Share our knowledge and expertise - or sign up to our newsletter below to get our top tips delivered straight to your inbox!
DEGREE Apprenticeships are helping organisations to bridge skills gaps, increase staff retention and improve productivity. Discover how these professional pathways boost the UK economy and provide candidates with an alternative route to employment.
ReadThere’s often a lot of disparity between the goals, priorities and roles of sales and marketing teams in business. Marketing are focused on building brand, maximising outreach and generating new opportunities to progress. Sales on the other hand, they need to meet goals, solve problems and close deals with the most opportune targets - with often very little time to do so!
ReadIn today’s rapidly evolving job market, the concept of apprenticeships is gaining traction among professionals of all ages. While many associate apprenticeships with young individuals starting their careers, these programmes offer invaluable opportunities for adults seeking to enhance their skills and pivot into new fields. One such professional who has embraced this opportunity is Blueberry team member Reza, who has taken on a new challenge by enrolling in a Level 3 Digital Marketing apprenticeship.
ReadThis week we had a student from a local school complete work experience with us, as part of their learning they have shared a summary of their week.
ReadUK INFLATION is rising at its fastest rate in 30 years as fuel, energy and food costs continue to soar. Read Blueberry’s blog on the rising cost of living and discover our tips on how you can manage your finances.
ReadIf your New Year’s resolutions are already a distant memory, then don’t despair. Turn that frown upside down with the help of our northern clowns.
ReadEVERYONE knows that moving house is one of the most stressful experiences of your life. How about moving home when you’re heavily pregnant? We caught up with Blueberry Director and mother-of-two Pamela Welsh about how she coped with the challenge. Now firmly settled in her cosy new abode and back to work, she reflects upon her 14 successful years at the firm and how she juggles work and family life.
ReadBRITISH businesses looking to expand their global footprint can expect a significant boost after Blueberry secured a new partnership with the Department for Business and Trade (DBT).
ReadLeeds-based business development agency, Blueberry Marketing Solutions, has experienced a 28% year-on-year growth thanks to some major client wins.
ReadWe have partnered with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Sustrans and BikeRight! to launch the new CityConnect Cycle scheme in the Leeds City Region.
ReadAs an SME in the service sector, Blueberry never contemplated that we would branch out into exports. But that’s exactly what we did. Our exporting journey began when we started dealing with international enquiries for our telemarketing services, but we’d never been intentionally chasing them. Find out what we learned along the way.
ReadWe're pleased to announce that we've published a piece on FE News in collaboration with Calderdale College regarding our joint marketing campaign to promote the Rise programme.
ReadB2B buying behaviour is becoming more complex than ever. With the rise of digital and content marketing, face-to-face sales are no longer the main method of selling, with on average 67% of a sales decision being made through online research (1). These shifts in buying behaviour mean that for businesses to be successful, they need to adapt to the changing nature of B2B sales and ensure that both sales and marketing are successfully working together.
ReadDiscover how the UK's most significant skills gap in 18 years affects industries and what businesses and educators can do to close it. Explore skills-based hiring, upskilling, and strategic partnerships to meet future workforce demands.
ReadI got the chance to get involved with British Science Week this week, so I thought I'd take the opportunity to demonstrate the positive way that science is introduced to children at an early age.
ReadWhen you think of higher education, the main picture that comes to mind are sleep-deprived students proudly waving their degree certificates at Graduation after too many late nights in the library (we’ve all been there, done that!) However - Universities all over the UK are offering so many other services and schemes aimed at small businesses.
ReadHere at Blueberry we are delighted that one of our directors, Pamela Knight, has won the Chartered Institute of Marketing Award for Top Student in Yorkshire 2015!
ReadBLUEBERRY has joined forces with Positive Footprints to deliver their award-winning personal development programmes to youngsters in Leeds. Thanks to a cash injection from the team, Rothwell Victoria Junior School pupils will participate in the Raising Aspirations scheme aimed at developing workplace skills.
ReadEMPLOYEES are your face in the marketplace. So, it makes sense to have employees who reflect the ethnic, gender and age composition of your customer base. In less than 20 years, one in four of us in the UK will be over 65. That's more than 14 million people.
ReadWe’ve had huge success with our apprenticeship scheme over the past five years – but if you’d asked us six years ago our perceptions of apprenticeships might have been very different.
ReadA small, dedicated group of researchers from Lloyds Banking Group have been working relentlessly over the last five years to put together a report into the Digital Index of businesses and charities in the UK.
ReadWhen it comes to effective sales follow up, finding that happy medium between being overly persistent and pushy, to no follow up procedure at all can be tricky for salespeople.
