Tag Archives: UK

Mellor&Scott continues to discuss Ebacc with Michael Fallon MP

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Some of you will have seen the email conversation between Mellor&Scott and Michael Fallon over the last couple of weeks. The emails below are an update to the discussions. Let us know what you think and remember you can sign the #IncludeDesign petition here

EMAIL 7
From: Michael Fallon
To: Paul Mellor
Date: 18 January 2013, 14.38pm
Subject: Re, Creative Education in the new Ebacc

Dear Mr. Mellor,

Thank you for writing.

There is a finite amount of time that schools have in their timetables. Therefore more time spent on one subject inevitably means there is less time for others. As such the Government wishes to focus on delivering the basics first. As such I think we are in violent agreement – we both want to make sure children have the right skills and those skills are the core academic ones rather than the vocational.

I do not claim to be an expert on education; on that I must defer to my colleagues at the Department for Education. However, I recognise the importance of having schools teach what businesses value and one way we are doing this is through the Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) which brings councils and businesses together. LEPs will have a new role in setting skills strategies for their local area and we are encouraging LEPs to have a seat on FE colleges’ governing bodies, with colleges represented on LEP boards. LEPs’ skills priorities will be published to help potential learners choose the right course or training programme. I would suggest, given your passion for education, that you may be interested in the work of the South East LEP (http://www.southeastlep.com/) which covers the Sevenoaks area.

Best wishes,

Michael Fallon
__________

EMAIL 8
From: Paul Mellor
To: Michael Fallon
Date: 21 January 2013, 14.23pm
Subject: Re, Creative Education in the new Ebacc

Mr Fallon,

Thank you for your email.

We both want children to be given the best education to start their careers but we differ in our approach, if you think this means we are in ‘violent agreement’ then so be it – I disagree.

The ‘basics’ can be taught without the need to reduce other important subjects. Unfortunately it is an easy and potentially lazy argument to make that ‘more time spent on one subject inevitably means there is less time for others’.

You are the Minister for Business and Enterprise, above all else I would expect you to know what UK businesses expect from the education system. It is not my job to get involved with organisations such as the LEP’s as you suggest (I have previously been involved in college and FE education). It is your job to have your finger on the pulse of the UK economy, and with this specific issue, feedback these views to the Department of Education.

Perhaps we should meet to discuss this in more detail, as I believe this to be a very large problem and one that needs to be addressed immediately.

Paul Mellor

Window Bashing

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The Windows 8 preview is here and apparently we can expect a second preview in June this year.

How do we feel about it? Well I can’t say I’m too impressed from what we’ve seen so far. First of all let’s cut to the chase, Microsoft is not the power house it once was and has half the market capitalisation of its eternal rival Apple (yet still dominates the PC market in terms of volume). Therefore Windows 8 is going to have to be a game changer in terms of experience and functionality for it to regain lost ground and ultimately some customer traction against Apple & Samsung is the future Smartphone/Tablet wars.

Historical elements such as the ‘Start’ button have gone and along with the tab system along the bottom, it’s very close to the remarkably well reviewed Windows Mobile OS. However I feel they have missed the point of the digital lifestyle with gaudy colours and an ‘App Jigsaw’. You don’t have to be bullish to create something new and different and that’s the trap Microsoft’s top guys have fallen into, it looks like they are trying to be different for the sake of it rather than really considering what their beleaguered yet still massive influential customers actually want.

They want a User Experience that is compelling and intuitive but most of all they want to find hidden surprises – this is what the customer wants. Yeah sure they will be content with an integrated system that allows them to switch easily from playing FIFA on their Xbox to sitting infront of a desktop to then hunching over the phone on Facebook for some good honest stalking. But they expect that as a matter of course and it shouldn’t be your driving force and listening to Windows President Steven Sinofsky and looking at the preview you get the feeling that creating an ‘integrated system’ was their goal and unfortunately that isn’t going to get the public’s juices going.

An integrated system with the same navigation and UI across their hardware is very Apple, yet Microsoft seem to have failed to hit the right note because they weren’t doing it for the right reason. They were doing it to create one look-n-feel as opposed to thinking about creating some magic and giving their customers a stify.

