A firm has used promotional products to help it drive a campaign to encourage its staff to save energy.

The company, Western Power Distribution, launched a competition in which school children were asked to devise a simple energy-saving design and slogan that could be used in all its depots and offices across the UK, reports Wales Online.

It was part of a wider campaign to reduce on-site energy usage, urging staff to turn off lights and power down computers.

Siobhan Pocock, from Afon Taf High School in Merthyr Tydfil won the competition, claiming £500 for her school, a promotional bag for herself and a framed print of her design.

The 13-year-old said she hoped the poster would encourage people to switch off lights to save energy, which was important both to save money and for the environment.

Posters are now on display to more than 6,200 WPD staff.

Cliff Smith, head teacher at Afon Taf High School, told Wales Online: "It's really nice to recognise a pupil's achievement; it lifts their morale and the school's morale.

"Siobhan was highly delighted with the fact that she won the competition for designing the best poster."

"Schoolgirl’s poster wins job of urging staff to help save energy". Wales Online.

Posted by Carl Blackshaw

Have you thought about the part promotional products could play in councils' community health initiatives?

Promotional mugs, printed pens and branded keyrings are all great ways of generating interest in such campaigns.

Take a recent initiative run by Stoke-on-Trent City Council and transport charity Sustrans to get children interested in cycling.

A competition in schools was launched to write a letter Stoke-on-Trent's lord mayor, describing their ideas to get more people to travel to school by bike.

The winner was 11-year-old Thomas Hollins, from Eaton Park Primary School, who suggested a bike hire system.

Thomas won a bike and helmet and the runners-up were all presented with cycling-themed promotional bags as a reward for entering the competition.

The mayor, Terry Follows, told This is Staffordshire: "We received a number of fantastic ideas which made it really difficult to decide on an overall winner.

"I want to offer my congratulations to Thomas and the other winners."

"Pupils aim to give pedal power a push". This is Staffordshire. 

Posted by Cheryl Jackson-Leafield

Promotional bags will be given out to families attending a birdwatching event in Newmarket later this month.

The organisers of the day, the RSPB, are to make effective use of promotional items for the free day at a nature reserve in Lakenheath.

Designed to commemorate the anniversary of the charity's Big Garden Birdwatch, the free event will see a range of indoor and outdoor activities taking place all aimed at getting people more interested in birdwatching.

Guests at the drop-in event on Sunday, January 22, will also get guidance on identifying some common garden visitors, with all the youngsters taking part receiving a goody bag.

David White, information officer at the reserve, told Cambridge News: "This event is a great way to learn more about the Big Garden Birdwatch.

"You can learn how to take part and even to identify some of those pesky birds you only ever seem to get glimpses of."

"Watch birdies for free". Cambridge News. 

Posted by Cheryl Jackson-Leafield

E-learning is becoming an increasingly popular teaching platform in schools, colleges and universities across the country.

It's taken a while to catch on, perhaps – after some initial scepticism, but now many places are opening up to the possibilities of switching learning tools, resources and teacher and tutor contact online.

E-learning systems enable education providers to store huge amounts of information in one single place, they allow students to work more flexibly, and they allow those students to enjoy greater contact with their teachers, lecturers and support staff.

According to Grainne Conole, director of the Beyond Distance Research Alliance at the University of Leicester, e-learning programmes offer a "huge potential".

"They enable learners and teachers to connect, communicate and access information in an unprecedented way," she said.

"For example, through tools like Twitter you can get access to a global network of peers and get advice, links and answers to queries in amazing ways."

Opting for a complete overhaul of how you offer learning tools is always going to be a difficult task – there's a lot to think about, from buying in new equipment to whether students and staff will actually take to it.

One way to ease the transition is to use some promotional merchandise – equip your students and teachers with some printed USBs with your school or uni logo printed on. They'll be able to use the USB stick to store documents on, using the branded merchandise at home, in school and on the go.

Posted by Carl Blackshaw

A group of school pupils in Staffordshire are using a promotional mug as the core business idea they hope will help them win an Apprentice-style competition.

Young entrepreneurs from the de Ferrers Academy Sixth Form, in Horninglow, have entered this year's Young Enterprise competition, in which young people run their own companies for a year, the Burton Mail reports.