ReadI've joined Leeds Business School's panel of Entrepreneurs in Residence
ReadREALITY TV star Ferne McCann has called on the police to investigate shocking leaked voice recordings of her allegedly belittling a former TOWIE co-star. While it’s not been confirmed who is speaking in audio notes, which were exposed by an anonymous Instagram account, it got me thinking about data profiling, processing, and enhancement.
ReadBosses need to look after their pregnant employees. But there’s a lot more to it than offering them decaffeinated tea, seat cushions and flexible working hours. Check out our top five tips to supporting pregnant workers.
ReadWhat is legitimate interest and when can you use it for processing data?
ReadWith the recent changes in GDPR now effective, we know many small businesses are feeling overwhelmed!
ReadKIND-HEARTED businesses across Leeds pulled together to help ease the financial, physical, and mental hardship of frontline workers during the Covid-19 pandemic. A chance conversation with one of Blueberry’s valued customers led to the company’s director providing more than 30 of the region’s care homes with much-needed PPE gear. Read Faresh Maisuria’s account, in his own words, of how local businesses worked together for the greater good during unprecedented times.
ReadWe've really enjoyed having Sarah in this week to complete her work placement - we look forward to hearing where her studies take her and undoubtedly she has a bright future ahead of her!
ReadDiscover the main differences between hard and soft skills and find out why having strong soft skills can lead to greater career progression and long-term job security.
ReadEVER wondered how much it actually costs to live, work, shop and socialise in Leeds? How about in London? Find out in our Leeds versus London infographic.
ReadWITH both feet firmly planted in the pivotal Q3 of the year, conducting a comprehensive mid-year review of your business’s performance is crucial. This analysis is not just a formality, but a powerful tool to maintain the effectiveness and efficiency of your business strategies.
ReadWhilst merchant stores start to re-open, it’s important to consider what practical steps merchants can take, in order to be prepared for what the new ‘normal’ looks like. We have come up with a few simple tips and steps that merchants like yourself can consider, helping to recover in the post-crisis world.
ReadHOUSEHOLDS across Britain are feeling the pinch as the cost-of-living rises. Check out Blueberry’s top 10 tips to save money.
ReadHEAR from Blueberry’s resident trombonist Max about the buzz of live jazz and why his band’s debut album is a love letter to Leeds.
ReadHEAR from Blueberry’s bass player Thom Pighills about his European tour, kick-starting a rehearsal place for fellow musicians and his passion for rock music.
ReadMORE than two years after the COVID-19 pandemic upended our lives, many of us will feel a huge sense of relief as the last remaining restrictions finally come to an end. England and Northern Ireland have already removed all constraints, and Scotland and Wales are due to follow suit by the end of March. As we enter this new phase of ‘living with Covid’, many of us are returning to our normal workplaces, while myself and others continue to enjoy the flexibility of hybrid working.
ReadInnovation can often seem like a minefield when it comes to implementing it into your own business. In this article we explore how businesses can innovate and whether or not you already are!
ReadA RECENT careers survey of more than 5,250 youngsters found that almost half of those pursuing a university degree considered apprenticeships to be “second rate” in comparison. Of those, 40 per cent thought an apprenticeship wasn’t an option for their chosen career path and a comparable number argued that degrees had a significantly better reputation.
ReadFor any organisation – joining the dots between departments and teams to provide a coherent customer journey can be a struggle. We work within the college sector and know that this can be a particularly pressing challenge when coordinating the multitude of initiatives you run; from apprenticeships and funded training programmes right through to commercial training opportunities. Here are our top three tips for colleges aiming to boost their business development.
ReadTIME is running out to raid your wardrobes, dust off your suitcases and root through your underbed storage for your pre-loved coats, hats, gloves, and scarves.
ReadWHILE many of us are relishing in the prospect of wrapping up warm in our toasty jackets and bobble hats, countless people won’t be able to afford a coat this winter. In fact, almost a quarter of under 16s in Leeds are living in poverty and an overwhelming 75 per cent of these live in working households, according to Zero Waste Leeds. Now in its second year, the Leeds Winter Coat Appeal aims to collect more than 2,000 good quality coats, hats, scarves, and paired gloves to handout to the needy.
ReadGenerous people of Leeds - we need your pre-loved coats, hats, scarves and paired gloves.
ReadTo ensure your B2B marketing doesn’t go out of fashion we’ve taken some time to reflect on marketing trends we think we will all see more of throughout 2019 and the foreseeable future.
ReadMeasuring ROI across several different marketing activities can often prove difficult for marketers. But just because it's difficult, doesn't mean its impossible! We explore how Marketing Automation can help you in your quest to demonstrate the best return on investment.
