L A T E S T N E W S
PURPLE POST June 2023
Welcome to the June edition of Purple Post!
We are halfway through the year already and hopefully, everyone is enjoying some warm weather and the light evenings we are having.
In this month’s issue, details of how you can make some extra money with our smashing ‘Summer Sizzler’, an update from the Functional Skills team, an advice piece written for our settings on equality, diversity and inclusion; an update from our Southeast region, and some fantastic testimonials too!
Let’s kick off with news of our first ‘Summer Sizzler’…
We are excited to announce the first of our Sizzling Summer offers! We are offering NEW customers to Parenta, 10% off a brand-new bespoke childcare website – but only for the month of July - so please spread the news!
Who wants to win a £50 Amazon gift card AND an extra special prize?
For the month of July, any referrals for this new childcare website business that come in from staff that result in a new website sale will be put into a prize draw for a £50 Amazon gift voucher PLUS a special prize! The draw will take place on Tuesday 1st August.
This is in addition to an Amazon gift card for July's highest number of ‘confirmed’ staff referrals for Training. Good luck!
A further website discount will be available for Parenta customers in August, but July's offer is exclusively to attract new business, so please spread the word far and wide ... and have the chance to earn some extra money!
Offer Ends
Update from Richelle Sparks,
Head of Sales & Customer Experience:
“I hope you are having a lovely month and enjoying the sunshine. I would like to personally thank those many members of staff who send over referrals for new learners, they are really helpful. Can I ask that you use the form via this link to send your referrals please:
https://www.parenta.com/staff-referral-form-internal-use-only/
There are a few reasons why we need them sent via the link. Firstly, they are imported directly into our CRM system and your name will be recorded against the referral, which will enable your referral bonus to be tracked. Secondly, we ensure all referrals are divided equally amongst the sales team because they are classed as “the cream of leads”. Finally, it gives us visibility on the number of referrals received. Thank you.”
A message and update from Kirsty Taylor,
Training Delivery Manager, South East Region:
“I would like to say a HUGE thank you to the Southeast team! WOW, it has been a very, very busy few months and we still have some big hurdles to climb! The good news is that we have turned mountains into just small hurdles over the last four months! You have made a significant impact on our out-of-funding learners, you are raising and driving that engagement, (although you know I won’t be happy until we hit 95%! 😉) This is shown by the minimum number of customer tickets we get week on week!
“I know how hard you are all working to drive down those OOFs, we need that last hard push this month and next so we can all reap the benefits of what we have achieved! On that note our team is growing to help us on our path to success, we have welcomed the lovely Sam Evans onto the team, we have another two tutors joining the Parenta family in July and still have another vacancy to fill!
I am so PROUD to have you all as my team and I appreciate every single one of you for your hard work and dedication! We can do this!"
Parenta theme for the upcoming month of July - Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
In an inclusive workplace, everyone should feel valued and safe at work regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion or sexual orientation. This, in turn, makes it a more inviting place to work and shows employees and customers that it is conducive to new ideas, trying new things and having a happier workforce. It also helps reduce the risk of bullying, harassment, and discrimination.
Our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion advice piece which has been written specifically for our audience covers essential information about protected characteristics, unconscious bias, stereotyping, and much more.
The continuing adventures of Parenta Bear – celebrating the Bear’s first anniversary!
It’s hard to believe, but it’s been a year since we began the adventures of our intrepid Parenta Bear! The adventures so far – including swimming, a wedding, visiting churches, eating pizza on a beach, tossing pancakes and drinking countless cocktails to name but a few – have made many of us envious. Let’s make the next 12 months even more adventurous!
Don’t forget to send in your pictures of whatever your bear has been doing, to marketing@parenta.com! It is such a good way to keep us connected!
Free industry webinars from Parenta
The monthly Parenta Webinars are gaining a reputation within the industry as events you do not want to miss! They have grown from strength to strength since they began in April 2020 and cover a wide variety of hot industry topics. Please register and attend, for your own professional development.
Here is the link to June’s if you missed it.
Don’t miss July’s webinar!
A reminder that we are now on TikTok!
We are thrilled to announce our launch on TikTok, a platform that provides a unique opportunity for us to connect with our target audience whilst showcasing the fun and creative side of Parenta!
