Shiny and New

After lots of blood, sweat and tears, we're very proud to introduce our brand spanking new website.
We're very proud of it, stop by for a visit and let us know what you think of it...

ST LUKE'S GREEN POLICY

St Luke's is working towards its ISO 14001, here's our policy:

Our main objective is to formalise our current environmental procedures and gain certification as industry recognition of the environmental process inherent to St Luke’s. We need to gain a deeper understanding of how we work as an agency, which means monitoring aspects within the agency carefully. We will gather and analyse data, research alternative possibilities and where appropriate, implement new procedures.

Environmental awareness has always been inherent to St Luke’s company philosophy. We aim to refresh and improve our green awareness and target areas which can be improved.

Our key objective is to reduce our environmental footprint. Staff already have an understanding of carbon footprint and are mindful of it, but we need their support to continue to improve our green credentials.

The Green Touch

Things are still changing at St Lukes. I am sure you have all noticed the new bins are in place, the new labels are up and the pledge is on the wall. May I remind you, we have all pledged, “to always consider the environmental impact of our actions whilst at work and actively work to reduce our carbon footprint and that of the agency”.
There are no more excuses! Paper goes in the brand new recyclable bins, newspapers and magazines go in the kitchen and general waste goes…well in the general waste bin. However, the trick question is: “is it general waste?” You may have the same issue I have sometimes: “but what bin does it go in?” Do not get discouraged and opt for the General Waste bin, do not feel ashamed, ask a fellow friend!

PS: keep up the efforts, Mr Inspector will be around soon to check up on us!

Oh and don’t forget Green is definitely the new Black! Because we are worth it☺

The Day I Was Made into an App

I was pleasantly surprised yesterday to find that my Twitter book has been made into an app on the iTunes store. I think the guys at Mobikats have done a good job at converting it, and will be interested to see how it competes with the physical edition. On the plus side, it's a whopping £2.20 cheaper. On the minus side, you can't pick it up from the counter of Waterstones when you remember that it's your nephew's birthday tomorrow and you haven't got him anything.

Let's see how it goes...

Tim Collins

Who Loves ya baby!

I've been deliberating about where to go for a short break. I watched this short 1970's piece narrated by Telly Savalas and my mind is firmly made up!

Birmingham is the place to be!

Check this 5 min film out you will not be disappointed I promise you!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxZ1xn2ml10

ps Telly also narrated one about Portsmouth.....that's my next trip sorted! :)

Delphina x

Awesome Parents

Awww...

A rather sweet site about how cool your mum and dad were in their day.

Like a positive version of awkwardfamilyphotos.com

Sorry ladies - its official, he's off the market!

HUGE congrats to our very own Dan D dan dan dan, aka 'the Hulsinator' who got engaged yesterday!
Look forward to the champers Dan Hulse - she's a very brave lady! :):)

BRAWN GP TEAM: YOU'VE EARNED YOUR BOWTIME

Jenson Button has finally become Forumla One world champion and by gum have the Brawn GP team earned their Bowtime.

So we decided to tell them, placing ads in the Daily Mirror, Star and Sun.

In the words of Marcus Graftus, 'Your time has come!'

St Lukes’ ongoing Green transformation

As you all know, St Lukes is going the extra mile to make sure the agency’s carbon footprint is limited to the lowest level possible. We kicked off last Friday on St Luke’s day with Nimi’s presentation and posters have been put up to remind everyone of the efforts we each need to make. And of course, there is the pledge everyone has signed, if you haven’t, hurry! The pledge will be put on the wall, out of reach and for everyone to admire the commitment this agency has made.

The next step will consist in putting up signage to indicate recycling bins:

• Toners/ cartridges (between the couches and Roy’s station)
• DVDs/CDs next to TV
• Batteries (on top of one of the couches)
• And general waste bins at the end of each pod for all the rest
• Also, a new label in the kitchen, for glass/porcelain.

Hopefully, these will be put up as soon as possible and you are kindly asked by the entire EMS team to respect them if you do not want to be yelled at. I would like to remind you that an inspector will be coming around to check whether or not we are worthy of the ISO 14001 certification.

Beware Mum & Dad will be watching you…and to that you have to add the stalking intern!!

ST LUKE'S DAY

Friday saw St Lukers celebrating our namesake’s day. After bacon sandwiches, and with the image of beautiful new meeting rooms fixed firmly in our mind, we donned jumpsuits to rise to the challenge of those four dreaded words: CLEAR OUT THE BASEMENT.
Some interesting discoveries were made:

1) We had enough furniture to kit out an entire 80s advertising office (internet surfing chairs that look like ironing boards! Remember them?! No? Probably best not to…)

2) Neil Henderson still has table football skills

3) Coral the intern is excellent at bubble wrapping (thanks Coral btw)
The good news is it won’t be long til the basement is refurbished and we can expand downstairs. Plus we created a mini freecycle, supplying most of Bloomsbury with new furniture and books. Enjoy everyone.

St Luke's wins Harvester

We're very happy to announce Harvester, the Mitchells & Butlers owned restaurant chain, has hired us for its new account.

Harvester have briefed us to produce a campaign which will launch next year.

Simon Cope, Director of Marketing at Mitchells and Butlers said, "St Luke's have created an idea that will form the basis of our communications for the next five years. We were impressed by their deep insight and ability to create a powerful agenda that will affect all parts of the Harvester business".

Eyes Shut Sunday Shoot

Seamus Ryan, the photographer we worked with on our recent RNIB campaign, opens the doors of his Columbia Road studio on Sundays to photograph the public in his renowned Sunday Shoots.