ReadWHAT’S it like to be an apprentice? Delve into National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) with Blueberry's Jessica Parker as she discusses her year-long apprenticeship, buying her first home at 23 and her impressive career progression.
ReadTo mark the start of National Apprenticeship Week 2018, we thought we’d share our own experience taking on apprentices and demonstrate the impact they've had on us!
ReadIN the final instalment of our series on apprenticeships, we rebuff the stereotypes, uncover some remarkable success stories, and discuss the Government’s £8M pledge to increase degree apprenticeships. We also hear from the Chief Ofsted Inspector and numerous reputable employers, careers counsellors and work experience advisors about their thoughts on the matter.
ReadThe grounds around B2B marketing can sometimes seem confusing for businesses, especially following the new GDPR legislation which came into place in May 2018.
ReadFaresh Maisuria, director at Blueberry Marketing Solutions, shares some advice on selecting the right outsourcing partner.
ReadThe template could not be found.
WITH the threat of a nationwide recession, inflation at a 40-year high and a cost-of-living crisis to grapple with, businesses are under pressure to save costs and increase revenue.
ReadAt Blueberry we know that the most important asset to our company is our employees. As the heart of our business, its crucial to be mindful of their wellbeing, nurture their interests, and develop their skills. By looking after our staff’s interests, we can deliver a service that sets us apart from the rest.
ReadWe’ve explored where the division between sales and marketing departments can often begin and the affect it has. We now look at how sales and marketing need shared definitions and targets to ensure they can work towards a shared goal.
ReadI was extremely honoured to attend the Small Business Charter Summer Reception at the House of Lords last week as a guest of Lord Young of Grafton.
ReadThe rise of large corporations hitting the headlines over data breaches, alongside the implementation of the recent GDPR has led to a drastic decrease in consumer trust relating to data protection.
ReadOn one normal Friday in May, on the first floor of 12 South Parade, unbeknownst to its inhabitants, 20 superheroes* spent the Friday afternoon getting stuck into a bunch of team building challenges, before being let loose in the city of Leeds. Team Activ provided the concept and the tools – and all we had to do was bring our A game.
ReadDEGREE Apprenticeships are helping organisations to bridge skills gaps, increase staff retention and improve productivity. Discover how these professional pathways boost the UK economy and provide candidates with an alternative route to employment.
ReadWe are pleased to announce that our Director, Faresh Masuria, has been nominated for Creative Entrepreneur of the Year at the English Asian Business Awards, with the ceremony taking place in Manchester tonight!
ReadFacilitated by all–nighters and lots of coffee many students hope their hard work will forge the way for a successful career. We all know it’s often no longer enough to have a degree- businesses are advertising graduate roles and asking for candidates to have relevant work experience. More than ever businesses need to help students gain this gold dust experience through industry placements.
ReadWHETHER you’re working from home, studying for exams, dealing with a break-up or simply need a better work-life balance, everyone feels stressed and lonely sometimes.
ReadThe secret's out – we’re a Northern Powerhouse Partner! We’re excited to hit the ground running as this role will see us broaden our commitment to helping drive the northern economy.
ReadFor those of you that have been following our journey, we recently completed the Leeds 10k in aid of Zest. Now our legs and lungs have recovered, it’s time to step things up a gear…
ReadAfter 12 years of successful, and slightly cramped, business at our former offices on Aire Street, we are very happy to announce that we have finally flown the nest and have taken up new, larger residences on South Parade in Leeds City Centre.
ReadIt’s a busy year at Blueberry – our team is growing, we’re broadening the services we offer, and we’ve had some exciting new client wins!
ReadWe're very proud to announce we've partnered with Zest Leeds – a charity right on our doorstep who offer support and opportunity to individuals who live in disadvantaged areas of Leeds.
ReadAre you fatigued by the sight of the word “government funded” or “grant funding?”. Maybe you’ve tried a grant funding scheme once before and it didn’t quite work out...
ReadAs most of you are aware, Blueberry recently took on the infamous Yorkshire 3 Peaks challenge. Despite the early start, hip and knee injuries and an unfortunate incident involving stinging nettles, we managed to complete the challenge in 11 hours, comfortably within our 12-hour target!
ReadLIKE it or not, that provocative comment forms part of a fierce debate about the UK’s exorbitant childcare costs and an equally unfair ‘motherhood penalty’. And with a slumping economy and the second most expensive childcare costs in the world, it’s easy to see why many women believe it’s too costly to start a family. Blueberry marks this year’s International Women’s Day (#IWD) by discussing the challenges working mothers face to maintain their career and find reasonably priced childcare.
Read
