wellness, independents and corporates. Home to thriving financial, creative and professional service industries, supported by a vibrant community. Home to one of the country's best talent pools, accelerated by the area's superlative educational facilities and transport links. Home to an in demand property market, where former commuters look to live, work and play local.

Now is the opportunity to capitalise on the infrastructure already in place here in Tunbridge Wells. We have a lower than average empty retail ratio but we believe this can be converted to office space or flexible hot-desks, which can support the thousands of small local businesses set up pre, during and no doubt post-pandemic.

We firmly believe, that we can attract corporates who are realising they need more satellite space outside of London, because what matters now is proximity to family, friends and mental wellbeing. We also have a huge amount of London commuters already here - some of the best in finance, property, insurance and science, to name just a few sectors.

With corporates like KPMG and Baker McKenzie shedding London space, we want Tunbridge Wells to be the top pick. It's taken a global pandemic for some to realise that wellbeing and locality is key to productivity. Well we are here, ready and waiting, to supply the best that work and life have to offer.

Joining up with Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and Locate In Kent, we have launched the #TWWorks campaign which aims to attract corporates to the town. We are inviting developers to build London-standard flexible office space and reassuring commuters and local businesses that they can work locally with the right support and space, outside of, but close to, the family home.

Many corporates in TW are already fully behind us and we want others to be too. Join AXA Health, Cripps Pemberton Greenish, Childrensalon, Dandara, Logistics UK, Markerstudy, Southpaw and Thomson Snell & Passmore to help us elevate Tunbridge Wells as a brilliant business destination, ripe for all those companies looking to put their talent and their families first, because in 2021 this will be the key to productivity and long term success.

If you have any thoughts on this subject, or would like your work space or business included on the www.tunbridgewells.works website, please drop us a line.

The bits of 2020 we want to remember

While for many reasons 2020 was a write off, Calvermont has spent the January dry season attempting to remember the good parts. So, before 2021 gets fully into swing, here are the moments we would like to remember from the last 12 months:

In January we launched a new website for our client Turkey Mill, showcasing its heritage and beauty with a modern twist. This was part of a wider brand campaign which is ongoing and aimed at raising profile of the business oasis, as the best place to work in East Kent. The new website is live here

In March we worked with Studio 44 to launch the corporate website for Greymoor Homes, an exciting homebuilder in Sussex & Surrey which builds semi-rural communities for families of all sizes. At the time of go live, the company had one development launched and a few more in the pipeline. Today the company has 12 sites at various stages. We remain super excited to see where this lovely business goes. The website can be found here

In May we project managed the first totally virtual public exhibition for our client Elysian Residences, who were seeking to obtain permission for a luxury 100 apartment later living development in Berkhamsted, Herts. The exhibition included a fully immersive virtual room, with boards, a model and an online chat facility. The feedback was excellent and we learned that we had received full consent in autumn 2020. You can still see the exhibition online here

In June and July, we started seeing more and more interest in local commuters wanting to take flexible office space nearer to home and our creative brains started getting excited about the campaigns we could embark on come Autumn. We began considering new office space for Calvermont around this time too and the lovely OfficeTribe on Mt Pleasant became a temporary home on occasion. We also quietly made the most of the summer weather with our growing tribe of Gibsons and Thornhill’s - despite being in various phases of social distancing. Check out OfficeTribe's space here - they are soon to be launching new offices on The High St/London Road.

In August and September, we launched a new firm to market called Triadic Labs, an innovative tech company that was focussing on delivering supercharged property viewings through its fully immersive platform that can be whitelabelled per development and experienced by prospective purchasers from the comfort of their own home. Working with the likes of Berkeley Group, the technology has received rave reviews with its real-time customisable feature and has elevated the sales strategy for off-plan property. Check out the showreel here - we predict big things for this company in 2021 and can't wait to support them on their mission to become the go to tech for house builders and architects.

In October we project managed a new film for Turkey Mill to showcase its beauty and to maximise the trend of small businesses and big corporates looking for smaller space outside of London. We had such fun filming and directing the showreel with one of our creative partners Zoomfilms. See what you think of the final version here This was also the month we re-welcomed Olivia back from maternity leave with the youngest Calvermont mascot Rex Marlo.

