Claire Kerr

Marketing Consultant

My nameClaire is a qualified marketing consultant, based in South Croydon, who works with B2B companies across the UK. She is an honours graduate, holds a diploma in marketing (DipM) and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (MCIM). Self-employed and with more than 20 years' marketing experience, she can offer a blue-chip pedigree, but at a small company price. This typically suits companies that have a turnover of more than £1m, but which don't have an internal marketing resource.  Her marketing services include: marketing strategy and planning, social media marketing, content marketing, blog writing, direct and email marketing, Wordpress and HTML/CSS website development, PR, market research, copywriting and design and literature production.

For smaller companies, the self-employed, freelancers and those looking to learn more about marketing, she runs one-day marketing courses in Croydon.

Profile

Claire Kerr provides a full range of marketing communications services via her B2B marketing consultancy, Kerrmunications, which she established in 2004.

For UK companies with a turnover in excess of £1m, Claire can bring big agency expertise at competitive prices. She delivers effective marketing communications that can help increase awareness, attract clients, engage with the target market, launch products and build market share.

Claire's services include:

  • marketing strategy and planning
  • social media marketing
  • blog writing
  • content marketing
  • direct and email marketing
  • Wordpress websites
  • copywriting - for literature, for email campaigns and for the web/SEO
  • PR
  • research
  • advertising
  • design and literature production

From creating a complete marketing plan, to advising on social media presence or writing copy for a blog, website or new brochure, Claire always provides expert advice and a professional service. She is based in South Croydon, in Surrey, but serves clients right across London and the Home Counties – and further afield if a company is happy to deal by email, phone and Skype. Whatever the company size, whatever the objectives, and whatever the budget, businesses will benefit from an integrated marketing solution that will help achieve its business goals.

For smaller companies - self-employed business people, entrepreneurs and micro business owners - she runs one-day marketing training courses that teach them how to do their own marketing.

 

Education

The Chartered Institute of Marketing

Diploma in Marketing (DipM) and MCIM designation, June 1991

The University of Kent at Canterbury

BA (Hons) in Politics & Government, 1985-1988

Clients

Claire's current and recent marketing clients include:

 

Current

  • Mezzo - provider of in-flight entertainment services to travel operators
  • Margolis Business Systems - providers of solution-based technology for print and document management
  • DE Photo - the UK and Ireland’s largest school, sport and events photography company

Recent

  • Cosaveli - cycling club and organiser of the Trois Etapes pro-am cycling event
  • Gamar - a fun, location-based, social gaming platform, due for launch in Spring 2012
  • Kip FX Design - a web and graphic design agency, specialising in Wordpress and social media
  • Write My Site - digital content agency, providing copy for blogs, websites and social media
  • GGP Systems - provider of GIS and gazetteer management software for UK public sector organisations
  • HQ2 Business Interiors - a full-service interiors company that helps businesses to transform their premises
  • Self Energy - an energy services company that provides renewable and sustainable energy services
  • Desk Success - a specialist IT help desk and service desk consultancy

Previous Employment

Corporate Communications Manager

EMCOR Drake & Scull Group plc

  • Period: May - October 2003
  • Job type: Fixed term contract

A return to a role held the year before, in order to fill a personnel gap. See below for responsibilities.

Marketing Communications Manager

RSM Robson Rhodes LLP

  • Period: December 2002 - May 2003
  • Job type: Fixed term contract

A three-month contract, extended to six, to provide additional resource to the National Marketing Director during a period of restructure. (In 2007, RSM Robson Rhodes merged with, and is now known as, Grant Thornton).

Account Director

Montgomery-Baird Communciations

  • Period: August - November 2002
  • Job type: Fixed term contract

Small business-to-business PR agency serving media and new media clients. A senior role to cover a staff absence, reporting to the proprietor / Managing Director. Overseeing campaigns for five clients, including several high profile internet brands, such as Freeserve and Kelkoo. Specific responsibilities included proposal writing, project planning and management, and strategic counsel, as well as day-to-day activities such as writing, media relations and client reporting.

Corporate Communications Manager

EMCOR Drake & Scull Group plc

  • Period: August 2001 - July 2002
  • Job type: Fixed term contract

Business-to-business marketing communications in the construction, engineering and facilities services sectors. Reporting to the Corporate Communications Director and part of a team that was brought in specifically to deliver a corporate rebranding programme. Responsibilities included:

  • PR - press conference launching the change, research and preparation of a PR plan to take effect subsequent to the rebranding, managing ongoing media relations activities, PR pitch process, selecting new agency, management of agency
  • communications - editorial control of two publications for both internal and external audiences, general internal communications, external communications
  • event management - arranging internal annual Group conference
  • rebranding - developing and launching new brand guidelines, ensuring that all communications company-wide conform to the new brand by reprinting literature, amending website and intranet, changing signage, promotional items, uniforms and vehicle livery

Marketing Manager

Proteus the Internet Consultancy

  • Period: June 1999 - July 2001
  • Job type: Permanent

Business-to-business internet consultancy services, targeting blue-chip corporates. Budget-holding role, heading the marketing function, with one report. Responsible to the MD, and part of the company's management team. Responsibilities included:

  • strategy and planning
  • budgeting and financial control
  • advertising/branding
  • PR
  • direct marketing
  • website management
  • internal communications
  • literature
  • reporting

Achievements:
Built the marketing function from scratch; built awareness of the company and its services via an aggressive PR and media relations campaign; raised the profile of various company spokespeople and established the Managing Director as an industry expert; devised and implemented the company's brand values; helped the company grow from 5 employees to 32 and from £300K turnover to £4m in less than two years.

Marketing Consultant

CMG UK Ltd.

  • Period: September 1998 - April 1999
  • Job type: Permanent

 

Marketing Communications Specialist

Cable & Wireless Communications plc

  • Period: April 1998 - September 1998
  • Job type: Permanent (but made redundant on second working day!)

 

Marketing Communications Executive

Ricoh UK Ltd.

  • Period: June 1994 - November 1997
  • Job type: Permanent

 

Senior Marketing Executive

Canon (UK) Ltd.

  • Period: August 1988 - June 1994
  • Job type: Permanent

 

Claire Kerr © 2001-2012