Through engaging videos, we aim to provide invaluable information and insight into our solutions, who we are, whilst also entertaining our followers.
Our TikTok account is an exciting addition to our social media presence and we look forward to the opportunities it will bring!
We encourage all Parenta People to check it out and share with your learners and settings!
You can find us on TikTok at @parenta_
Update from Emma Harris,
Functional Skills & Additional Learning Support Manager:
We have a full team! Amy Wong has joined as a maths tutor and has already started teaching the course. As most people will know, we are having a big push for exams for OOF (out of funding) learners.
Please encourage learners to log into BKSB and complete their tasks which will help them with revision. The July booking form for the English course is now live on SharePoint and a timetable grid has been added and the links for all sessions in the Functional Skills 2023 folder.
Can main tutors please keep checking the attendance sheets for their learners – the September booking form will be sent out in July.
Celebration/motivation emails have gone to all learners and their managers who have attended all their sessions so far and are on the right track for exams.
Issues with exams on the day
If a learner has an issue with a SkillsFirst exam, they need to phone SkillsFirst directly on 0121 270 5100. Unfortunately, The Functional Skills team cannot provide technical support as the exams are run by SkillsFirst.
If there is an issue with a City & Guilds exam, please contact Megan Cooke megan.cooke@parenta.com
A reminder of email addresses:
All FS queries: fs@parenta.com
All ALS queries and referrals: als@parenta.com
SF XAMS new platform:
https://linx2.vtct.org.uk/login?
Keep those high-fives coming!
We have a Kudos winner for June – it’s Junior Marketing Executive Beth Cane, well done, Beth!
We caught up with last month’s winner, Helen Palmer and this is what she had to say:
"Hi, my name is Helen Palmer and I have been with Parenta for a year and a half. I would like to say thank you to all who gave me Kudos in June, for the recognition of my contribution to Parenta. A special thanks to Sarah Ellis for her support and guidance!"
What have our customers said this month?
"I always received excellent support and help from the Parenta staff to sort out every problem I encounter. Thank you very much for your continued assistance, it is much appreciated."
Brishing Barn
"Very friendly and helpful. Thank you :-)"
Leanne and Aimee
"Charlotte phoned to say to introduce herself as my new advisor, she was lovely and explained what other things we can do with Parenta"
Treehouse Nursery
"Brilliant quick response with what I needed to know Thank you"
Emily
"Charlotte was very helpful on the phone, giving me all the information I needed so that I could go away and have a look at it all myself. Thank you"
Rachel Shulver
"Parenta staff are always pleasant to chat with, and very helpful. It was nice to speak to Charlotte today."
Victoria Jerome
"Shauna was great on the training - thank you"
Charlene
"I am replying on behalf of my colleague, and I know that she was very happy with the help and advice that was given!"
sdurell
"Thank you again! kindest regards :) x quick response and thorough explanations"
Jen Chance
"Jamie is very helpful and clear on everything. Thank you."
Sharon and Mel
"Brilliant quick response with what I needed to know Thank you"
Helen Gration - Founder of Yorkshire Montessori Nurseries Ltd.
"I had a quick response which helped to resolve my issue."
Caroline Rawnsley
Requesting Creative work from the Marketing Team – please read
We are excited to have launched the marketing ticketing system in Zoho Desk and thank you so much to all those who are using it. All managers have access to this and have been sent instructions on how to submit a ticket with the relevant information you need the team to produce, brand or create for you.
It’s been agreed that only managers should be sending approved work to marketing to avoid everyone pulling in different directions.
Resources to help us, our learners, and our settings
A reminder that all Parenta resources can be found here on our staff intranet, all in one handy place.
We publish additional industry expert advice, news articles and crafts in our free
magazine and on our
blog.
Here are this month’s How to Guides and documents that have been added to the staff intranet:
In June, we welcomed:
Amy Wong – Functional Skills Tutor (Maths) –12th
Lucy O’Donoghue – IQA –19th
We said goodbye to:
Becky Smith – 2nd
Emma Springett – 7th
Matilda Sanusi –12th
Iza Salegui – 22nd
Christopher Perkins - 27th
Parenta Magazine
Our free monthly magazine is packed with news articles and advice pieces - all of which are written to help nursery managers with the efficient running of their settings and to promote the health, happiness and well-being of the children in their care. Please do read it and send the magazine link to your contacts.