Diligence Law

The Vikings were famous as explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates, who raided and colonised areas of Europe from the late 8th to the early 11th century. These Norsemen used their famed longships to travel as far east as Constantinople and Russia, and as far west as Iceland, Greenland, and Newfoundland.

The Vikings lived by a set of laws known as Viking laws, which Diligence thinks is just as relevant in today’s business world as they were in Viking times with a few tweaks of course to bring them in line with the modern business environment.

Diligence Law

Be Brave and Aggressive

Be direct
Grab all opportunities
Use varying methods of attack
Be versatille and agile

Attack one target at a time
Don`t plan everything in detail
Use top quality weapons

Be Prepared

Keep weapons in good condition
Keep in shape
Find good battle comrades
Agree on important points
Choose one chief

Be A Good Merchant

Find out what the market needs
Don`t promise what you can`t keep
Don`t demand over payment
Arrange things so that you can return

Keep The Camp In Order

Keep things tidy and organised
Arrange enjoyable activities which strengthen the group
Make sure everybody does useful work
Consult all members of the group for advice

Diligence in Kent move

East Sussex based marketing agency Diligence Media and Marketing is expanding its operations by announcing the opening of a satellite office in Maidstone, Kent.

The new office represents a remarkable success for Diligence which was established in November 2007, as a result of a merger between two long established companies – Nice Work and Pixel Puppet.

Since its launch Diligence has built a formidable reputation and boasts an impressive client list which includes Legal & General, Kent Air Ambulance, Sea Space, KPMG and Orbital Marketing to name but a few.

“Our new Maidstone office represents an important part of our continued expansion plans” said Martin Burke, Marketing Director.

“Although our roots lie firmly in East Sussex, we now have a large number of Kent based clients and the new office will allow us to better service them."

For more information on Diligence visit www.diligencegroup.co.uk.
Alternatively call us on 01424 447858 or
e-mail martin@diligencegroup.co.uk

Pixel Puppet Launch

Diligence Media and Marketing launch a new service designed to help small businesses and start up companies gain a foothold on the internet. The new service also sees the reappearance of the Pixel Puppet brand.

Speaking about the launch Marketing Director of Diligence Martin Burke said: “We have worked with many start up businesses and small businesses over the years and understand that budget is important. That’s why we have developed a range of cost effective websites which are perfect for those looking to get online for the first time".

"In time these companies can look to expand their online presence and incorporate more sophisticated features like an online shop”.

"The launch of the new service is designed to complement the existing range of Diligence design services, including website design, traditional advertising and brochure design".

The Pixel Puppet range includes a choice of three web design packages, with price starting at just £149.99 + VAT or £14.99 month for 12 months.

For more information, please visit www.pixelpuppet.co.uk.

Alternatively, call 01424 447858 or e-mail martin@diligencegroup.co.uk for more details.

Online marketing soars

The online marketing industry grew by almost 40% in 2007 according to new figures from the Advertising Association. With companies increasingly releasing the benefits of cost affective e-marketing.

With any winner there’s always a loser and in this case its direct marketing. The industry saw a drop in year-on-year growth of 6.5%.

The Advertising Statistics Yearbook 2008 confirmed that digital marketing has now overtaken direct marketing as the third largest channel by market share. Digital expenditure represents 15.6% of advertising expenditure while direct marketing now accounts for only 11.2%.

The direct marketing industry was worth £2.17bn in 2007. Press advertising was still the biggest channel with expenditure of £7.71bn, and a 39% share of the market. This was followed by TV at £4.6bn and a 24% share.

The UK advertising industry grew by 4.2%in 2007 to a total of £19.4bn.

We have a wealth of experience in e-marketing and offer a complete e-marketing service from website design to HTML e-mail campaigns. Talk to one of Diligences experienced professionals today on 01424 447858 or visit www.diligencegroup.co.uk and let us get your business moving in the right direction.

Where will you take your customers in 2008?

Looking for somewhere suitable to take your staff, your colleagues or your customers?