November was perhaps our favourite month of the year as we took our first proper office space at Town Court Farm, just off Bayham Road. We are delighted to share the business area with other talented local creatives, such as Jo Harris of Art by The Yard and Lucy Ames artist and marketing consultant. We also had several new projects on and kicked-off production of the new online Christmas shopping guide for Tunbridge Wells Together (the BID). The final version is available to view here , produced in partnership with fellow local creatives Studio 44, Ro&Co and David Hodgkinson. The website still includes links to buy online for all retailers, which has remained key in lockdown 2, 3, 4…(!)

In December, we supported the BID’s bigger-than-ever Christmas light switch-on and launched an important #TWWorks campaign to bring big corporates to Tunbridge Wells; alluring developers to create more office space, supporting local businesses, creating a wider talent pool of TW’s workers and driving footfall to the high street. Working in partnership with William Benson, chief executive of TWBC and Locate in Kent, we were lucky to have access to a number of brilliant local businesses such as Cripps Pemberton Greenish, Thomas Snell & Passmore, Southpaw, Logistics UK (formerly Freight Transport Association) to name a few. We also enjoyed more time with established friends Dandara, Childrensalon and Markerstudy. This campaign is still at its beginning and will run through 2021, but if you want to get involved, have a story to tell, or can take our survey visit www.tunbridgewells.works or get it touch.

Despite the pandemic gloom and an unusually quiet Christmas (bar the kids…), December did bring us some positive new client instructions which we are already busy working on. We look forward to telling you more soon…

Happy new year everyone x

Christmas is coming

WE WON’T LET LOCKDOWN LESSEN YOUR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING EXPERIENCE

We are once again working with the BID of Tunbridge Wells to help support retailers in the run up to Christmas, but this year, there is a slightly subdued atmosphere due to the global pandemic and the unwelcome arrival of lockdown number 2.

When discussing how best to help retailers at this unusual time, we decided to steer away from delivering printed Christmas brochures to the doorsteps of those who may be shielding. Instead we decided to create an online Christmas Guide which viewers could safely browse from the comfort of their own homes.

While the doors of some of our favourites remain sadly closed for now, this new site allows for some serious time to browse. But, as soon as our stores are allowed to reopen, we are encouraging everyone that can to revisit our lovely streets to buy in-store - to increase footfall and sales at this tricky time.

Browse online, shop in-store (as soon as you can)

The movement to a virtual guide has also allowed more local businesses to be involved in the set-up….welcome please Studio44 and RoAndCo for the back-end design tech and talented local photographer David Hodgkinson, who was able to capture new images for each of our brilliant shopping streets.

The new online accessibility has enabled us to include direct links to retailers websites, which further extend the viewers experience and encourages even more shopping :-).

Behind the scenes

Now the Turkey Mill movie has officially landed, we are excited to share a behind the scenes snapshot of some our work, from the other side of the camera.

Turkey Mill is a unique heritage business destination with flexible modern offices, managed by a friendly and professional team. Located just off the M20 junction 7, but surrounded by greenery, it is perfect for growing businesses or businesses that want to make the most of being out of London, with a focus on wellbeing. 

And so that's why we filmed the video now, at a time when more of us want to work locally, flexibly and in healthier environments.

We enlisted the help of Zoom Films to turn our creative brief into a short showreel which we think aptly showcases the stunning scenery and all there is on offer at this unique business oasis.

Preparation makes perfect

We knew what we wanted to showcase for Turkey Mill and so a full brief was put together to make all its best assets stand out: the river running through, the heritage buildings and features, the immaculate, landscaped gardens and the flexible modern space available. It helps having a stunning location to shoot in, but we still had to ensure all the key messages were hit.

All about the weather

While the sun normally shines at Turkey Mill when Calvermont visits, we were taking no chances and had 3 days lined up in September to ensure we picked the perfect day. We nailed it! Having arrived at 8am to get stuck into shooting early, we had brilliant light and fantastic views for the drone to capture several times over.

A new meaning for waiting for a train!

We wanted to display just how close the office destination is to transport hubs despite the acres of lush greenery and not being able to hear the trains at all. So we looked up times between Maidstone East and Bearsted and waited for the perfect shot.

