Feature: Education: ISP Diploma

Nick Collins, BD-NTWK Senior Account Executive is among the 161 candidates enrolled on this year’s ISP Diploma in Promotional Marketing. Nick will update us monthly on his progress and how he’s applying it in the work place.

A month ago I received my enrolment pack, login details for the online resources and two hearty textbooks. When I explored the course manual I quickly discovered just what I’d signed up for: nine modules of study, eighteen questions, a set brief and twenty multiple choice questions. Around 10,000 words in total! And, according to the course manual, this will take me “eighty hours or more” over the next five months. That’s 16 hours a month, almost 4 each week. The first hurdle will be finding the time!

I’m now two modules down the line and with the first of the fortnightly online tests behind me. These are just to aid study and don’t count towards the final grade, but the word from recent diploma graduates is that all answers are logged and available to your agency!

Module 1 ‘The Role of Sales Promotion’ kicked off with four questions covering the definition of SP, marketing strategy, the channels of communication and, of course, the role of consumer data in targeting. Each required 400-words; so, on the bright side, just 8,600 words to go before the final submissions due on July 10th. Now that is project management.

Next up, Module 2 covered ‘The Techniques, Codes and Legalities’. And now we’ve had the law laid down its time to follow it by drafting pack copy and T&Cs for a Free Mail-in and Self Liquidating Promotion. I’d call the ISP Legal Advisory Service, but following the recent ICTIS revelations concerning premium rate TV phone-ins you can’t be too careful. After all, if you can’t trust Blue Peter, you can’t trust anyone.

Overall I’m finding the course content useful (especially as a non-marketing graduate) and the workload manageable. But more importantly, my 5-a-side commitments are safe - the seminars don’t clash with BD Brasil’s campaign to defend the Mile End Premier League title!