Visual PR Creates Bespoke Studio at new offices. The company uses an innovative approach to help businesses and organisations engage with their audiences with more authenticity. To aid them with this approach they’ve moved to new premises to create a bespoke studio for filming, recording and editing.
The company, founded in 2023 by professional motorsports commentator and public speaking trainer Chris Dawes, has taken over office space on the top floor of accountancy and law firm Optimum Professional Services’ premises at Vicarage Court in Stratton, Swindon.
Chris said the move was another step in the evolution of Visual PR. The business has fast expanded its services beyond its original offering of creating talk or panel show-style broadcasts for clients. Live-streamed or prerecorded they’re available to view and interact with via YouTube and social media channels.
‘Moving to the Optimum building gives us more than triple the space we had before. It’s given us the opportunity to create our own studio for the first time,’ said Chris.
‘Optimum are both our accountants and client. So it’s great to be in the same building. It shows they believe in us and want to help us take the business to the next level.’
Visual PR Creates Bespoke Studio – the Visual PR team, Chris Dawes and Tom Cottam
One thing led to another
Visual PR’s branded programmes, including Optimum’s regular ‘Optimum Live!’, have led on to a whole raft of other marketing services.
The shows themselves, all unscripted and using an engaging and natural interview style, help bring brands to life. They show authenticity and and aren’t overtly promotional. Thus they drive deeper engagement with audiences.
Visual PR used their virtual studio to make the first shows. Now it’s possible to make them on site with a multi-camera setup. Or at at Visual PR’s new studio. And a further option is a hybridwith on-location filming and other guests beamed in remotely.
Choices
‘While we can still go out to our clients to film on-location, they now have the choice to come to us. Then they can take advantage of a purpose-built, dressed space, with comfortable seating,’ said Chris.
‘We’re installing decorative soundproofing which will look good. Much better than the eggbox foam-style product people tend to see. We will also add furniture and decorations to make it look nice, and a media wall, which can display their branding.’
Clients can use videos from the shows for social media posts. Visual PR’s software can edit transcripts to turn them into blogposts and/or copy for social media.
The software can also add captions to the videos and create and send out emails to promote episodes in advance. All this as well as post-show newsletters summarising each episode.
Podcasts
Companies wanting a venue for recording podcasts are also using Visual PR’s new studio.
Chris added: ‘We have scope to take over more space in the building. And that gives us the opportunity to expand further. We have a unique proposition, that more and more organisations are wanting to tap into.’
Visual PR plans to start creating further branded material. That’ll include training videos, webinars and induction videos for new recruits. All to make content more engaging and effective.
Working with Chris in the business is video editor and producer, Tom Cottam, who joined last spring. Chris hopes to recruit more team members during 2025.
1 Year Milestone for Lauren. Media consultant Lauren Roberts is marking a year since she changed careers and joined her stepmother at Swindon-based Scott Media.
Lauren, who began working with media expert Fiona Scott on a part-time basis, helping to manage an ever-increasing workload in the business, has already expanded her hours.
As well as assisting Fiona with the day-to-day workload, she’s helped launched Scott Media Speakers. That’s a platform to give clients another way of raising their profile, through speaking engagements. She also supports Fiona with events. Including such things as next month’s No BS PR summit in Swindon, giving delegates access to national journalists.
1 Year Milestone for Lauren – lauren roberts
Flexing muscles
The move to PR has enabled Lauren, who worked in credit control, to flex her creative muscles, after taking time out to have a baby. So far, she’s loving it!
I’m amazed at how fast paced it is, and the year has been a whirlwind,’ said Lauren. “I’ve discovered that PR is more than getting a headline or shouting the loudest. It’s about telling a story that actually connects with people. I’ve learned how powerful it is to craft something authentic that resonates.
And I’ve learnt to pause and celebrate wins, whether it’s landing a great piece of coverage or launching a new project. It’s easy to move straight to the next thing, but those moments of recognition – big or small – are what keep us motivated.’
Lauren has also found working with her stepmother surprisingly easy. ‘Fiona has been an incredible mentor, and I’ve learned so much from her, with so much more to learn. Plus, there’s an extra layer of trust and comfort when you’re working alongside someone you know so well.’
Lauren’s confidence has grown so much that she’s now an ambassador for the networking group Business Buzz, in Chippenham.
‘Fiona came to our meeting in December. It was the first time we’ve networked together and I so enjoyed it.’
Fiona added: ‘Lauren has made a great start in PR and is an invaluable addition to Scott Media. I’ve enjoyed watching her progress and working alongside her. And I know she’s going to thrive in this very fast-paced industry.’
Scott Media specialises in supporting businesses and entrepreneurs with their PR and works with organisations across the UK. For more about Scott Media visit https://scottmedia.uk/
Swindon Theatres is proud to announce the launch of a brand-new community initiative, the Memory Project. It’s sponsored by Arts Council England. The Memory Project will run alongside their popular Memory Cafe, Memory Cinema and Memory Sing sessions. They occur every month at both the Wyvern Theatre and Swindon Arts Centre.
The Memory Project will consist of a year of free, weekly drama workshops for people living with dementia. And also their core carer and local young artists using live music and storytelling.
