Tag Archives: people

Paul Earnden joins TLA to head up property business

Paul Earnden, the former director and board member of digital agency Prodo, has joined us to take on the newly-created position of strategy director for our growing property business.

Having expanded into the property market two years ago, following a decade and half in automotive, we welcome Paul at an exciting time for the business, with new technology soon to be launched.

Paul is tasked with developing and driving forward the company’s proposition across a number of property markets, including estate agencies and mortgage providers, helping our clients to acquire new clients in meaningful volumes.

“Paul brings a deep understanding of digital, marketing and product development,” commented TLA CEO Anton Hanley. “His experience of working with external service providers off-shore and on- to deliver technical solutions make him a great fit for where TLA is heading as a business.

“Paul will be responsible for researching and setting the strategy for the property vertical, leveraging our proprietary advertising technology to provide clients the highest quality of in-market leads available.”

Paul joins us after five years with Chester-based Prodo, where he led on strategy and sat on the agency’s board of directors. His remit there was to set the strategic direction for all clients from a customer acquisition and digital transformation perspective. These included the New York Times, RBS, Emirates Old Trafford and several clients in property and financial services markets.

Speaking of his new challenge, Paul said: “In the current era of digital disruption, I’m incredibly excited to be joining TLA. I am highly impressed with the technology offering and how TLA’s platform can be leveraged by brands looking to acquire customers in the property space.

“I’m looking forward to joining a well-established, 17-year-old tech company and growing the property business into a major part of TLA.”

Five minutes with… TLA PPC Manager Dan Potter

Ever wondered who are the people behind the technology and campaigns TLA produces? In a new series, we’re grabbing five minutes with members of the team to shine more light on who they are and what inspires them.

First up is Dan Potter, who joined the business in 2015 and manages our paid media campaigns. Here’s what we learned in our five-minute catch-up.

Hi Dan. Let’s start with an important one. Which sports teams do you follow?

Unfortunately, I’m a lifelong-suffering Evertonian (thanks Dad). I’ve also got into American football over the last couple of years and follow the New Orleans Saints (the least Everton-esque team I could find).

What TV series or film should we be watching?

I feel like it’d be too obvious to say Game of Thrones here, but… Game of Thrones.

If you had two weeks off, where would you go?

Japan. Absolutely no doubt. I’ve always been fascinated by the unique cocktail of ultra-modern technology, rich culture and traditions, and crazily beautiful natural landscapes. Plus the sushi, obviously.

Want to join Dan in the PPC team? Why not get in touch and apply today!

Which TED talks (or equivalent) have you seen that you recommend we watch?

I’m going to cheat here because it’s not a TED talk, but I’d highly recommend giving ‘Cambridge Analytica – The Power of Big Data and Psychographics’ from the 2016 Concordia summit a watch. It’s a fascinating yet terrifying insight into how big data was leveraged alongside laser-targeted ad messaging to influence the Trump US election. It’ll make you never want to use the internet again.

Which websites do you visit daily?

I can’t remember the last time I went 24 hours without going on Instagram or YouTube. Workwise, PPC Hero post a lot of useful content and industry news daily. I’m also a big fan of Copyhackers, they teach you how to use the power of words to influence our highly susceptible human brains and drive action.

Which entrepreneurs do you admire and why?

I’m a big fan of Elon Musk. He’s not your typical entrepreneur that spotted a gap in the market or found a way to monetise their passion. He’s someone that’s driven by a genuine desire to change the world. He’s totally self-made, a massive risk taker and relentless in chasing his goals to an obsessive degree. Pretty much the poster boy for innovation and pushing boundaries.

And finally, what aspect of your work are you most passionate about?

I love the opportunity to be creative – and with digital marketing you’re able to actually see the direct tangible results of what you do. It’s super satisfying when some outside of the box thinking comes off.

If you’ve got a question for the TLA team or want to know more about what makes us tick, why not get in touch?

My Internship at The Lead Agency

As a recent University graduate, I was in search of an opportunity that would allow me to get my foot in the door and begin my professional career.

I was hoping to secure an internship, so when I was selected as The Lead Agency’s new PR and Content Intern I was extremely grateful and excited.

The past five months have flown by. I have learnt so much during my time here and have really enjoyed the whole process, thanks to my manager, Keith Price, and the rest of the TLA team.

First impressions

Set on the 13^th floor of Liverpool’s Unity Building, the TLA office is open and bright with 360⁰ panoramic views of the city. (The picture to the left has been my view of the Liver building from my desk!).

From the very start, I was made to feel extremely welcome and was taught all about the company culture and core values that are so very important to the business.

