Leading marketers share insights into future of marketing

The University of Derby is set to host ‘Marketing 2020’ – an event that will set the scene for future marketing skills and deliver insight into how marketing is continuously evolving.

Marketing 2020 will take place on Monday, March 16 (2015) at the University’s Kedleston Road site. Budding and experienced marketers are invited to attend the open event as a rare opportunity to hear leading marketers speak in a venue outside London.

Hosted by the College of Business and sponsored by local marketing agency, Katapult Ltd, this event will explore how marketing is likely to change in the future, the skills needed by those working in the industry, and how employers and universities can adapt to meet their consumers’ needs.

Katapult Ltd was set up in 2001 by University of Derby graduates Dawn Foote and Phil Higgins. Now 14 years on, Katapult is rated as a top 100 creative marketing agency. Consisting of a team of 19, the agency specialises in branding, inbound marketing, design, digital, video production and motion graphics.

Speakers at Marketing 2020 will include:

• Martin Broadhurst, Digital Marketing Director, Katapult – specialist in inbound marketing. Martin, who believes that “marketing is dead”, will explain how to develop boring blogs into money making ventures.
• Dr Dave Chaffey - author of E-marketing Excellence and Digital Marketing. Dr Chaffey is the Founder of SmartInsights, Europe’s largest publisher of digital tools. He was the keynote speaker at this month’s Technology for Marketing and Advertising (TFMA) conference. He will share his insights into the always-on, 24/7 world of marketing.
• Phil Robinson, University of Derby graduate and CEO of ClickThrough Marketing – Phil graduated from the University in 1998 with a BA (Hons) Business Studies and co-founded ClickThrough Marketing in 2003. Clients include: Dunlem Mill, Comic Relief, Peugeot and Halfords. He will discuss how to go about setting up your own agency and the key skills he looks for in potential employees.
• Professor John M. Rudd – Professor of Marketing and Strategic Management at Aston University, John serves on the editorial boards of the European Journal of Marketing and Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice. He will share his thoughts on the skills and capabilities needed by today’s marketers.

Martin Broadhurst, Digital Marketing Director, Katapult said: “The technologies that each of us use on a day to day basis has changed enormously over the past decade. This has affected the way in which we market to consumers. It is important that marketers learn the skills and tools needed to remain competitive in this new digitally driven landscape.

“Katapult were keen to sponsor Marketing 2020 since we have a long-standing relationship with the University of Derby. We’re keen to encourage the next generation of marketing graduates and to bring traditional marketers up to speed on digital marketing techniques. This event has a great line-up of speakers. It is sure to inspire and educate.&rdquo

Annmarie Hanlon, Senior Lecturer in Digital Marketing, added: “There’s a link between high performing businesses and their marketing plans. Marketing is changing rapidly. The biggest single issue is that control has moved from companies to consumers.

“This event brings together speakers from academia and business to share their research and insights, as well as agencies working with well-known brands. It’s essential that our students aren’t just ready for the world of work, but that they hit the ground running. This event will highlight the key skills students need for marketing in 2020.”

Registration will take place at 4.45pm for a 5.20pm start. The talks will finish at 8pm. There is no charge for this event.