64 Acquisition International - Influential Businesswoman Awards 2023 May23039 Most Dedicated Branding Expert (North West England): Julie Brook For those who either don’t want or can’t afford a full-time marketing director, The Marketing Centre provides professional help for businesses across a wide spectrum of industries. Here we learn more from its Regional Director, Julie Brook, as she wins this esteemed award in the Influential Businesswoman Awards 2023. “At the Marketing Centre we believe every business deserves access to first class marketing.” With proven marketing directors helping businesses on a part-time basis, The Marketing Centre ensures that marketing is at the forefront of each company’s endeavours. As The Marketing Centre Director for the Northwest of England, Julie Brook tirelessly supports leading marketing directors in aiding businesses of all sizes with their marketing strategies. Julie ensures that her team of 13 proven marketing directors form a solid plan before carrying it out to increase a business’ productivity, outreach, and overall growth. Each marketing director usually works 1-3 days a week for each business, steadily elevating their marketing strategies but without being a permanent, full-time member of the team. Since Julie founded the Northwest segment of The Marketing Centre, around seven years ago, she has put her experience and intelligence to use every day. Julie began her career in the brewing industry. She says, “As a graduate trainee with Grand Met, I was one of the first females (maybe the first) to be appointed a Free Trade sales representative to sell beer and finance to pubs and clubs, breaking the mould in the highly male dominated and production led brewing industry.” Julie’s toughest challenges within her career seem to be genderbased. For example, she tells us, “I have had meetings with third parties with peer group men and it has been assumed that I work for the man in the room.” However, Julie did not let this pull her back. Instead, she works hard to inspire women everywhere even despite the challenges they may face. Julie shares, “I’d say my success is down to resilience and sticking to my principles, ignoring the hecklers, but also being patient and making sure I build relationships outside formal meetings. That way I can pre-sell my ideas and gain the support behind the scenes before I expose them in open forum. No surprises is something I try to stand by keeping people up to speed and well informed.” “No surprises is something I try to stand by keeping people up to speed and well informed.” Helping to guide people in their careers, Julie addresses their strengths and ensures they align with their goals. “For many years I have been a growth coach in the SME world. Through my coaching I have helped a number of ladies in their business career think through their own personal brand and take their next steps in their career,” Julie enthuses. She has now won Most Dedicated Branding Expert (North West England) from Acquisition International by dedicating herself to improving other people’s careers, no matter their area of expertise. Julie has volunteered for coaching schemes to help others, helped friend’s children to get their first jobs, and coached them through difficult times. Julie’s work with The Marketing Centre ensures that SMEs can carry out their marketing successfully – improving their overall business outlook and maximising their growth. Julie says, “Traditionally, and from my experience of the growth coaching, I know that SME’s are poorly serviced for marketing support. Budgets are tight and knowledge of marketing weak. We offer an ideal alternative approach for SMEs: a senior proven marketing expert working typically one day a week inside the business on flexible terms to set the marketing strategy and plan and then get going to drive growth. We stop the business owner making mistakes, manage external agencies and ensure they are not over charging and develop the internal team too.” “We have worked with and positively impacted well over 115 businesses in the North-West and my aim is to work with many more to make them aware that this is the most cost-effective way of resourcing their marketing and investing in the future of their business.” For the years to come, Julie plans on helping more businesses to achieve their goals. Promoting The Marketing Centre’s marketing 360 health check, Julie wants all companies to know that, even if they’re struggling with their marketing, there are solutions that are easily accessible, affordable, and straightforward with The Marketing Centre. Fill out the 10 minute Q&A online at https://www.themarketingcentre. com/marketing-360 to receive a free 20 page report on where to focus your marketing effort. Contact Details Contact: Julie Brook Company: The Marketing Centre Web Address: www.themarketingcentre.com
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