One of our favourite events is Glorious Goodwood - one of the highlights of the social summer scene. Indeed, King Edward VII once described Glorious Goodwood as ‘a garden party with racing tacked on’.

The meeting not only offers the very best in top-class racing - ‘Glorious Goodwood’ is a real English summer institution, where racing, socialising and fashion go hand in hand.

Goodwood is reckoned to be one of the world’s most beautiful racecourses. Set high on the South Downs with the most beautiful of views, it really is the perfect place to enjoy summer’s day. The Thursday of the Goodwood Festival is traditionally ‘Ladies’ Day’ and the feature race of the day, the Goodwood Cup, is Goodwood’s oldest race.

Our sister company, Nice Work, has been organising trips to Goodwood for some years now and are now taking reservations for a Glorious Goodwood VIP Package.

For more information, contact martin@diligencegroup.co.uk

Pedal power for Sierra Leone

Half-a-dozen brave souls returned to Hastings on Monday afternoon after cycling to Boulogne and back to raise funds for the Hastings Sierra Leone Friendship Link.

The group were welcomed back from their 200 kilometre plus trek by a band of supporters and sponsors including Councillor Jeremy Birch.

The six cyclists - Roger Mitchell, Steve Frost, Bill Evans, Mike Cooper, Einar Einarsson and Jansen van Rensburg - were waved off on their challenge on Saturday morning from Hastings Pier by the Mayor Councillor Maureen Charlesworth and members of the Hastings-Sierra Leone Friendship Link. From there the group made their way to Dover and across the channel for a 2 night stay in Calais. Sunday saw them cycling to the port of Boulogne and back – a journey of around 50 miles – in blazing sunshine.

The Pedal for Sierra Leone was arranged by Diligence sister company Nice Work. Money raised from the event will help funding for the Community Resource Building in Hastings Village in Sierra Leone.

More new business wins for Diligence

Diligence Media and Marketing has confirmed its growing status as one of the fastest growing design and communications companies in East Sussex with more new business wins.

Since its launch in November 2007, Diligence has been appointed to oversee major design projects for companies covering a wide range of industry sectors.

JAG Press and Publicity, a PR and press consultancy based in Horsham appointed Diligence to construct its new website. The new site went live last month and is seeking to boost the profile of this long-established company in the highly competitive press and PR marketplace.

International web directory Seascape International has also appointed Diligence to construct a major new web-based shipping directory, whilst Battle restaurant Nobles selected the company to help reinforce its presence in the local community with a revised website and marketing support.

Caseco was established to provide high quality products to the optical market throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland. A refreshed web presence plus the launch of a new online shopping facility is being created by Diligence for launch in April.

In addition to other new business wins from companies such as Legal & General, Rootgrow and Aeromet International, the company's Event Division has been appointed to provide conference entertainment for three trade union conferences – Prospect in Torquay and PCS in Brighton – both in May and the Bakers and Food Workers Union in Bridlington in June.

To find out how Diligence can help your business grow, contact our Client Services Director Gareth Jones on 01424 447858.

All set for Lydd Classic

Runners from all over the south east – and some from even further afield - will be descending upon Lydd on Sunday March 9th for the return of the Lydd Parish Half Marathon.

The race was once a popular part of the south east road running calendar but has been absent now for a number of years. Race organisers Nice Work, sister company of Diligence Media and marketing, are anticipating around 250 runners of all standards - from novice joggers to seasoned competitors - to line up for the main event. "The return of the race seems to have been well received and we’ve attracted a healthy number of entrants already” says Race Director Martin Burke “But there will still be spaces available for those who want to sign up on the day – and we’re also hoping for a strong entry in both the 2 mile Fun Run and Children’s Race”

The Half Marathon race is over a flat, route along towards Dungeness before joining the Coast Road to Greatstone. The course is proving popular both for those in training for this year’s London Marathon and for those looking for a fast time.

Proceeds from the race are being shared between local good causes allocated by the Mayor of Lydd and to the Kent MS Therapy Centre.