New challenges

During my time here, I’ve had the opportunity to take on many different tasks and challenges. This has involved writing a number of articles for the TLA website – the content of which has varied from employee interviews and charity press releases to industry opinion pieces. I’ve also taken responsibility for TLA’s social media platforms, creating content to be published across the company’s LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram profiles.

My experience here has taught me an immense amount about digital marketing, content writing and SEO. I have had the opportunity to work with many different members of staff across different departments within the Liverpool HQ, and have received continual support, guidance and advice since day one.

Positive culture

The culture at The Lead Agency is very positive, one in which everyone is open, honest and made to feel trusted. There is a really strong work ethic here too. Every member of the team is focused and committed to their role but will always offer a helping hand to anyone who needs it.

The social side of my time here has also been great fun. The company has many employee benefits, such as the 4pm Friday ‘check-in’ – in which everyone heads into the office’s very own bar for a drink. ‘Cake Friday’ at the end of the month always goes down well with everyone too, along with other events throughout the calendar, such as the team social that was organised in celebration of TLA’s Tech Track 100 ranking!

I’ve made some great friends that I will remain friends with as I move on to the next stage of my career.

Grace Boardman

Do you want to join Liverpool’s fastest-growing tech company? Check out the latest career opportunities in Liverpool and London.

Charity success: £10k target hit for NSPCC

After successfully completing a trilogy of endurance challenges, we’re extremely excited to announce that we’ve surpassed our £10k fundraising target for NSPCC!

A huge thank you must to all those who generously donated in aid of such an important cause. The donations will support the NSPCC as it fights to put an end to child abuse in the UK.

The challenges

Having set our ambitious £10k goal at the start of the year, we teamed up with friends of the business to take on a series of difficult challenges.

The first was the Virgin Money London Marathon in April, which Anton Hanley and Ed Whelan completed in soaring temperatures – a brilliant achievement and one that got our fundraising started.

In July, following the marathon, five members of team TLA took on the immense Man vs Lakes, otherwise known as ‘The Rat Race’. This 28 mile race through the Lake District, involved running and kayaking, complete with a 4,200ft ascent.

To top off our fundraising efforts, a team of 14 got on their bikes for the London to Paris cycle at the start of September. The 165-mile, three-day adventure began at the Marble Arch and concluded at the Arc De Triomph.

Our CEO Anton Hanley said: “We believe it’s important to give something back, and the NSPCC’s fight to end child abuse in the UK is a cause we are proud to support.

The challenges we’ve undertaken this year have pushed us to our limits at times, but we had great fun doing them. The whole team put in hours of training to prepare and rallied the support of their friends and family to help us reach our £10,000 milestone. We’re immensely grateful for the support and commitment from everyone involved.”

NSPCC senior development manager Rachel Walker commented on our fundraising mission: “The team at The Lead Agency are absolutely awe-inspiring in their determination to raise vital funds for the NSPCC.

“The money they have raised will help us to be there for more children who have experienced abuse and neglect.”

Chris Gawor joins TLA as Head of Agency Partnerships

With 20-years’ experience in media sales and a deep understanding of the automotive industry, we are delighted to welcome Chris Gawor to The Lead Agency team.

Chris joins us with a remit to develop strategies that will grow and develop our relationships with key media partners and clients within our two main verticals, automotive and property.

As former agency sales director for Auto Trader UK, and having previously held senior positions at Orange, Mail Online and WPP, Chris’s wealth of knowledge will help us to identify ways we can further support the objectives of our clients and partners.

‘Strong reputation for quality’

As Head of Agency Partnerships, Chris will be working closely with our Group CEO Anton Hanley and our automotive managing director, Tom White, who spent seven years with Auto Trader and three with Time Out Group before joining us in 2017.

“I’m thrilled to have joined a growing business with such a strong reputation for quality.”

“I was immediately attracted to the team’s genuine commitment to build partnerships based on trust by providing transparent, insight-driven services that consistently deliver results. That proposition is one that I’m excited to work with as we grow relationships with new and existing media agency clients.”

‘In-depth understanding’

Anton commented on Chris’ appointment, telling us about how “Chris’ in-depth knowledge and understanding of the automotive industry’s commercial challenges and together with our growing team of account managers will provide a premium customer acquisition service for our clients”.

We wish Chris a happy and successful future with us here at TLA!

If you’d like to be a part of team TLA, visit our careers page to find out more about our vacancies.

Our Culture Book

Our company values are important to us here at The Lead Agency, which is why we’ve created our first culture book for all members of team TLA.

