Three new recruits form part of marketing firm’ s growth plan
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New recruits – Cornerstone Marketing Solutions has been boosted by the arrival of( from left) Lauren Franklin, Eden Addison and Jordan Fraser.
Three new recruits form part of marketing firm’ s growth plan
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Teesside-based marketing specialist is proving it really means business by ramping up the service it offers.
For the past six years, Cornerstone Marketing Solutions has grown organically as part of the Cornerstone Group’ s stable, which also includes Cornerstone Business Solutions, Cornerstone Recruiting, Cornerstone Commercial Property Solutions, Cornerstone Visual Media Solutions and newly-formed Cornerstone Holidays.
Driven by Cornerstone Business Solutions MD Chris Petty, sales director Chris Bibby and Marketing Solutions creative director Jamie Tinkler, it has carved out a great reputation for ensuring its clients are seen and heard across all the relevant channels in an increasingly digital world.
But now they’ ve really put their foot on the gas, with three new recruits set to further energise the firm’ s sales, web development and social media offerings.
And with several new clients already on board, the Cornerstone team is confident more will follow.
Cornerstone Business Solutions is a multi-award-winning IT services firm that has several strings to its bow – including, since 2019, Cornerstone Marketing Solutions.
Those first six years have seen steady growth, with clients largely attracted through word of mouth and contacts.
But Chris Bibby says that with the marketing arm’ s growing reputation, the time seemed right for expansion.
He said:“ It’ s been quite organic, the growth of the business, whereas this
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WORDS year we’ re really backing ourselves, so we’ ve just hired someone in sales, another web developer and another social media content creator.”
One of the three new kids on the block is Lauren Franklin, who’ ll coordinate direct sales. Chris explained:“ Lauren had been working in sales for a house builder, but in her own time she’ d been doing marketing courses to learn the industry. That’ s great for us, knowing we’ re getting someone who’ s really eager and has excellent knowledge.
“ With Cornerstone, the group as a whole has a lot of experience in sales. It’ s a strong suit of ours and we’ re confident that with our support and backing, and by working closely with the technical guys in the marketing company, she’ ll be a big success.”
Jordan Foster joins the web development team armed with ideas, enthusiasm and experience. Chris said:“ In his interview, he brought a portfolio of the work that he’ d been doing. So, rather than just sitting in a room with somebody, he showed us the level of his work, which made our decision so much easier. He seemed a nice guy and we felt he’ d fit in with the team, but the quality of his work was good as well.”
And reflecting Cornerstone’ s belief in giving youth a chance is social media apprentice Eden Addison. Chris said:“ I think we’ ve a knack of spotting people who aren’ t necessarily the finished article
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but have the right attitude to get there. And Eden’ s been brilliant since she came in – not just the quality of her work but her communication skills. Not all young people can pick up the phone or jump in a meeting and chat with people, especially within business, but she’ s been terrific.”
All three started within two weeks of each other – and their arrival coincided with four new clients in March alone.
Chris said:“ Two came in because they saw the work we do for others and really liked it. Then the others came from our social media paid ads that we created to tell other people that we could do it for them if they hadn’ t got the time, the skill set or the budget to get someone inhouse and full-time, which is an expensive way to do it, and probably overkill.”
Current satisfied clients include two firms with Thornaby offices – H & P Freightways and GS Hydro. And as if to emphasise Cornerstone’ s versatility, they’ re even looking after social media for the fifth largest Tik Tok candle seller in the UK!
Chris added:“ We also work with law firms and lots of engineering and manufacturing firms – we look after so many of those, we’ ve joked we’ re all going to need hard hats!
“ But we’ re really backing ourselves this year to grow the company and keep doing a good job.”
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