They've called their venture Qualitea and for their entry they've have come up with the concept of creating a humorous printed mug which also holds biscuits.

The year 13 students, who all study business, are really proud of the idea. They've managed to raise nearly £100 to put toward the project by running Christmas fairs in their community.

Hamza Orta, 16, who is managing director of Qualitea, told the newspaper: "After lots of brainstorming, we finally thought of a funny mug that holds biscuits.

"We think it's a great product because it’s something that everyone can enjoy and it makes a great, fun present."

"Cuppa team are hoping to make mugs of rivals". Burton Mail. Saturday December 17th 2011.

Posted by Carl Blackshaw

Promotional items have been used to help drive a road safety initiative in Lancashire.

More than 1,000 school pupils in the town of Hyndburn were given fluorescent bags as part of an initiative to help keep them safe this winter, reports the Blackburn Citizen.

Funded by Hyndburn Community Safety Partnership, the bright bags will help the children remain visible to motorists in the dark winter evenings.

The four and five year-olds were also given reflective key rings and colouring pencils as part of the campaign to reduce road injuries and casualties.

Police have also been visiting schools across the borough, talking to youngsters about how to stay safe during the colder months.

PC Rob Flanagan told the newspaper: "Young people who carry these bags will be seen more easily and if it saves one person from getting injured on the roads this winter, it will be worthwhile."

Rolling out a similar safety initiative for winter? Why not arm yourself with some promotional merchandise – think printed keyrings and promotional bags.

Posted by Carl Blackshaw

Police in Staffordshire have been using promotional items to spread the word about the dangers of drugs to students.

Officers have been on campus at Staffordshire University during its Drugs Awareness Week, handing out promotional merchandise to help them think twice before they use illegal substances.

While promotional items are often used in fun and carefree ways, this story also highlights how they can be used to drive serious campaigns, such as drugs awareness.

StaffsLive reported that officers met with students, handing out promotional pens, promotional mousemats and wristbands.

The Student Union has also set up points on campus where students can get advice and enjoy an interactive quiz to see how much they know about drugs, the website said.

This is a great example of how promotional merchandise can be used to deliver such campaigns.

If you're thinking of how best to deliver your message, why not think about using promotional items?

"Police highlight drugs danger to Staffordshire University students". StaffsLive. November 19th 2011.

Posted by Carl Blackshaw

A school brass band from Bolton is making the big move to the States – and it's using promotional merchandise to fund its quest.

The time often comes when many bands take the leap and try to 'crack America' – but can Smithills School Senior Brass Band succeed where Oasis and Robbie failed?

Actually, the band is already quite popular in the US, but needs funds urgently if it is to embark on its 2012 tour in the country.

To gather the required funds – they need £60,000 – the band has taken the unusual step of opening up a pop-up shop in Bolton, where CDs, promotional products and artwork are on sale.

Chris Wormald, assistant headteacher and director of arts at Smithills, told the Bolton News: "The band is massive in America but next year's tour will cost £9,000 per person. We have to raise funds like there's no tomorrow."

4imprint wishes the band well – and feels sure their promotional products will do the trick and see them set sail for the US!

"Smithills Brass Band sets its stall out for USA tour". The Bolton News. Thursday November 3rd.

Posted by Carl Blackshaw

Promotional products could accompany a new government campaign to help children stay safe on the roads.

A new £700,000 THINK! initiative has been launched by road safety minister Mike Penning.

Running on television and in cinemas, the project is aimed at children aged between six and 11 and aims to make them more aware of the danger of not taking proper care on the roads.

In addition to the TV and cinema campaign, the government may find promotional products – such as promotional pens with road safety messages printed on – useful in running the project.

TV ads will highlight the importance of finding a safe place to cross the road while the cinema campaign will remind children why it is important they make sure they can be seen when they are out after dark.

Mr Penning said: "Britain's roads are among the safest in the world and the number of children killed or seriously injured is 72 per cent lower today than twenty years ago. However, every death on the roads is a tragedy and we are determined to reduce these numbers further."

"The television and cinema advertising campaign we are launching today will help to give children the skills and knowledge they need to stay safe as they grow more independent."

"Reminding children to THINK!" Department for Transport. October 14th 2011.

Posted by Carl Blackshaw