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.

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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.

Davis in Christmas Cracker triumph

James Davis stormed to victory in Sunday’s Kent Christmas Cracker 5 mile race at Fowlmead Country Park on Sunday morning. The Invicta East Kent Runner covered the traffic-free course in 27 minutes and 40 seconds to win by almost two minutes. Essex runner Scott Tilson was second, while Deal Tri's Jason Read was third.

Jill Cliff, from Deal Tri was first lady home in 31.04, with Victoria Talbot-Rosner (Invicta East Kent) second and Lindsey Shing (Sevenoaks AC) third. Deal Tri scooped both the Men’s and Ladies team titles.

Over 130 entries were received for this inaugural event at Fowlmead organised by Diligence sister company, Nice Work. The company has confirmed that the event will return in 2008. The race was organised to raise funds for Martha Trust who provide care for profoundly disabled young adults at two residential homes near Deal.

The Christmas spirit – and Christmas Puds! - were in plentiful supply for runners taking part in both the main race and the Children’s 1 Mile Santa Dash – and there was also a warming glass of punch and mince pie on hand for finishers on a bright, sunny, but bitterly cold morning.

More information from Martin Burke at Nice Work 01797 230730.

All set for a Christmas Cracker

Runners from all over the south east – and some from even further afield - will be descending upon Fowlmead Country Park in Sholden, near Deal on Sunday for the second running of the Kent Christmas Cracker.

Advance entries for the charity road running race to raise funds for Martha Trust indicate that around 200 runners of all ages will be descending upon the Park for the event.

The race is organised to raise money for Martha Trust by Diligence Media and Marketing via their specialist road running sister company Nice Work. Race Director Martin Burke is anticipating a good humoured day with festive fun a priority: "In addition to medals for all finishers, each particpant will collect a Christmas Pudding when they finish - and there will be mulled wine and mince pies for everybody too. We’ve attracted a great entry already – but there will still be spaces available for those who want to sign up on the day”

The 5 mile race is over a flat, traffic-free course utlising the purpose-built cycle road in the park. The race starts at 10.30 am with a Children's Race taking place at 10.15.

In addition to the Kent Christmas Cracker, the company is organising the Christmas Pudding Dash on December 22nd, which has already attracted almost 350 runners, the Lydd Half Marathon on March 9th and the Rye Summer Series in the summer of 2008.

Any enquires to Martin Burke 01797 230730 or visit http://www.nice-work.org.uk/

Air Ambulance at the click of a button

The three Air Ambulance services in the south east have just re-launched their on-line presence with an exciting new web site.

The three sites, for Kent Air Ambulance, Surrey Air Ambulance and Sussex Air Ambulance were conceived, developed and constructed by Diligence Media and Marketing. The sites are more user friendly and contain new interactive features, information, photographs and videos of the life saving helicopters they use.

New features include ‘real life’ stories from people who have been carried by the Air Ambulance, a virtual tour of the helicopter that allows the public to see the cockpit and cabin and cutaway views of the aircraft. There is also a new flying time map than enables viewers to find out how long it takes the helicopters to fly from their bases to various locations within their respective counties.

James Marchant, Creative Director at Diligence said ‘This is a really exciting development. It has taken us some six months to get it right but we believe that we have come up with a web site which is both informative and fun. It enables the people within Kent, Surrey and Sussex who so generously support the charity to be able to keep up to date with news from their Air Ambulance service.’

Diligence Media and Marketing was formed in November 2007 following the merger of two well known local marketing and design companies, Pixel Puppet and Peasmarsh-based Nice Work.

You can visit the new websites at:

http://www.kentairambulance.co.uk/

http://www.sussexairambulance.co.uk/

http://www.surreyairambulance.co.uk/

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Note to Editors (1):

The Air Ambulance service in Kent, Surrey and Sussex costs around £3 million annually to stay airborne. Receiving no funds from the government or the National Lottery the charity is entirely dependent upon the generosity of the public to support the two helicopters, based at Marden and Dunsfold.

Note to Editors (2):

Diligence Media and Marketing is a traditional marketing, design and communivations agency. 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:

Telephone: 0844 544 7278

18 Wellington Square,

Hastings,

East Sussex,

TN34 1PB

Click here to visit the Diligence website.