Oli Webb, Creative Learning Manager and Chair of the Swindon Dementia Action Alliance said ‘We consulted with:
30 families with lived experience
The Swindon Dementia Action Alliance, and other needs groups in Swindon.
With them we discussed the idea of creating a piece of theatre to use the real experiences of people in Swindon living with dementia. There’s lots of research around the use of art, music and dance being beneficial to those living with Dementia. But, it’s notable that there’s much less around drama and theatre. We hope this year of workshops will add to the evidence pool and help other groups create something new.’
Swindon Theatres launches Memory Project
About the sessions
The free sessions will use drama, clowning, storytelling, and verbatim exercises to explore the relationships between three key communities – people living with dementia, carers, and young artists. The young artists will work with people most likely to be much older than them. This will create intergenerational connections and help the project have relevance to all ages.
Businesses Need an AI Policy warns HR experts, the HR Depart. With the AI genie firmly out of the bottle, HR experts are urging all employers to draw up an AI policy – and fast!
Peter Jones, Managing Director at Swindon-based HR Dept, said AI has the potential to be a fantastic tool for businesses. But, if used unchecked, it could spell disaster.
At HR Dept, we’re increasingly getting asked about AI. About its role in the workplace and whether businesses should adopt an AI policy, in the same way that they have policies on areas such as parental leave, flexible working, or health and safety,’ said Peter.
Businesses Need an AI Policy – Peter Jones of the HR Dept
It’s out of the box
‘AI isn’t going to go back in the box. So one way or another it will have a relevance. Our advice is to embrace this emerging technology and recognise that it can be a useful resource.’
But Peter warned use of AI was not without danger – hence the need for an AI policy.
‘It’s important to bear in mind that AI – without limits – presents several risks. Not least or which are data protection, accountability, transparency and ethical conduct. Drawing up an AI policy will help mitigate these risks.’
Peter said a policy should be bespoke to each business. But would include common elements, such as details of what training the business owner will offer on how to use AI tools in a responsible fashion. And the risks associated with misuse. It should also cover who within the business has permission to use AI and who doesn’t.
Peter added: ‘A policy should communicate what the expectations are within the business aprops the use of AI. That’s including what is acceptable use and what isn’t. For example, tasks which have a legal or financial consequence and tasks requiring the input of confidential information or personal data are likely to be ruled out.
‘It’s also important to give a clear outline of communication lines for queries with AI. And keeping management informed on what it’s intended use is – before using it! There is a need to maintain oversight.
‘We’re very happy to chat through AI policies with employers and advise on what areas they should cover.’
The HR Dept
The HR Dept Swindon, North Wiltshire and East Cotswolds are HR specialists supporting clients in a range of sectors. They include:
Swindon Dance hosts Art Exhibition. Swindon Town Hall, home to the nationally renowned Swindon Dance, is hosting an exhibition of original art by local artist Sheryll K Fox. You’ll find her artwork displayed through-out the Grade II listed building across the next few months. All culminating in a celebration evening in July.
Regular visitors to the Town Hall can enjoy a selection of Sheryll’s paintings that hung in the reception area at the start of the new term. Thus they provided a taste of what’s to come. While the building isn’t open to the general public, Swindon Dance is organizing a special event in July when visitors can view and appreciate all the artwork.
Swindon Dance hosts Art Exhibition – Swindon dance CEO, Viv Slayford and artist Sheryll Fox
Artist Sheryll said, ‘I love the challenge of capturing movement in my art. And so sketching at Swindon Dance has been an amazing and inspiring opportunity for my art practice. I’ve felt captivated by the exceptional teachers and the dedicated students that I have observed over the past year or so.’
The exhibition
The exhibition, titled ‘Moving Moments,’ in the historic Swindon building will feature an eclectic mix of expressive paintings. Many of them take their inspiration from dance and drama, as well as stunning landscape views of the Wiltshire countryside. Sheryll’s style combines a rich use of texture, layers and mark-making with strong observational techniques. She begins by sketching from life. And then she develops her ideas into paintings in her home studio in Wanborough, Swindon.
Viv Slayford, Director and CEO of Swindon Dance said ‘At Swindon Dance, we hold a fim belief in enriching lives through dance. That everyone regardless of age, creed, gender or background should have access to enjoy the richness of art and culture in their lives. In presenting Sheryll’s beautiful paintings in our beautiful Grade II listed building, we’ll be continuing to enrich the cultural experience for our local communities and everyone who uses our building.’
For further information about the celebration event or the artist contact Sheryll K Fox sheryll@skfoxart.com Or visit her website www.skfoxart.com
For inquiries about Swindon Dance events, activities, and classes, please visit www.swindondance.org.uk.
It is rather a pity that our town hall, as designed by Brightwen Binyon, isn’t open to the public. Because, assuming it’s still there, the large studio upstairs features a large mural by Swindon artist Carleton Attwood. Carlteton also created, amongst other things, a bust of Diana Dors, the golden lion in the town centre and The Watchers at Toothill village centre.
And then there’s this – Charlotte Corday the so-called Angel of Assassination – she who famously murdered Marat in his bath! You’ll find this statue of her in the foyer of Swindon town hall.
