Jennifer Clair Robson
BA Communication Studies 2000
Jennifer Robson is the co-owner of Sparkle Communications, which is going from strength to strength after trebling its turnover during its second year of business.
The Newcastle-based digital communications agency has witnessed its client portfolio grow exponentially, expanding from just two to over forty in its two years of trading.
The company was founded in 2013 by Jennifer Robson and Nicola Little, through their shared passion of social media and all things digital.
Jennifer is known as The Writer, as her specialty is thinking creatively, developing sparkling communication strategies, and writing spot-on copy. Nicola is The Connector as she has a natural flair for spotting opportunities and developing ideas and businesses.
Jennifer said: “Our skills and personalities are fabulously complementary and are at the heart of Sparkle.
“Nicola and I worked together for a number of years though our respective work at the time. We ran events together and set-up ConnectFriday, an award-nominated digital networking group.
“During this time I saw that her skills, integrity, and passion of all things digital complemented mine. When we spotted the sparkling offer we could provide together, the concept of launching a communications agency with a difference was born.”
Now the directors have launched a training division after helping nearly 500 businesses during the past year.
“We live and breathe digital communications and love nothing better than empowering other businesses to do it for themselves.
“Unfortunately there is a lot of bad advice out there, and as t is such a fast-moving industry the rules change almost daily! That’s why we have launched our Sparkle Training programme - #SparkTraining – because we are passionate about staying bang up-to-date and love nothing better than passing on our knowledge and seeing others flourish.”
The Writer believes the secret of their business success are their connections.
She explained: “In a nutshell – our connections. Word of mouth. Our offer is always specific to what our clients need, and achieving results is our number-one passion. We put our heart and souls into our work, and our clients know this”.
Jennifer, who studied at the University of Sunderland, was also quick to credit how her experience working at the Degrees North Magazine had a positive influence on her career.
“My abiding memory of my time working at the Magazine was the feeling that anything was possible and the freedom I was given to ‘get on with it’.
“As editor at Degrees North, I learned the beauty of working autonomously and also how to manage and inspire others to work creatively – while having lots of fun! I realised at this point that I would never be suited to being a ‘cog in a wheel’.
“And now, 15 years later, that wonderful feeling continues with Sparkle Communications.”
Jennifer’s advice to current students and recent graduates on how to get a foot on the career ladder is: “Be the best you can be. Take every opportunity to get experience – unpaid if necessary – and network as much as you can. Be memorable.”