The Half Marathon starts at 10.00 am with the Fun Run at 10.15. Both races will be preceded by a Children’s Race at 9.30.

All finishers will receive a medal and a Goody Bag and there are prizes for the leading runners. Any enquires to Martin Burke 01797 230730 or visit http://www.nice-work.org.uk/

Stroll from Boulogne to Le Touquet for charity

Details have been announced of the next overseas sponsored walk for local charities in Deal and Hastings.

The Stroll for St Michaels and Martha – is a three day overseas sponsored walk which raises funds for St Michaels Hospice and Martha Trust.

Boulogne to Le Touquet is the 5th sponsored walk overseas for St Michaels Hospice and 2008 will be the third time that funds have also been raised for Martha Trust. This year the walk takes in some stunning countryside as it wends its way along the coastal footpath between Boulogne and Le Touquet.

The walk will cover some beautiful French countryside and pass many places of historic interest en route. There are also a number of refreshment stops along the route and the overnight base will provide ample opportunities to sample the local cuisine.

The event is perfect for people of all ages and families are welcome to participate. The route is primarily flat and with a longest day mileage of around 15 miles, only a basic minimum level of fitness would be required.

If you can raise the minimum amount in sponsorship, your place on the Stroll is fully funded.
Martin Burke, from Diligence sister company Nice Work, says: “This is now a really popular event and as well as being a great weekend away, it’s a superb opportunity to demonstrate support for both St Michaels Hospice and Martha Trust in a healthy and fun way.”

The Stroll takes place over the August Bank Holiday weekend with a coach departure from Hastings and Dover on Saturday morning – returning to the towns on Monday evening.
In addition to the coach, back-up vehicles will also carry basic first aid facilities and refreshments will be available at regular stops along the way. All meals, accommodation and refreshments for the duration of the walk are provided.

For more information, contact organisers Nice Work on 01797 230730; email info@nice-work.org.uk or visit www.nice-work.org.uk

Lydd returns to the road running stage

Event management specialists Diligence Media and Marketing has announced plans for the return of the Lydd Half Marathon.

The race was once one of the most popular road running events in the Kent, regularly attracting large numbers of runners from all over the world, until the race ceased in the mid 1990;s.

The event, organised through Diligence sister company and specialist road racing organisers Nice Work takes place on Sunday March 9th. The event is being held in conjunction with Lydd Town Council and will be looking to raise funds for the Mayor of Lydd's designated local charities and good causes.

Nice Work already organises a number of races in Kent and East Sussex as well as organising groups travel to major road racing and marathon events throughout Europe.

Entries are available for the Lydd Half Marathon from organisers Nice Work on 01797 230730; by email at info@nice-work.org.uk or by visiting the Nice Work website www.nice-work.org.uk

Next Holiday for Diligence!

Local businesses celebrate the launch of an exciting new website - NextHoliday.co.uk!
BP Travel Marketing is celebrating the launch of Next Holiday, BP's latest online product dedicated to helping consumers find their Next Holiday which has its First Edition live this morning. Next Holiday joins BP's other consumer focused websites TravelOwl.co.uk and Brochurebank.co.uk.

Next Holiday was created by BP's online services manager Phil Taylor working closely with Sussex-based communications company Diligence Media and Marketing, whose design skills were put to the test to create such a simple but effective communication platform. The result is a unique mix of user-generated content (from TravelOwl.co.uk BP's online travel community) and classified advertising from Tour Operators and Travel Agents. Excitingly, Next Holiday takes a number of online and offline forms. Next Holiday (.co.uk) is the main website where visitors link to TravelOwl, Brochurebank and Advertisers' websites. In addition, registered users receive an html email introducing the features of each month's edition plus there is also a printed version which accompanies all brochures dispatched from Brochurebank making this a unique opportunity to target consumers through a variety of media.

The current Next Holiday database is 50,000 consumers who are actively looking to book their Next Holiday and substantial growth is being targeted with numbers estimated to triple over the course of the year.

