Crafted

Coming together to learn from our peers is so important, and Brighton SEO offers the perfect opportunity.

12 Crafties from technical SEO, insights, search strategy, paid advertising, and content attended. A few highlights for the team included:

💬 Max Hoppy, Bind - How they teach you to be creative at Google
💬 Rejoice Ojiaku, B-DigitalUK - The content & buyer show: let’s map
💬 Kirsty Hulse – Friday Keynote: Compassion, confidence and giving a few less f*cks
💬 Lidia Infante, Big Commerce - SEO gap analysis: Use your competitors' data to drive strategic growth

Creating a positive work environment is so, so important to us. It is something that we constantly monitor, gathering feedback from Crafted Council, carrying out staff surveys, and listening to our super engaged Crafties, who are always first to offer new ideas.

It is this focus that makes the fact we have been recognised in Campaign Magazine's Best Places to Work list for 2022 all the more special.

We'll be heading to London on 7 April to celebrate with all the companies that have been named. Check out everyone who made the lineup: www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/revealed-campaign-best-places-work-2022/1750632

The team was let loose in the wild again this month, heading out to Lowestoft to help the Suffolk Wildlife Trust renovate a withy bed, which provides a habitat for birds and small mammals.

Crafties smashed it, putting their charity days to good use by ploughing through the tasks in hand.

Adverse weather conditions may have meant there were a few more slips and slides than usual, but there were still big smiles all around.

If you have a cause in mind that could benefit from a few extra hands for the day, drop us a message.

The team headed to Northgate High School to participate in the annual Careers Day earlier this week.

The day gives students in years 9-13 the chance to meet representatives from different sectors and discuss the skills, qualifications and experience they would need to forge a career in that industry.

Jack, Maddie, Nicole and Liz did a fantastic job showcasing Crafted and all the opportunities the digital sector has to offer. Taking part in these types of events is always rewarding and here’s hoping the conversations had may spark some applications to our Gateway scheme in the not too distant future!

The team ended last week with some celebratory pizza as we found out we had made the shortlist in all three of the categories we entered at the UK Paid Media Awards.

This included Retail Campaign of the Year with Turnbull & Asser, Charity Campaign of the Year with Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) UK, and Large Paid Media Agency of the Year.

The teams have worked incredibly hard on these campaigns and we couldn’t be happier that their achievements have been recognised through these nominations.

Fingers crossed for the ceremony on 19 April and a big shoutout to Charlie for organising the incredibly timed trip to Storico Italian Restaurant.

One of the longest standing clubs at Crafted is the Run Club, and it has gained even more momentum over the last few months.

They have tried it all, from half marathons for Magic Moments to a 60 mile endurance run for the British Heart Foundation. The next challenge tackled by six of the team is the Colchester Half Marathon in May.

Some Crafties will be raising money for a cause that means something to them, including Endometriosis UK UK and My Wish Charity.

Wellbeing means different things to different people, which couldn’t be truer than at Crafted HQ, where we have over 80 wonderfully different individuals.

The beauty of this difference is that the team have developed an eclectic mix of clubs that offer a chance to take a step back from daily tasks and find something that suits. With running club, book club and more, our Crafties come together to find an outlet that serves them.

This week, it was finally time to get back on the pitch as Crafted 5-a-side returned…we may be a little rusty, but we had a lot of fun nonetheless!

The first month of the year is always a hectic one, as ambition kicks in and new goals are set. That shouldn’t be at the expense of wellbeing, though.

With that in mind, February is all about balance here at Crafted, making sure we are taking time to focus on what we need to do to ensure we are happy and healthy for the year ahead.

A big part of setting our wellbeing foundations is our ongoing relationship with Suffolk Mind. Their Workplace Wellbeing Courses help individuals recognise when they need to alter their environment to ensure their emotional needs are met and help management support staff in the right way.

You can find out more on what Suffolk Mind can offer here: www.suffolkmind.org.uk/

Charity days are an important part of life at Crafted. Whether used for a passion project or as part of one of our organised events, it gives our Crafties the chance to give something back.

As Silver Partners of the Suffolk Wildlife Trust, we commit time each year to supporting rewilding projects.

Leading local nature conservation efforts in Suffolk for six decades, the trust has saved some of the county's most important wildlife sites as nature reserves.

Wellies at the ready, five Crafties headed to Trinity Park to get stuck in to our first charity day of 2022.

It's certainly been a busy couple of weeks!

We welcomed in-person award ceremonies back alongside virtual ones, spoke at Museum Next, and caught up with the next generation of developers at the Google Developer Student Club.

The way the team is always up for getting amongst a new challenge, pushing the boundaries and championing the industry is something we are really proud of.

Looking sharp, Crafties!

