FirstCare are the UK's largest absence manager provider. Companies that employ more than 1,000 people can use the FirstCare service to manage employee absenteeism.
When an employee is absent from work they phone FirstCare who record the absence and notify the employer. The FirstCare nurses also give medical advice to sick employees to get them back to health as quickly as possible.
FirstCare works with companies like British Gas, Coca-Cola Enterprises and the NHS
WHAT IS IT ?
In this step you will find information about the Brand Builder, who is asking you to propose a Solution for the challenge. He introduces himself (as a Brand of course :) The more you understand about the Brand, the more chances you have to create what is wanted.
IMPORTANT: There is a possibility that the Brand Builder prefers not to disclose who he is, usually for confidentiality reasons. Such Briefs will be published in an anonymous way. In this case the Brand Builder will say as much as he feels comfortable saying.
Here are two EXAMPLES
In case there is no problem with disclosing the identity (VISIBLE):
“NMN -No More Nicotine- is a Brand that promises to counteract the damages to the skin that can be caused by smoking. NMN is distributed in pharmacies and drugstores and its price positioning is middle-high; it is mainly promoted through professional endorsement and is not massively advertised.”
In case the Brand doesn’t want to disclose his identity (ANONYMOUS):
“Brand counteracting the damages to skin caused by smoking. Its products are distributed in pharmacies and drugstores with a middle-high price positioning; they are mainly promoted through professional endorsement and are not massively advertised.”
In summary: Who is your client (in a visible or “anonymous” way :)
Client Case Studies
We are looking at remodelling our existing 'tired' design to be something that is more appealing to the eye and conveys the message that FirstCare is a supportive service for both employees and employers.
WHAT IS IT ?
This is the task the Brand Builder asks you to accomplish. If you don’t understand it, you are completely out of luck !
EXAMPLE
“We ask the Creators to develop a print advertising campaign in order to increase Brand’s visibility. It will be used in national magazines this spring.”
In summary: It’s the objective of the client, therefore your objective too !
CEO's, Operations Directors, CFO/FD, Human Resource Directors that are likely to buy the service and employees that are likely to use the service.
When buyers pick up and read the case study we need them to want to pick up the phone and ring us.
WHAT IS IT?
People that the Brand Builder wants you to entertain and persuade to think, feel or do something using your creation. Usually you will read about their age, sex, social level and behaviors. You should always keep that information in mind while creating, as the target audience is the final recipient of what you create.
EXAMPLE
“Smoking girls and women who would like to quit smoking but can’t. Usually health-conscious adults who care about their looks. They feel guilty about smoking because they know it is harmful. They read books about it. This is a real problem for them: it’s like “My brain wants something, but my body acts of its own accord”. They don’t relate to my brand, they are just waiting for a trustworthy “helping hand”.
In summary: Get under their skin !
The FirstCare service are:
∞ Works - it reduces absence and saves the client money;
∞ Supports employees - medical advice and support at the point of need;
∞ Can be trusted - is used by large brand name companies;
∞ Is well established - is the best in the market;
∞ Shows your employees that you care about absence and its effects on both those who are unwell (by providing medical support) and those who are at work feeling the strain of their absent colleagues (by taking positive steps to reduce absence)
WHAT IS IT?
The thing that the Brand Builder wants to make the target audience think/feel/do because of your creation.
Here are some very concrete examples:
∞ Some things people can think/feel:
- There is a new Brand (or product or idea or...) out there
- This Brand is better than the alternatives or than it used to be
- This Brand is worth paying more for
∞ Some things people can do:
- Start buying the Brand’s products
- Buy the Brand more often
- Stock more products of the Brand in their outlets
The above written examples are very concrete whilst often the proposition of the Brief is emotional. That’s even better as it can be more inspiring!
EXAMPLE
“We’d like to encourage smokers to use NMN in order to minimize the damage to their health while they are keeping giving up smoking (especially if they’ve already tried and failed before).”
In summary: Get inside their brain !
The FirstCare service covers over 100,000 employees in the UK. Last year we saved our clients in total over £40m by reducing employee absenteeism and we helped tens of thousands of sick employees get better quicker
WHAT IS IT?
This is the key to achieving the objective. It is what supports the proposition and makes it believable. Usually it is a rational statement.
EXAMPLE
“Every cigarette you smoke is causing damage to your appearance. A recent study took several pairs of identical twins where one twin was a lifelong smoker and the other had never smoked. The smokers’ skin was a quarter thinner than that of non-smokers, and in some cases there were differences of up to 40%. NMN contains thinning-blocking anti-oxidants which counteract the effect of nicotine on the skin.”
In summary: You are looking for arguments? You’ll find them here!
Trustworthy, efficient, based on data, successful and supportive
WHAT IS IT?
It’s who the Brand is. Yes... who!
Treat the Brand as a human being, as it has its own personality. To know the personality of the “client” is fundamental in order to provide a tailor-made job. So, read carefully the listed adjectives...
EXAMPLE
“Scientific, trustworthy, result-oriented, ‘a party’ to achieve your goals.”
In summary: Imagine the live person !
Electronic (PDF's) will be sent to new client prospects and placed on our website. Hard copies will be used at conferences and exhibitions. The template designed will be used for approximately 20 case studies. Each one will have a print run of about 5,000.
WHAT IS IT?
A list of places (or media, or things) where the target audience will see the outcome of your creation. In this step sometimes the Brand will also acknowledge you how much he plans to invest into production. This information will give you an insight whether to create a BIG project or make it small... :)
EXAMPLE
“This campaign is going to appear in lifestyle- and health-focused women magazines of New Zealand, during the spring of 2009. We plan to invest 500,000 USD, which means approximately buying 100 single pages.”
In summary: Consider the medium !
The design will ideally be in Adobe Illustrator format so that the collateral can be used as a template for other case studies, but other formats will be considered providing the design is easy to translate.
We are looking for 1 complete case study (ie front and back) you can chose to re-do any of the four attached
The current case studies are printed on A4 in full colour double sided, size/orientation can be adjusted providing it remains in standard sizes.
Existing case studies are attached from both FirstCare and Active Health Partner Clients.
FirstCare recently acquired Active Health Partners and this brand is being phased out so please only use it for content/inspiration.
The FirstCare colours are attached as a guide, we are aware that they are a little 'dull' so please feel free to amend as you see fit.
The various icons attached are used on our website and are intended to make the brand appear firendly and supportive and are for inspiration only.
The service diagram (firstcare_diagram.jpg) is used on the second side to explain what we do feel free to change or leave as is.
All image EPS/AI files can be provided if required
If the Brand has preferences or technical requirements that your Solution has to match, you will find them here.
Here are some items that you may find in this section:
∞ Guidelines or mandatory inclusions (do’s and/or don’ts)
∞ Business objectives
∞ Market and competitors overview
∞ Good and bad samples
Depending on the Brief, you may also find some files attached with a logo, pictures of product(s), a template that you should use in order to submit your ideas, or any other file that the Brand wants to share with you. So, study the attachments before starting creating.
In summary: Anything else you need to know (not written in the 7 steps before) !