Phil Taylor, BP's product manager, Online Services, commented: "This is a hugely exciting product, combining traveller's experiences from TravelOwl with some excellent holiday offers to tempt people into booking their Next Holiday." He added: "This month we've got first time cruisers, amazing photos from Churchill in Canada of the polar bears, ski reviews from Panorama in British Columbia and video from the Maldives. It's so exciting to be able to share people's experiences in such a unique way."

James Marchant, Creative Director at Diligence Media and Marketing said: “The growth in the use of technology and emarketing offers an excellent opportunity for BP Travel Marketing, which has a strong reputation for developing high quality travel marketing products, to build its brand and expand its market.”

He added: “BP Travel Marketing is an important account for Diligence. Alongside our recent work for some of the region’s leading companies, it is a step forward in our strategy to increase our presence in the south east business community.”

Ends

Note to Editors (1):

Diligence Media and Marketing is a traditional marketing, design and communications agency with two offices in Hastings and Rye. Amongst the services we offer are:

- Traditional branding, design and print
- Website design and build
- Internet marketing and net optimisation, including a low-cost Blogging service
- eMail, database and direct mail marketing
- Marketing services and support
- Event management

Contact details:

James Marchant
Diligence Media and Marketing
20 Wellington Square,
Hastings,
East Sussex,
TN34 1PB

Tel: 01424 447858
James@diligencegroup.co.uk

From Calais to Boulogne - on foot!

Diligence sister company Nice Work has announced plans for another of its popular overseas walks with a three day walk between the two French ports of Calais and Boulogne.

The walk, which enables participants to raise money for their own favourite charity, will take place between April 18th and 20th.

The towns of Calais and Boulogne are around 25 or so miles apart by road - but a comfortable but more interesting walk of two to two and a half days separates them. They are linked together by a coastal footpath which provides for a breathtaking walk with views over the surrounding countryside and, of course, across the English Channel. In addition to walking, there's time for sightseeing incorporated into the programme as the route passes many places of historic interest and there are a number of museums en route.

There are also a number of refreshment stops along the way and the two overnight stops will provide ample opportunities to sample the local cuisine. The event is perfect for people of all ages and we would encourage families to participate. The route is undulating and with a longest day mileage of around 15 miles, only a basic minimum level of fitness would be required.

The cost of just £145 per person includes:

Transport to and from France
Accommodation, meals plus drinks and refreshments en route
Back- up transport throughout the duration of the stroll
Celebratory lunch in Boulogne
The services of a back-up crew and guides
A daily goody bag plus a commemorative tee shirt

Organiser Martin Burke says “The Calais to Boulogne route has always been our most popular overseas walk and those who join us can expect some stunning scenery, some good company and a great social experience. The walk has already attracted a number of particpants, including one group of younger walkers loooking to raise funds for a once in a lifetime exchange visit to Beijing."

Nice Work has organised the annual three day sponsored walks over the August Bank Holiday Weekend in France and Belgium for both St Michaels Hospice and Martha Trust. This year sees the 5th Stroll for St Michaels which will be from Boulogne to Le Touquet.

The Calais to Boulogne walk takes place from Friday 18th April to Sunday 20th April, with a coach departure from both Hastings and Dover on Friday morning – returning to the towns on Monday evening.

For more information, contact organisers Nice Work on 01797 230730; email info@nice-work.org.uk or visit the Nice Work website

Air Ambulance site passes the test!

The new website designed and built for Kent Air Ambulance by Diligence Media and Marketing has been put through its paces by influential trade mag Third Sector.

Third Sector is the UK’s leading publication for the voluntary and not-for-profit sector. Many of its 80,000 readers are chief executives, trustees and senior managers in charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises. Others are parliamentarians, lawyers, finance professionals and private sector executives concerned with corporate responsibility.

Each issue features a new website which is 'road tested' for navigation, accessibility, content and innovation. The new site was awarded a glowing testimony and a 16/20 score "There's an impressive level of content here" says the reviewer.