The book outlines who we are, our mission, our vision and our values – all of which help to shape the culture of the business.

Everyone in the business has been handed their own copy, and all new starters are provided with one when they join the team.

It provides new starters with an insight into what it means to be a part of TLA, what’s expected of them and what they can expect from their time here.

It forms part of a thorough onboarding process that helps people to get settled in their new surroundings, understand how their role contributes to the goals of the business and what we believe is the right way to do things.

The book features images of some of the real faces behind the business, along with inspirational characters such as Steve Jobs, Muhammad Ali and Michael Jordan.

The book was a collaborative effort between the TLA team and Liverpool-based Wordscapes.

One of our values is to ‘go beyond limits and expectations’, which is summed up well by our latest series of charity challenges in aid of the NSPCC. Read more about our cycling trip from London to Paris.

Challenge completed: London to Paris by bike

Team TLA and friends have successfully completed their latest charity challenge – 165-miles from London to Paris, by bike, in aid of the NSPCC.

We have now achieved over 90% of our £10k fundraising goal!

The team posed for a picture in front of the Marble Arch in London before they started their peddling to Paris, with a few punctures along the way…

The sun was shining, the team was still smiling and the views along the way weren’t too bad either…

Boarding the boat to France…

And they made it! The team celebrated their brilliant achievement with a well-deserved ice cream whilst posing for a picture in front of the Eiffel Tower.

If you haven’t already, catch up with the other TLA charity challenges here.

If you would like to support the NSPCC’s fight for change, we would greatly appreciate any donations.

Life at The Lead Agency: Meet Finance Assistant Joanna Walmsley

Finance assistant Joanna Walmsley joined The Lead Agency straight from sixth form three years ago and is on her way to becoming AAT qualified. Here, she tells us about her time at TLA so far.

What were your first impressions of The Lead Agency?

Really positive! When I started here everyone was so lovely and welcoming. The team made it really easy for me to fit in, despite how shy I was to begin with.

What lead you to this role?

I’d worked in a shop for a little while once I had finished school and was ready to move on, but I knew that University wasn’t the right option for me.

So, I decided to look into apprenticeships. I started at TLA doing a general apprenticeship in financing that required an industry work placement. Three years later, the company has given me the opportunity to sit my AAT exams and develop a career in finance. I will finish my current qualification in September, after which I hope to complete the final year to become AAT qualified (Association of Accounting Technicians).

What three words would you use to describe your role?

Challenging but interesting! It can be stressful at times, but I genuinely enjoy it.

What sort of responsibilities does your job involve?

I look after the cash-flows, invoicing, and many other day-to-day tasks. My role also includes other responsibilities such as looking after the payroll – basically keeping everyone happy by making sure they’re all paid on time!

How have you found balancing studying with your full-time position?

It’s hard at times when I have an exam coming up as I put a lot of pressure on myself to balance work and studying.

When I have an exam coming up, our financial controller Sam Reaney ensures that my day-to-day tasks include areas that I will be tested on in the exam. That’s really helpful as I can learn in the role and understand it before I even begin my online classroom time!

What would you say to others that are thinking about doing an apprenticeship like this one? Do you have any advice?

If it’s what you really want to do, go for it! It takes dedication, but it’s worth it.

Have you been able to take on more responsibilities and progress within the business? If so, what?

Yes, definitely. I’ve progressed a lot whilst working here. At school I was good at maths and thought I would do well working in finance, but when I started working here I knew literally nothing about finance or accounting.

Step-by-step, I’m handling more responsibilities and that means I’m always facing new challenges. I’ve learnt everything I know about finance by working here alongside Sam, and I’m really grateful for that. TLA invested in me as an 18-year-old and gave me a great opportunity. Since then, I have grown so much, both as a person and in the workplace.

What’s the culture like at TLA and within the team?

I love it! Everyone is welcoming, sociable, friendly and supportive too. It’s a lovely place to work.

I like how chilled out it can be, we all make sure that we get our work done but we laugh along the way and make sure to enjoy ourselves.

We’re hiring! To find out more about our career opportunities, visit our careers page.

As we grow and succeed as a business, we believe it’s important to help others do the same. That’s why we’re on a mission to raise £10,000 to support the NSPCC’s fight for change.

At the beginning of the year, having identified NSPCC as our chosen charity, we lined up a series of challenges and fundraising initiatives to help us reach our target. The first was the Virgin Money London Marathon in April, which Anton Hanley and Ed Whelan completed in soaring temperatures – a brilliant achievement and one that got our fundraising started.

