Whats your Name?
Hi I’m Todd and I’m the Head of Marketing at FCSS. I’m based in Edinburgh but my remit covers the whole of Scotland.
What qualifications or how many years of experience do you have?
I’ve worked in marketing for the best part of 20 years, it’s what brought me to Scotland in the first place! (Although to be honest, my initial plan was to train to be an actor …..somehow I ended up studying marketing and I’ve never looked back!)
What does an average day look like and what types of activities do you do?
On the surface, promoting a childcare provider might seem like a simple task but at FCSS we do so much more than day-care.
We provide a range of unique services that have a range of different markets and audiences. We provide specialist care for children with additional support needs; we provide homecare; we also have a mobile crèche that can be used for weddings, events and even training days; and we provide a childcare management system that not only helps providers to manage their childcare setting but also helps them to deliver a flexible model if they choose to. I promote these services through our website, social media posts, local and national press releases, events, newsletters and various advertising channels….as you can see it’s never a dull moment for the marketing team!
Give me an example of some of the challenges you face:
I suppose the main challenge with my job is finding the time to do it….there just isn’t enough time in the day! Saying that I work with a very dedicated and supportive team who always lend a hand when needed – perhaps that’s the same across the childcare sector? It’s certainly true of the Team at FCSS.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
I’ve had a pretty varied marketing career – I’ve worked in tourism, education, sustainability, innovation, justice….. and to be honest although I’ve enjoyed those roles and sectors, working for a charity that delivers high quality, flexible childcare that helps families achieve better outcomes is the greatest reward of all.
What’s TV series are you watching or what show would you recommend and why?
Currently I’m watching The Outlaws on BBC, I suppose you could describe it as a comedy crime thriller. Written by, and starring Stephen Merchant, the show follows a group of misfits all doing community service in Bristol. It’s a great watch and I’d definitely recommend it.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up and why?
I always wanted to be a cowboy….not sure why, perhaps all those spaghetti westerns with Clint Eastwood. Unfortunately my mum dashed my dreams telling me that cowboys weren’t real (what a whopper!)….perhaps that’s why I wanted to be an actor. Now as a father of two I can be a cowboy anytime I want….with the caveat that I wear a pink hat!