OVER the past 12 years, The Business Club Northants CEO Mike Willis has welcomed many high fliers to its meetings – but none more literally so than PR specialist Duncan Murray.
As the owner of Provence PR, Duncan discovered the benefits of networking and the benefits to his two business ventures – the PR management company and the Jump Dogs Parachute Display Team.
A former Army Red Devil, Duncan went into PR after leaving the Parachute Regiment in 2009. He’d been involved in publicity and sponsorship with the Red Devils and it seemed the obvious choice. He formed his own company three years ago and then last year joined fellow director Edward Blakey, to head up the 10-strong Jump Dogs team, staging spectacular canopy parachute jumps that add huge momentum to corporate events such as product launches.
Duncan’s two businesses turned out to be a perfect fit, with Provence PR able to organise a display for clients wishing to put on a spectacular display to promote their brand or services.
“I consider myself something of a PR expert, having dealt with event and project management, publicity, social media and the like for so many years, but it was networking that really showed me the way forward,” said Duncan.
“A couple of years ago I barely knew what networking was, then a friend recommended I try a few local groups, which I did and found The Business Club Northants to be ideal for me.
“Mike Willis has such creativity, and it was one of his presentations, about thinking outside the box, that focused my mind on what I was doing. I was promoting the company as a complete PR package when in fact, what I should have been doing was concentrating on what I’m best at and what I enjoy the most.
“Since I recognised that, I’ve thrown myself into things like crisis management, event management and showing clients the benefits of current social media trends, like bloggers and influencers. Provence PR can do all the other things, of course, but what that Business Club meeting did was show me the direction I wanted to go in.
“Networking should be in the top three strategies for any business of any size, getting out there and meeting other businesspeople, hearing their ideas and their advice can only be of benefit.”
Find out more about Provence PR at www.provencepr.co.uk and about Jump Dogs Parachute Display team at www.jumpdogsparachuteteam.co.uk
Contact The Business Club Northants on 01604 529173, email or visit www.thebusinessclubnorthants.co.uk