The Twelve – Q&A Leigh x Sarah

At tp bennett, we believe strongly in giving the opportunity for all voices to be heard and actively challenge the status quo.

‘Twelve’ is a tp bennett mutual-mentoring programme that encourages debate and discourse between our Board and their 12 staff mentors, our disrupters, who have been given the platform to influence our future.

12 successful applicants from across the business have been matched with 12 Board Members across our six strategic imperatives: brand, client, design, finance , people and sustainability. We have matched pairs who would not ordinarily work on projects together. The programme runs for 18 months, with interim check-ins and reviews to collect feedback from across the pairs. The result is individuals with different life experiences connecting and learning from each other which paves the way for an exciting future for the practice.

We asked each Twelve pair to conduct a two-way interview to find out what they both hope to achieve from being part of the programme. Our third pair are Associate Marketing Manager, Sarah Creedon-Oram who sits in the ‘Brand’ imperative and Principal Director, Leigh Dimelow.

QUESTIONS FROM LEIGH TO SARAH

Q:          What interested you in applying for Twelve?

I’ve been part of the marketing team at tp bennett for over six years, which means I’ve been involved in the company’s brand and events throughout. I want to make sure that everybody at tp bennett is heard and that our internal culture is also being reflected externally. Twelve is a great way to get across all of this.

Q:        Why did you choose the “BD/Brand” strategic imperative?

One of the things that makes tp bennett so unique is its people. Our company is full of talented, kind and fun employees which, over the years, has created the most amazing culture. As tp bennett has grown, our brand has had to evolve as well, and I want to be at the core of conversations about how the company is being positioned and perceived. It’s really important to me that I help with building a positive image of tp bennett, that is consistent across the business, and stems from our practice values.

Q:        What will you bring to the role?

My background in marketing and branding will definitely be valuable with building this strategic imperative. Being so intrinsically involved with the internal events and social calendar – as well as having seen how tp bennett has changed and evolved over the last six years – I know the business well and I think I can bring in some new perspectives and ideas to the table.

Q:        And what do you personally hope to get out of it?

I hope that by participating in the Twelve, I can gain an insight into how the company works and, in the long run, play an active role in the success of the tp bennett’s brand.

I can also see Twelve pushing me both personally and professionally. As we keep finding new ways to communicate tp bennett’s vision, it’ll be a great opportunity to solidify my interpersonal skills by networking with people across the business and externally. Last but not least, I’m really looking forward to the mutual mentoring, and how much it’ll grow my confidence by gaining valuable advice from Leigh, and keep building my professional network.

QUESTIONS FROM SARAH TO LEIGH

Q:      What impact can you see Twelve having on the culture at tp bennett?

I think the real value of Twelve is that it provides better collaboration throughout the practice. Generally speaking, boards are often thought of as a distant group that are difficult to get face time with. Part of our culture at tp bennett is that we encourage everyone to take a greater interest in how we achieve our wider goals. Spearheading an initiative like Twelve ensures that we continue to provide an accessible platform that brings in new ideas and allows all employees to have a voice around the board table.

Q:    What benefits have you seen from the mutual mentoring scheme so far?

The mutual mentoring with Sarah has been a great eye-opening experience for me, seeing how the whole company – not just the board – views the business. Having been at tp bennett for over 26 years, my perception of the company has for the most part been shaped by the way the industry was at that time. So it’s definitely refreshing to hear insights from all our employees, each bringing their own unique experiences. It helps us better understand what the future of the business could look like as we take on new challenges and opportunities.

Q:  How do you think the tp bennett brand will continue to develop across the northern offices in Manchester & Leeds?

Profiling initiatives like Twelve will continue to help our northern studios create a strong, regional position that sets us apart from our northern industry peers. There’s a quote that has previously been used to describe where the north sits in the business, which I think sums it up perfectly: ‘Within tp bennett, the same beliefs and values exist across all our studios. We are another tp bennett studio, on another floor, but in a different city’.