I expected more as the noises coming out of the Windows team and Microsoft over the last couple of years after Windows Mobile OS have been encouraging.

Their other big problem is Nokia and no matter how good your relaunch’s are, if you’re stood on the deck next to Captain Nokia on the Titanic you’re only ever going to sink. A partnership with Nokia is strategic suicide.

Have a smashing day, Paul

The X-Factor: Trapped at Deadlock?

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We don’t normally dabble into analysing The X-Factor from a business perspective but the news of falling viewing figures and consequently lower revenue based on the assumed reduction in phone votes and loss via advertising has got us thinking.

The X-Factor is a behemoth of an entertainment show; I have avoided calling it a talent show as it is tantamount to calling WWE wrestling a sport. The show has spawned many hit singles, successful tours, creates untold column inches, re-launched the career of some of the judges and has long sat at the top of the viewing figures for the last few years. However, The X-Factor is essentially a brand; if you want a brand to increase its profitability then new markets are often sought. Simon Cowell has chosen this option and taken The X-Factor across the pond. By hoping to use leverage his profile garnered on American Idol, create hype by hiring and firing judges and having a large prize fund; the show was pretty much a shoe-in to be a success. In reality, the US viewing figures have been less than stellar, Cowell allegedly wanted 20million viewers and he got around 12million for the season premiere. This sounds respectable but American Idol clocked in a massive 28million for their season premiere, this certainly puts things into perspective.

The reasons for the relative failures in both the UK and US markets are slightly different.

The UK market had a brand that was trusted, we liked our judges, the format was settled and eventually the best artist won after we got over the novelty act phase. The producers have always tweaked the format but they may have gone a ‘tweak’ too far.

The changes that have occurred this year seem to have been too significant to overlook. The number of adverts has increased (there to increase revenue) meaning the show is much more disjointed, the change in the judging panel does not seem to have been appreciated and the selection of the acts has been mystifying. Again, if you look at the early shows then it is clear to see who is in the later stages as they have interviewed the people in their homes, often many miles away. So at this point we know that the judges haven’t picked the majority of the people who are in the later stages. When they do finally get a chance to choose the acts they seem to use a Magic Eight Ball. So why trust what the brand is saying if it is contrary to what we being told to believe.

I have been involved in the audition process and I can state that the show is staged to an incredible degree. No stone gets left unturned during research so if there is a ‘shock’ or a ‘scandal’ then it is highly doubtful that this has not been managed and orchestrated by the show itself. After all you want to be in control of your brand, monitoring how it will be perceived to ensure maximum impact!

Assuming we take a different product like a packet of cereal; you have a product that will remain pretty much consistent, perhaps a small change to the packaging every now and then but if you like it then you would never really change. If the cereal box was enlarged but you got the same amount of cereal, the packaging changes to something you are unfamiliar with and the flavour is very similar but just not the same would you still want it? If there are too many changes then the consumer will no longer want what is being sold.

The US audience is subject to different challenges. Firstly The X-Factor is new and the market is pretty saturated, with American Idol and The Voice performing particularly well. Secondly, The X-Factor is not in a great timeslot up against another successful show, Modern Family, and their timeslot often shifts to accommodate the baseball. Further compounding the issues are the facts that The US are less keen on the UK format (particularly the inclusion of the crazy folk) and they also appear less taken with Nicole Scherzinger after she replaced the well-received Cheryl Cole. Quite a few challenges for a fledgling show!

So back to the cereal analogy, you introduce your new cereal on a shelf next to a successful competitor, you then move it around frequently, you also include some fruit pieces in the cereal even though they have only really been tested in other markets and then alter the packaging after a few weeks. Obviously this is a simplistic analogy but you can start to see why The X-Factor is struggling to gain traction in the US.

Creating a brand is difficult, expanding it has additional challenges, but taking your eye off the ball and resting on your laurels are a dangerous game and in the case of The X-Factor the brand expansion is not paying off at home or abroad.