Member Article

Shining the spotlight on CIM North East board member, Laura Carrick

Away from her marketing and communications role at Newcastle-based ethical investment organisation and fair-trade lender, Shared Interest Society and the CIM North East board, Laura Carrick is a keen runner for Tyne Bridge Harriers and can often be found covered head to toe in a muddy cross-country field!

In this article Laura shares her journey with CIM North East.

My involvement with the Chartered Institute of Marketing began in 2015 when I wanted to undertake qualifications that would enhance my career. Little did I know at that stage that the journey would lead to me becoming a member of the North East board. It was a great move for me, unquestionably developing my network within the marketing community and enabling me to work with a proactive team that is unlocking ways to promote the sector in the region.

2009 was when my marketing career began as part of the corporate communications team at Northumbria Police. In 2014, I moved on to my current role at Shared Interest as marketing and communications officer. Having studied Journalism at Sunderland University, I was keen to undertake marketing qualifications to support my learning. I chose to study a CAM Diploma in marketing communications at Level 3 and 4 and then followed this up with a CIM Diploma in Professional Marketing at Level 6. This has also helped to support my role as marketing and communications officer at Shared Interest.

Through my learning at the North East Sales and Marketing Academy (NESMA) I became more hands on with the CIM and was appointed as a metrics and analysis ambassador. I am also part of the CIM business team, for which event planning is a key focus.

During 2020, CIM North East has an action-packed agenda, with a series of events to engage marketers from across the region and really celebrate our great success stories via a range of thought leadership articles and the sectoral work that the North East board is undertaking.

We started the year with our January networking breakfasts at Motel One, Newcastle, with guest speaker, ‘Rising Star In-house’ 2019 Marketing Awards winner, Anthony McDermott, head of corporate relationships at St Benedict’s Hospice, Sunderland. He informed us how marketing has really helped to support fundraising campaigns.

We also have our ‘Meet the Greats’, with the spotlight on esteemed members of the North East marketing community. We accelerated into top gear with a talk by Stephen King, commercial director at Go North East, the region’s largest bus operating company. Speaking to an engaged audience, Stephen, who was named as the CIM’s marketer of the year 2018, took us through his progress from trainee to boardroom.

If that is not enough to keep member’s informed and entertained, then why not enjoy a mocktail or cocktail at our quarterly ‘Meet with Drinks’ events. An informal and sociable get together with like-minded marketers. We have found that there is a real appetite to create a local community where fellow marketers can engage on an on-going basis – so do get in touch!

We have also forged strong links with a number of universities. We are actively engaging and collaborating with Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria and Sunderland Universities providing the bridge for undergraduates to step on to the next level of their marketing careers.

Events are open to both members and non-members. To find out about our series of events, please visit: https://regions.cim.co.uk/North/home/

For more information or to join the Chartered Institute of Marketing visit: bit.ly/CIMHearMore

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by CIM North East .