Newly Qualified 288 Group Marketers Celebrate Graduation

Yasmin receives the IDM Professional Diploma in Direct and Digital Marketing
Yasmin receives the IDM Professional Diploma in Direct and Digital Marketing

Yasmin receives the IDM Professional Diploma in Direct and Digital Marketing

Congratulations are in order for Yasmin and David who are both now certified holders of the Institute of Direct Marketing Professional Diploma in Direct and Digital Marketing.

The intensive year-long course is equivalent to bachelor’s degree level and forms an integral part of the Graduate Training offered by 288 Group Ltd.

Underlining the importance of the qualification the graduation ceremony took place at the prestigious Institute of Engineering and Technology: Savoy Place in London, followed by canapés and a drinks reception.

David receives the IDM Professional Diploma in Direct and Digital Marketing

David receiving his diploma.

The diplomas were awarded by Nick Hutton Hon F IDM and the ceremony was headlined by PR Smith, author of the renowned SOSTAC marketing planning model.

For more information about working in Marketing for 288 Group Ltd click here.

“60% of the time we win everything” take 288 Group Pub Quiz trophy

After a hard-fought contest, the “60% of the time we win everything” team walked away with the 288 Group Pub Quiz Trophy (well bottles of Prosecco).

Sitting in  the undercroft of the Blue Boar Pub in Poole, the atmosphere was tense.  In a business governed by so many historical and national events, competition is always fierce – at least for the first 5 minutes until everyone realises no-one know the answers!

With over eighty 288 Group employees across a dozen teams, a busy bar and fish and a chip supper, it was still anyone’s for the taking right up to the last round and, of course, the all-important crisp tasting challenge.

But it was a the Coin Portfolio Management team under the slightly hopeful name of “60% of the time we win everything” who prevailed.  As for the wooden spoon winners – well that would hardly be fair, would it?

Many thanks to Paul, our Facilities Manager, for once again setting a cracking quiz.

A Summer Party to remember

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Harry Allen and CASCO Philatelic Services merge with Benham

With effect from 28th February 2017, Harry Allen and CASCO have merged with Benham and now operate independently of 288 Group Ltd.

Following the merger Harry Allen and Benham now operate the UK’s leading collector new issue service.  Together the two businesses offer greater access to the UK new issue collector market.

Until 2015 Benham was part of the Stanley Gibbons group of companies and now operates independently following a management buyout.  The company has a shop on London’s Strand – famously the centre the philatelic market in the UK, as well as the main mail order operation based in Folkestone, Kent to the south east of London.

The combined new issue stamp business continues to trade as Harry Allen Ltd and is now based at the new combined headquarters located at:

13 Grace Hill,
Folkestone,
Kent,
CT20 1HA

www.harryallen.com

288 Group Ltd continues to play an active role in the stamp market under The Westminster Collection brand.

How the Poppy Coin has raised over £450,000 for The Royal British Legion

As the distributor of the annual Poppy Coin, The Westminster Collection is proud to continue supporting The Royal British Legion each year.

The coins, which have often included colour or gold-plated elements, are some of the most innovative pieces struck for collectors over the last 6 years.

Yet owning a Poppy Coin means much more than simply collecting the latest interesting or historic commemorative coin.

Each coin owned by you has resulted in a donation to the work of The Royal British Legion providing financial, social and emotional support to all who have served and are currently serving in the British Armed Forces and their families.

Last year we were delighted to raise a record amount of over £130,000 with the special First World War Centenary “100 Poppies” coin. And with over £450,000 raised for the RBL to date, we hope to break the £500,000 mark this year for total donations.

Louise Ajdukiewicz, Head of Corporate Partnerships at The Royal British Legion, says “These funds make a real difference to the charity and help us to continue our vital services supporting the whole Armed Forces community.”

Discover more about how the donations from the Poppy Coin helps The Royal British Legion support the Armed Services community.

But does owning a Poppy Coin provide an alternative to wearing a Poppy or donating directly to The Royal British Legion?  Of course not.

I’ll be making my annual donation to The Royal British Legion and wearing my Poppy with pride this year.  But I have also bought a silver Poppy Coin for each of my children in the knowledge that they will have a valuable reminder of the sacrifices of the First World War.

Some examples of how The Royal British Legion supports the Armed Services community:

Care Homes – The Legion has six care homes to provide short and long term care for serving and ex-Service people and their dependants. Situated around the country, they offer a wide range of services including four with specialist dementia care. Care home communities include men and women of varied ages and abilities, and because these homes are exclusive to ex-Service people and their dependants, there is a unique camaraderie.

Break Centres – they offer much-needed breaks to ex-Service and serving personnel and their families, who may be recovering from an illness, bereavement or other life-affecting event. The Legion have four Break Centres located in prime locations around the country.

Handy Van Service – they provide essential and critical support to ex-service people who are unable to carry out household repairs or small jobs, helping them to remain independent in their own homes. The team of trusted handy people are also fully trained caseworkers enabling them to look out for other issues and people at risk in order to flag to the wider welfare team.

Benefits and Money Advice – they offer a confidential, face-to-face Benefits and Money Advice Service to help people manage their finances, including assisting them with making claims for state benefits and also dealing with money problems including debt.

Civvy Street – This service provides a range of information and advice on resettlement, learning and work. Civvy Street is designed to assist in-Service families, armed forces leavers and the veterans’ community adjust to civilian life and kick-start a new career.

288 Group Looking to build on its Sunday Times Profit Track 100 Listing

288 Group Ltd is delighted to have cemented its position as one of Poole’s most successful companies over recent years with its listing in the Sunday Times’ prestigious Profit Track 100 Listing.

Coming in as the UK 47th fastest growing priPrintvate company in terms of profits (and second in the South-West), 288 Group has seen increased success since relocating to Poole in 2009 and employing over 100 local people

Commenting on 288 Group’s inclusion in the Profit Track 100 Listing, Chairman, Stephen Allen said:

“We have enjoyed several years of excellent trading and we’re delighted to see that reflected in the Sunday Times’ listing.

“But our success depends on our people and we have been incredibly lucky with the excellent team with have been able to build since opening up our new headquarters in Poole six years ago.  There’s no doubt that as we continue to build on our recent success, recruiting the right people from the local area is crucial.”

288 Group has an ethos of recruiting local talent and developing individuals’ careers within the company.  For more information about the current vacancies, visit www.288group.com/careers.

Discover how 288 Group offers the best Marketing training in Dorset

20 years ago, I started work at 288 Group, straight out of University.  I’m now Managing Director of our collectables businesses.

I was given great opportunities and training in my first few years with 288 Group.  I am now equally committed to give the university and school leavers of today the very best opportunities when starting out their career in Marketing.

For the last 20 years we have taken on around a hundred school leavers and graduates – most with no marketing background at all.  Many are still with us now as senior managers.  Others now have gone on to have successful careers elsewhere, often in Blue Chip companies; often at very senior levels.

Training for success.

The key their success has been a combination of:

  • real jobs from day one
  • well established on-the-job training
  • formal marketing training and qualifications with The Institute of Direct and Digital Marketing.
  • The SME environment that allows the cream to rise to the surface very quickly

Whilst we consider all good candidates, we are particularly keen on helping enthusiastic young people from the local area get on that Marketing Career Ladder – and you can even still be by the sea!

We’re not obsessed with marketing or business degrees we just ask a few simple things:

  • You are enthusiastic and hardworking
  • You have a good grasp of written English
  • You are reasonable at maths
  • You are interested in the nation’s history and culture