The Business Exchange Swindon & Wiltshire Edition 43: June/July 2019 | Page 17

CREATIVE THINKING MEET OTTR. WORKS - CREATOR OF BRAND YES Dan Pettitt and Ben Lawton are the team behind Swindon creative agency, Ottr Works (pronounced Otter Works). Using film, photography and design they are helping both local and national brands come to life. Their most recent project has been working with the Swindon & Wiltshire Growth Hub, Business West and The Business Exchange to create an exciting new brand to promote Young Enterprise Swindon (YES) – a new networking group for 18-35 year olds sponsored by The Swindon & Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership. They created the advert (page left) to promote the first event taking place on Thursday 13th June. We met with Dan and Ben to find out more about them and their work. TELL US HOW OTTR WORKS BEGAN Ben wanted to create a sports car commercial in the south of France but had no idea how a camera worked, cue Dan with the skill and know-how, the rest is history. Although we never did quite make that commercial, we’ve made a plethora of videos since then, and travelled to some amazing places. We’re the luckiest blokes in Swindon by far. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN BUSINESS? Since February 2017, so just over two years now, however only working full time since January 2018. Before then it was evenings and weekends - to the grind stone! HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR OFFERING IN 10 WORDS? Two friends helping businesses tell their story through visual content. WHO IS A TYPICAL OTTR WORKS CLIENT? Anyone! We pride ourselves with being able to help the smallest businesses to the biggest charities. We’ve done work for the likes of GWR and The National Trust, to smaller bars and cafés locally. WHAT PROJECT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? Any of The National Trust shoots because they are so picturesque. We also helped Brighter Futures with marketing to raise funds for new equipment at the Great Western Hospital. WHAT’S NEXT FOR OTTR IN 2019? Hopefully expansions, new employees, more smiles, more fun, more value. Our podcast ‘Ottr Stories’ is off to a great start, and we hope to have some fantastic guests on as the year progresses. We’ve already had professional skateboarders, boxers, ultra runners, serial entrepreneurs, the list goes on. Find us on all major platforms. GIVE US YOUR THOUGHTS ON YES (YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS SWINDON) YES is a great place for like-minded individuals (not just entrepreneurs) to come together and collaborate, share ideas and just have a good time. We’ve been to so many networking events and felt like it was always an ‘old boys club’. YES is striving to strike the hearts and accelerating ambitions behind the youth of today. Also, I think there’s free beer? The first YES event is taking place at Desk Cowork, Swindon on Thursday 13th June from 6.30-8pm. If you’re 18-35 and looking to network locally, drop-in for a beer, relaxed conversation and listen to guest speaker, James Threlfall MBE, the 25-year-old professional skateboarder and presenter talk about his journey so far and how he was awarded an MBE for services to Young People in the New Year’s Honours list 2019. Book your free space at YES here: http://ow.ly/HjSI50ucIp4 SUPPORTING YOUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WITH THE BEST QUALIFICATIONS COACHING & MENTORING MANAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP (Distance learning with tutorial support OR bespoke in-house courses for organisations) Start any time. Receive prompt and expert tutorial and coach supervision support that is personalised to your needs. Combine flexible distance learning with high quality training workshops. Suitable for beginners (who will need to attend our workshops) and experienced coaches (who may prefer just distance learning with supervision). COURSE DATES SUMMER 2019: “ 20TH JUNE AND 10TH JULY Trowbridge, Wiltshire A ‘HUGE’ thank you for your support with the assignments & coaching diary. I’m a much a better coach as a result of your input & supervision - just wished I’d had the time to have had more supervision from you! I should also say I found your coaching book really great & your workshops very helpful. ” Start any time. Excellent CMI on-line resources. Receive prompt and expert tutorial support. “ Just wanted to write to say thank you so much for your encouragement & support when I was completing my level 7 qualification in strategic management & leadership. I had been made redundant whilst completing my qualification with you & took a totally different career path which now has gone in a fabulous direction. You had to be qualified to level 5 or over & when I presented my CMI certificate the HR Manager made such a fuss I felt very proud. Thank you for sticking by me, all the best & keep doing what you’re doing” TO FIND OUT MORE PLEASE GET IN TOUCH. Tel: [phone] Email: [email protected] Web: ” www.inspired2learn .co.uk THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2019 17