Thinking outside the box on the day

There are always new and innovative ways to get that perfect shot and, despite our best efforts we couldn't fly a drone over the entrance road to Turkey Mill and it was too bumpy using the wheelie platform. Thankfully we were able to improvise and get the perfect opening sequence through the archways by driving Calvermont's soft-top with a lot of equipment balanced in the back.

Watch the fruits of our efforts here and get in touch if you want to showcase your business or want to find out more about Turkey Mill: www.turkeymill.co.uk

Ready, steady, shop

RETAIL GET READY, STEADY…& SHOP

As parents were dealt the tricky hand to decide whether to send their kids back to  schools and nurseries on Monday, England became another step closer to finding its new norm.

With some teachers creating ‘bubbled groups’ and others turning social distancing markers into creative games such as hopscotch; huge claps must go to all of these key workers trying to make the best of a bad situation, particularly in the unknown of whether or not the time is right...

As uniforms were dusted off and lunches packed, our market workers and car sales teams were also heading out the door for their first day back, paving the way for the wider retail return on 15 June. 

Having worked closely for over a year with Royal Tunbridge Wells Together, the BID delivery company that gives local business owners the power to make sustained town improvements, we have seen a little of the impact Covid-19 has had upon our local retailers, and more importantly the families behind them.

While the BID was gearing up for a sustained campaign to attract visitors and businesses, instead we were hit with empty streets, boarded-up shops and projects put on hold. The high street was struggling before, but now it is calling for emergency measures, some of which the BID is lobbying for - such as longer-term business rates reforms and wider reaching parking concessions.

In the meantime, we are thrilled our high streets are being given the chance to return and that our business owners can begin to recoup some of their losses and turbo charge the crucial period leading up to Christmas, safely and sustainably of course. To aid recovery, Royal Tunbridge Wells Together has put together a reopening kit which contains a variety of posters, floor stickers, signs and sneeze screens, which can be ordered at no cost for retailers in the area. To date, we understand that over 1600 orders have been placed.

We would encourage anyone that can to SHOP (safely and sensibly with the right distancing measures of course). As without our custom and support, there is the scary possibility of more closures and many more job losses, so let’s do everything we can to keep our high streets alive.

Come the 15 June, perhaps we can see you for an at distance wave at one of our favourites? Whether it is in and around Royal Victoria Place and Monson Road as we restock our arts and crafts supplies for the kids, down on the Pantiles as we replace home items ruined by said kids, or on the high street as we treat ourselves to something special for that next Zoom party...

Stay alert, stay safe and start shopping ;-)

Crisis: Coronavirus

We’re not scientists here at Calvermont and therefore won’t be commenting on the science behind the Government’s Coronavirus strategy <insert sigh of relief>,  but we have been watching their communications strategy(?) with interest. 

Aside from one or two 'Olivia Pope' (reference Scandal) style moments - with Boris personally fighting the virus, then having a baby boy (with matching hair) during the crisis - the delivery of information and guidance has led to some confusion amongst the nation. 

The 'stay home, protect the NHS, save lives' slogan was effective for the first few weeks, but the more recent changes have spurred cynicism at best and rule-breaking at worst. (Hairy Hackneyites, Brighton bathers, you know who you are…)

But how should a company or individual act in a crisis to maintain trust and support?

We’ve pulled together a few top tips:

• Lead by EXAMPLE: Be who you say you are and do as you want others to. (Try not to shake hands without gloves when asking others not to...)

• Be REALISTIC: Don’t over-promise or attempt to put a timescale on a crisis, as the very definition of the word crisis means it's not predictable. (PPE, testing kits, phases...)

• Be CONCISE: Explain your message carefully and with clear reason, or you risk your audience finding loopholes. With every unanswered question, more distracting questions are seeded. (Stay at home or stay alert, go to work or don’t go to work, see family or don’t see family...)

• Be CONSISTENT: Define your key messages and stick to them to help build understanding, then reiterate at all opportunities to build trust. (As above...)

• Be PERSONAL: Select just one or two key spokespeople to deliver messaging and any media briefings to build a human connection with your intended audience. (A crisis needs stability and empathy, rather than a line up of MPs who didn't quite get the top job...) 

So, hopefully that’s helpful and common sense prevails (lets face it, we need it) as we ‘stay safe, stay home, stay alert.’