"Considering I have only ever seen one at 18/20 and most national charities get 16. I think we’ve done very well. I’m pleased and our Chief Executive is really chuffed." said Kate Duddell , Media Coordinator, Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance.

To see the full review, click here.

All set to Pedal to Dieppe

Details have been announced of a three day sponsored cycle ride to the French port of Dieppe to raise funds for the Hastings Sierra Leone Friendship Link.

Pedal for Sierra Leone will cover some beautiful countryside on both sides of the Channel and take in many places of historic interest en route. There are also a number of refreshment stops along the route making the event suitable for cyclists of all abilities. The overnight base in Dieppe will also provide ample opportunities to sample the local cuisine.

The event is perfect for people of all ages and families are welcome to participate. The route allows for relatively easy cycling, with most of the route in France using a purpose-built cycle roadway.

If you can raise the minimum amount in sponsorship, your place on the Pedal is fully funded.
Organiser Martin Burke from event managers Nice Work, a Diligence sister company, says “This should prove a really popular event and as well as being a great weekend away, is a superb opportunity to demonstrate support for the Hastings Sierra Leone Friendship Link.”

The Pedal for Sierra Leone takes place over the second May Bank Holiday weekend with a departure from Hastings Pier on Saturday May 24th – returning to the town by the Monday evening.

Back-up vehicles will carry basic first aid and cycle repair resources and refreshments will be available at regular stops along the way. Your ferry crossing, all meals, accommodation and refreshments for the duration of the cycle are provided.

For more information, contact organisers Nice Work on 01797 230730; email info@nice-work.org.uk or visit http://www.nice-work.org.uk/

We're movin' up!!

Diligence Media and Marketing is gearing up for further expansion with a move to larger premises in Wellington Square, Hastings. Since the launch of Diligence in late 2007, business levels have been such that the new company requires additional staff and larger premises.

However, the company isn't moving far - the new offices are just next door and up one floor! The move from 18 to 20 Wellington Square, in Hastings, means the company is now able ato accomodate additional staff and resources, whilst maintaining its convenient town centre location.

Since the new company - formed, following the merger of two long-established local companies, Nice Work and Pixel Puppet - was launched, it has experienced rapid expansion. Recent growth has come from both new clients and increased business from existing customers.

The new new offices are located at 20, Wellington Square, Hastings – in the centre of Hastings, close to the central station and with parking facilities nearby.

Diligence will continue to maintain its rural office in Peasmarsh.

Ends

Contact details:

Telephone: 0844 544 7278

Diligence in Hastings
20 Wellington Square,
Hastings,
East Sussex,
TN34 1PB
Direct Line: 01424 447858

Diligence in Rye
Unit 4,
Malthouse Business Park,
Peasmarsh,
TN31 6ST
Direct Line: 01797 230730

Click here to visit the Diligence website.

A Happy New Year for Diligence!

Hastings-based marketing and communications company Diligence Media and Marketing is celebrating a Happy New Year with news of three important new business wins.

In a lively start to 2008, the company have been appointed to three important new projects.

Caseco, a leading supllier of quality spectacle cases, accessories and eyeware have appointed Diligence to construct a new website and online shop. This is the second time the Kent-based optical company have shown their faith in Diligence staff, with the existing site provided by Pixel Puppet - one of the two companies who joined to form Diligence in November 2007.

JAG Press and Publicity is a PR and media consultancy providing leading organisations with PR, editorial and journalist services. Diligence is constructing a website for the consultancy and has also provided the company with a new corporate identity.

The British Pharmaceutical Nutrition Group (BPNG) have also selected Diligence to provide the membership organisation with a new website plus develop a new series of membership marketing materials, including a new branded exhibition presence.

Martin Burke, Marketing Director of Diligence Media and Marketing said "We believe in value for money and believe too that working better rather than working differently makes us stand out from the crowd. Its because of that philosophy that so many organsiations are now selecting us to help them develop their marketing communications".

For more information on how Dlilgence can help your company to communicate better with its customers, call Gareth Jones today 0n 01424 447858.