Last week, some of our Paid Advertising team were invited to the opening night of the Ice Rink at the Natural History Museum, London. We can confirm, after quite a few falls, that their skills on the ice may need a 'little' work. Way to style it out, though, Guys!

This is the last year that the Ice Rink will bring festive cheer to the grounds, as there are big plans to turn the area into an urban garden. So, make sure you book your slot.

www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/exhibitions/ice-rink.html

Two weeks ago, we came together for our highly anticipated Summer Party. After being postponed twice due to Covid restrictions, saying it was a long time coming is an understatement.

A lot has happened since our last summer celebration, from the launch of our Gateway scheme to the agency's growth to 80 members of staff, it’s been a big two years.

The party gave us the perfect chance to reflect, look to the future and just have a jolly good time together. Here’s to you, Crafties.

It has been a busy two months at Crafted HQ as we welcomed six new Crafties into the mix.

From Psychology grads to a business development manager looking to get into code, these guys have joined us as part of our Gateway scheme, which helps guide those first steps into a digital career.

We can’t wait to see what they achieve over the next year.

With hybrid working now the norm, our teams are making sure to get in-person catch-ups in the diary so we can all remain connected...and meetings are always more fun over lunch, right?!

For our Paid Advertising team, a lunchtime catch-up gave the perfect excuse to get to know new faces, as well as say a sad goodbye to the lovely Daz, who leaves us to embark on her PGCE journey.

Even the mini Crafties didn’t want to miss out!

In a world that needs us to do better, we are always looking at our impact, holding ourselves accountable and striving to prove a positive contribution. This is why we’ve created our impact report, which reflects on the good things we get up to.

We are fortunate that our Crafties are a good bunch who are always up for pushing barriers and doing more. From getting stuck into beach cleans to training to become Mental Health First Aiders, they always go beyond the day-to-day.

We are always looking for new ideas and initiatives, so do get in touch if you have a project you would like us to get involved in. We are sure we will have a few Crafties who are up for the challenge!

Our impact. Making agency values more than just words | Crafted We care about the work we do, the clients we support, and the people we affect. From our own teams to those we work with, both locally and throughout the world.

"It is no coincidence I call my network ‘the tribe’, because having a reliable, fierce, passionate, and supportive group of people around you is the backbone to life as a working parent."

Our incredible Client Services Director, Zoë, recently shared her learnings on her journey as a working parent with the Roar team.

Zoë's key musings? Flexibility is a must, leave your guilt at the door, and cherish your tribe!

You can read her article, Being a working mum: tribes and tribulations, here: everybodyroar.com/all/being-a-working-mum-tribes-and-tribulations

Being a working mum: tribes and tribulations — Roar Louder A decade down the line feels like the right time to reflect on a career and more so what it now means to be a working mother. The support for women who are continuing their careers, the people who are championing change in parliament, and the narrative of flexibility in the workplace is vast and evo

Over the past two weeks, we have welcomed our first two starters to our Gateway scheme. Laura and Rowena have joined our Paid Advertising team as Advertising Trainees, and we are so excited to have them on board.

If you are interested in exploring Gateway opportunities, you can find out more here: crafted.co.uk/gateway

Yesterday, two Crafties braved the heat to take on the Magic Moments Half Marathon Tour of London. Dee & Charlotte tackled the race with the team at Spicerhaart and raised money for an incredible cause. We are so proud of you!

If you would like to make a last-minute donation, visit their Just Giving page: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/charlotte-hollie-crafted

In just over two weeks, two Crafties take on the Magic Moments Half Marathon Tour of London!

The run is being organised to support the Magic Moments Charity, founded by our client Spicerhaart. If you would like to support Dee and Charlotte and get behind this incredible cause, visit their Just Giving page.

Charlotte and Dee's Magic Moments Half Marathon Tour of London Help Charlotte Wickens raise money to support Magic Moments

We have always championed homegrown talent and looked to support those taking their first step into a digital career to achieve their goals.

Today we launch our Gateway scheme, giving a more structured approach to welcoming those in entry level positions into the team and increasing the number of available opportunities.

Our Gateway roles are open to those straight from school, university, or looking for a career change and will offer mentorship and career growth.

If you would like to find out more, visit our careers page: crafted.co.uk/gateway

It has been a busy start to the year here at Crafted HQ as we have welcomed new Crafties and seen the team grow.

And, along with the fresh faces, a couple of more familiar ones have re-joined us too!

Welcome to the mix Jade, Alex, Amy, Jake, Sophie, Matt, Georgie, Oli and Maddie.

Last week, we were officially named in the Top 100 Small Businesses to Work For.

We’ve all missed the opportunities to come together and celebrate our successes as a team. Best Companies Live gave us the excuse to reminisce on the good times we have had, and look forward to the chance to all come together again soon.

We placed in three categories including, Regional, Sector and the National List.