Our next challenge takes place this weekend, with Anton and Ed being joined by three other members of the TLA team – Abel Paz, Tom White and Joshua Duxbury – to take part in Man v Lakes, also known as the Rat Race.

Gruelling… but fun

Man v Lakes is a gruelling (but hopefully fun) 28-mile race through the Lake District, complete with a 4200 ft ascent, that is sure to push the team to their physical limits. It involves running across quicksands and through mountainous terrain and forests; immersing themselves in the Lake with short wades, swims, slides and jumps; and tackling a floating assault course – and that’s just for starters!

With two other members of the team, Antony Neill and Neil Cosgrove, in support roles, this will be a great team effort and one that can have a huge impact on the lives of others if it helps us reach our fundraising goal.

If you would like to support our NSPCC mission with a donation, you can do so through our Virgin Money Giving page and the whole team will be immensely grateful.

London to Paris

In addition to the Marathon and Rat Race, members of the TLA team and friends will be taking part in a London-to-Paris Cycle in September – a 165-mile, three-day journey that will begin at the Marble Arch and conclude at the Arc de Triomphe.

The line up for the cycle is: Steve McCann (I AM Impact); Alban Treglohan and Chris Langley (both PHD); Jess Douce and Jamie Kirk (both JLR); and Anton Hanley, Tom White, Ed Clark, Abel Paz, Neil Cosgrove, Ed Whelan, Michael Fitzsimmons, Stephen Pammenter and James McDowall (all TLA).

Fundraising for Change.

Life at The Lead Agency: Meet CSO Team Leader, Ryan O’Connor

Ryan O’Connor joined The Lead Agency just over four years ago as a Customer Service Operator (CSO). His strong performance saw him progress quickly to the position of Sales Team Leader.

Here, Ryan reveals more about his role, his team and life at The Lead Agency…

How did your career at The Lead Agency begin?

Once I’d graduated I needed to get a full-time job. I’d never planned for a career in a call centre but worked in one part-time during my three years at University and spotted the CSO (Customer Service Operator) vacancy at TLA.

I listened to a couple of the calls the team were making and knew that I would be able to do it – and I’ve been here ever since!

Can you talk a bit about your progression within the company?

I quickly settled into the team and had the support and patience of everyone around me. I always made sure that I hit my targets, so, despite only working in the CSO role for a year and a half, I decided to apply for the Sales Team Leader position.

As a Team Leader, I’m expected to lead by example by ensuring all targets are consistently met or exceeded. In my opinion, being a leader is all about getting to know people, knowing how to speak to people and how to give feedback.

What are the main responsibilities of your role?

I’m responsible for my own team which consists of several CSOs. On a day-to-day basis I’m required to support my team members by making sure that they’re aware of their targets and delivering on budgets at a good-quality standard.

What do you enjoy most about working at TLA?

Being able to work with many different and passionate personalities. All the individual characters in the group make for a fun working environment, meaning that we enjoy what we do and work well as a team.

Although it’s technically a sales job, we’re not actually selling anything! We’re ringing existing enquiries and fulfilling their needs.

Sales roles are often high-pressured. Is that the case at TLA?

There is a pressure to perform, but our targets are always achievable. The targets are set based on several different factors, but we have never been set an unachievable target.

There are always incentives and bonuses in place to reward the people who hit and continue to exceed their targets too. At the end of the day, those who are willing to work hard will always reap the rewards.

What does your team do on a day-to-day basis?

It’s about working through your enquiries (which become leads once they’ve been qualified) and ensuring that you do it in the smartest way possible to meet your goals. All new members of the team learn how best to achieve these targets as they go through the induction process.

What is the culture like within your team and the wider team?

We all get on extremely well with one other and someone is always there to offer their help and support.
When new people join, we ensure they are made to feel very welcome and integrate them into the group as quickly as possible.

Patsy (Mawdsley, Head of Contact Centre) regularly organises social events for the whole team. Last month we went to Roxy’s Ballroom and we played beer pong and pool which was great fun.

My team also managed to hit an incentivised target last month, and our prize was a £200 restaurant tab which we spent at Viva Brazil!

What sort of characteristics do you value in your team members?

I value people that are hardworking and willing to learn and adapt!

What advice would you give to someone who is starting their career as a CSO?

Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Those who do choose to ask for assistance when they need it will always achieve better results.

Another key piece of advice I would say is to make sure you concentrate, listen carefully and take onboard the guidance offered to you from the more experienced members of the team. That way, you’ll learn and adapt quicker and achieve great results.

We’re hiring! Find out about our latest call centre jobs in Liverpool.

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