(l - r) Catherine, the Munch Monster, Zosia, Joanna, Magdalena
Thursday 29 October
After a quick couple of hours free time in Camden, we're off to Frank PR. With its near-mythical status following reports of brilliant work placements from other UCF PR students, there's a real buzz about this visit and as ever, Frank doesn't disappoint.
Both the agency's trophy cupboard and its staff numbers have swelled since last year's study visit and there appears to be a new host in the reception area - an enormous Monster Munch character which attempts to topple onto one UCF student after another.
We're greeted by Andrew Bloch, Frank's friendly MD, and whisked into the spectacular office meeting room (think Amsterdam's Supper Club restaurant, but a bit smaller). Accompanied by some of Frank's latest graduate recruits, Andrew takes us through Frank's history and ethos, followed by brilliant case studies of award-winning work for Hovis, KitKat and GymBox to name but three.
Afterwards, it's off out into the Camden night with Andrew preparing to attend the Gramia Awards ("the grocery industry's Oscars" as he puts it). It's a worthwhile trip too as Frank collects awards for campaigns for Hovis, Honey Monster and best of all, PR Agency of the Year!
Not Frank, but Natalie
Emma's thoughts on Frank PR:
Walking into Frank PR, the first impressions on everyone’s faces were smiles. Straight away you could tell that it was nothing like some of the more daunting ‘business’ atmospheres we’d visited previously. With cuddly toys, hundreds of colourful awards on the walls and casual chatty people around the place, it presented itself as a extremely comfortable successful place to work.
Jon had briefed us before we went in about Frank, telling us a bit about what they specialise in and that we were going to meet the co-founder Andrew Bloch.
First we met Emily and the first thing she did was take a tea and coffee order from us, which was a definite plus, as we entered the meeting room we were all amazed to find that we were sitting on huge white sofas with chocolate and crisps in front of us. After meeting Andrew and seeing the offices I knew I was going to be totally engaged and focused on what the guy had to say.
“TALKABILITY” Was the first thing he said to us, this was his word, and he said it’s the most important thing to his company, “honest, open and no bullshit.” As Andrew was talking to us I was completely overwhelmed by his clients and his business, he talked us through a few case studies, and the procedures he goes through with each client to get them the best outcome. Everything he was saying was understandable and so interesting I was completely engaged. I think I learnt the most from Andrew at Frank PR, I was certainly the most focused and I got the best vibe. The thing I remembered the most was a quote from Andrew.
“Breath life into things that exist already, to keep them alive!”
Zosia's thoughts on Frank PR:
We arrived at Frank excited to meet the co-founder Andrew Bloch as Jon had given us a quick brief before we arrived telling us he was young, attractive and very, very successful.
We entered the office to be greeted by a young lady called Emily who seemed so happy to see us. She showed us to a seating area, the wall behind us was filled with impressive awards and famous faces and towering over us was a massive pink Monster Munch monster which seemed to have a mind of its own as we spent about ten minutes trying to stop him falling on top of us.
As we waited for Andrew to arrive we seemed to be in the real hub of Frank PR surrounded by about 75 people all working away at their desks creating genius ideas.
Andrew arrived and walked over to Jon quite casually as Jon joked asking if the Maserati sports car parked outside was his to which he laughed. I was surprised at how young and down to earth he seemed on first impressions.
He showed us through to a room that can only be described as ultra chic and modern. Everything in the room was completely white. There was a huge white table running up the middle covered in bowls of sweets and crisps which instantly got everyone’s attention.
Andrew started off by telling us that Frank PR had been going for 9 years, presenting us with a display of a mass of amazing clients they work with and have worked with for about 9 years.
He told us that the ethos within the company was to kick start conversations that get people talking about clients, brands, products and services. They have a saying called “Talkability” which is word of mouth that creates “the buzz that takes over and does your best marketing for you”.
We where then shown an array of ideas that have really worked such as Aleksander Orlov of Compare The Meerkat.com who has now become a star in his own right.
I left Frank PR full of enthusiasm for the industry and craving more.
Emma's thoughts on Frank PR:
Walking into Frank PR, the first impressions on everyone’s faces were smiles. Straight away you could tell that it was nothing like some of the more daunting ‘business’ atmospheres we’d visited previously. With cuddly toys, hundreds of colourful awards on the walls and casual chatty people around the place, it presented itself as a extremely comfortable successful place to work.
Jon had briefed us before we went in about Frank, telling us a bit about what they specialise in and that we were going to meet the co-founder Andrew Bloch.
First we met Emily and the first thing she did was take a tea and coffee order from us, which was a definite plus, as we entered the meeting room we were all amazed to find that we were sitting on huge white sofas with chocolate and crisps in front of us. After meeting Andrew and seeing the offices I knew I was going to be totally engaged and focused on what the guy had to say.
“TALKABILITY” Was the first thing he said to us, this was his word, and he said it’s the most important thing to his company, “honest, open and no bullshit.” As Andrew was talking to us I was completely overwhelmed by his clients and his business, he talked us through a few case studies, and the procedures he goes through with each client to get them the best outcome. Everything he was saying was understandable and so interesting I was completely engaged. I think I learnt the most from Andrew at Frank PR, I was certainly the most focused and I got the best vibe. The thing I remembered the most was a quote from Andrew.
“Breath life into things that exist already, to keep them alive!”
Zosia's thoughts on Frank PR:
We arrived at Frank excited to meet the co-founder Andrew Bloch as Jon had given us a quick brief before we arrived telling us he was young, attractive and very, very successful.
We entered the office to be greeted by a young lady called Emily who seemed so happy to see us. She showed us to a seating area, the wall behind us was filled with impressive awards and famous faces and towering over us was a massive pink Monster Munch monster which seemed to have a mind of its own as we spent about ten minutes trying to stop him falling on top of us.
As we waited for Andrew to arrive we seemed to be in the real hub of Frank PR surrounded by about 75 people all working away at their desks creating genius ideas.
Andrew arrived and walked over to Jon quite casually as Jon joked asking if the Maserati sports car parked outside was his to which he laughed. I was surprised at how young and down to earth he seemed on first impressions.
He showed us through to a room that can only be described as ultra chic and modern. Everything in the room was completely white. There was a huge white table running up the middle covered in bowls of sweets and crisps which instantly got everyone’s attention.
Andrew started off by telling us that Frank PR had been going for 9 years, presenting us with a display of a mass of amazing clients they work with and have worked with for about 9 years.
He told us that the ethos within the company was to kick start conversations that get people talking about clients, brands, products and services. They have a saying called “Talkability” which is word of mouth that creates “the buzz that takes over and does your best marketing for you”.
We where then shown an array of ideas that have really worked such as Aleksander Orlov of Compare The Meerkat.com who has now become a star in his own right.
I left Frank PR full of enthusiasm for the industry and craving more.
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