This Sunday he is conducting a special Sunday Shoot, in support of our RNIB campaign.

He will invite the public into his studio and shoot them with their eyes closed, in contemplation of the question 'What would you lose from your life is you lost your sight'.

Everyone is welcome, so please join us at Seamus' studio just off Columbia road (7 Ezra Street, E2 7HR) and show your support for RNIB by posing for a photo.

For more info check out http://www.sundayshoots.com/

Sarah

Twitter or How Citizens Have Spoken

Social media has yet again given proof it enhances democratic participation. Twitter users have cracked the mystery behind the gagging order silencing the Guardian’s reporting of a parliamentary question. Twitter investigators published the details of the entire affair late Monday night and ended up in various blogs and in the press starting with The Private Eye. The subject was mentioned in no less than 3,000 tweets in 15 min on Tuesday.

The breach of freedom of press was orchestrated by Carter-Ruck, the law firm representing Trafigura, a multinational oil company. It obtained an injunction preventing the Guardian from reporting on a question tabled this Monday by Labour MP Paul Farrelly. The ‘super-injunction’ prevented disclosures about toxic oil waste, Trafigura arranged to dump in the Ivory Coast, where inhabitants of the capital, Abidjan suffered from “flu-like symptoms" they might have gotten following the dumping”.

This whole story raises debate on several issues: the questions of oil dumping and ‘super-injunctions’ under which “commercial corporations claim the right to keep secret the fact they have been to court”, and the growing power of social media and the different ways it can be used to serve democracy.

Doesn’t it confirm, once again, that London is the social media capital of the world?

Coral

mmmm How Divine! It's Chocolate week!

I was very delighted to receive the latest Divine Chocolate newsletter announcing that Chocolate Week starts from the 12th October !! Whoo hoo! It's co-sponsored by Divine Chocolate with loads of promotions and events happening up and down the country all week.

To celebrate I whipped up a batch of Pecan Brownies using one of the recipes from a link in the newsletter.

I used dark Divine Chocolate (of course!)and in addition to the pecans I added macadamia nuts & glace cherries! Yum! They'll be on the HUB for you to enjoy after lunch!

Delphina x

ps to sign up for the newsletter and to find out out more about all the events go to the link

A STORY IN SAND

Thanks to The Young Creative Council post on FB extolling the joys of geekdom (as if we need convincing...), which included this staggering clip from Ukraine's Got Talent.



ITV just looked even cheaper...

Can you imagine British kids doing this??

RNIB MAZE AT LABOUT PARTY CONFERENCE

RNIB and issues of sight loss have had presence this week at the Labour party conference. Michael Foster MP took RNIB's maze challenge where people were blindfolded and had to carry out daily tasks like shopping and using the ATM. He said; “Taking RNIB’s Maze Challenge gave me a new perspective on the huge challenges people face when they begin to lose their sight and the patchy support available in many areas. It is time for the Government to prioritise support at the time of sight loss - it is unacceptable that when you most need it, you may struggle to find the right help." What a great way to get a politician to think about the issue.

Read the article
Ed

Mark Vernon's ten ancient tips for the modern world

We've been helping out The School of Life expert Mark Vernon with the launch of his new book, 'Plato's Podcasts - The Ancients' Guide to Modern Living'.

Ex-priest Mark is a founding member of our client The School of Life whose previous publications include 'The Philosophy of Friendship' and 'Wellbeing'. According to Mark, 'writing a sermon is remarkably similar to writing a feature; and speaking to parishioners is remarkably like to talking to a microphone'.

In advance of the book's release, Mark has compiled ten tips based on the philosophies of the old school heavies to help us deal with the high-tech world of modern life. Pretty useful in the heady, relentless whirl of advertising.

Don't know your ARG from your APG? Web 2.0 baffles and web 3.0 frankly terrifies? Pah. According to Mark, this is nothing compared to the rapid, intrepid changes the ancient Greeks had to cope with. Try dealing with the new technologies for constructing the Parthenon. Mark's advice: think like Zeno the Stoic and go with the flow.

NEW RNIB CAMPAIGN

St Luke's new campaign for RNIB launched this week. Our brief was to begin the journey to recruiting a new generation of supporters for RNIB, by putting the issue of sight loss on to their agenda.

People have a very superficial understanding of sight loss and its implications. In fact, without the sort of support RNIB offers, losing your sight can mean losing the life you had and the future you dreamed of.

With this campaign, we're hoping to create engagement and empathy with the issue of sight loss by encouraging people to consider how losing their sight would affect them personally by asking them the question ‘What would you lose from your life if you lost your sight?’ and inviting them to tell us their answers.

The campaign shows groups of real people including rugby players, chefs and hikers, in the midst of their activity with their eyes shut, contemplating their own answers to the question.

What would you lose from your life if you lost your sight?

CREATIVE COMPETITION

MOFILM is 'a user generated content platform which links the global community with big brands and film through the use of short form video'. They are holding a competition where aspiring creatives can write a digital TV spot for the next campaign for some very big brands including McDonalds, Omo, Pepsi, Visa, Nokia, Campbell's and Vaseline... Briefs can be downloaded from the MOFILM website and entrants then upload thier video. Prizes include trips to film festivals, cash, shopping sprees and internships and the chance to walk the red carpet with Clive Owen at the premiere of his next film Boys Are Back at the London Film Festival. The winning video will be posted on the home page of YouTube for 24 hours. So everyone, get writing! Competition closes October 5.

http://www.mofilm.com/competitions/lff2009/