As a Corporate Member of the Milton Keynes Community Foundation we are immensly proud of the work the organisation has achieved over the past year with their Covid-19 Response Appeal. Read more below:

Milton Keynes Community Foundation have today (31st March) announced they have distributed £1million to 124 different local charities and community groups through their Covid-19 Response Appeal.

The appeal, launched on the 20th March 2020, saw generous donations from a range of local business and individuals. The contributions enabled the Community Foundation to award vital funding to groups supporting the most vulnerable people in Milton Keynes at such an uncertain time, including the homeless, older people, those with disabilities, people with mental health issues and children living in poverty.

The fund was also started by a £50,000 donation from Milton Keynes Council.

According to a recent survey, 93% of groups that received a grant from the Community Foundation were able to respond to the needs of the community more effectively, whilst 95% agree that they were able to provide better support as a result of the funding they received. On top of this, 71% of groups were able to provide brand new services to support even more local people.

Louisa Hobbs, Operations Manager at MK Food Bank, said “The sudden onset of the pandemic meant there was a huge increase in demand for MK Food Bank’s emergency food support. Immediate, emergency funding from MK Community Foundation was a real lifeline – with initial food costs of up to £50k per month, we were able to meet that demand and get food to anyone who needed it.

One year on, testing and vaccination programmes and financial assistance may have eased the chaos, but the financial impacts of the crisis are still very keenly felt. Since the start of 2021, more people are contacting us for the first time, for many reasons related directly or indirectly to COVID. Ongoing support from the Community Foundation ensures we always have enough food for anyone who needs it, as well as funds for the essential costs to process, store and distribute the parcels.”

Ian Revell, CEO of MK Community Foundation, said “We are completely blown away by the support of our local community over the past year. Thanks to the generous donations of businesses and individuals, we have been able to ensure the most vulnerable people of Milton Keynes have been supported throughout the pandemic. I am so proud of the team for their incredible efforts to raise and distribute such a substantial amount of money so efficiently. I am thankful for the support of our Trustees and Vice Presidents and I am inspired by the hard work and dedication of our local charities and groups. Thank you times a million.”

MyMiltonKeynes is nearing the end of its first term as the city’s award-winning Business Improvement District (BID), and having achieved some huge successes, including many additional outputs as a result of their response to the coronavirus pandemic, promotion and awareness of its work is crucial.

Interdirect, one of the city’s most experienced agencies, is proudly supporting MyMiltonKeynes to share its positive work to deliver change in Central Milton Keynes. Since 2019, it has helped the BID to achieve BBC and ITV news coverage, promoting everything from its free employee bus service, MyBus to its tap2donate machines, raising funds for Milton Keynes Homelessness Partnership.

The BID represents businesses in the city centre, creating a safer, cleaner, more sustainable and vibrant area, benefitting businesses and their employees, whilst helping to attract more investment and visitors.

As well as appearances on TV, radio and in-print, the team at Interdirect have engaged their digital marketing and social media skills to help reach as many people as possible and spread the word about the many business improvements taking place across Milton Keynes.

Melanie Beck MBE, Chief Executive of MyMiltonKeynes explains: “Business Improvement Districts are an important part of any town, city and placemaking, helping to add value and create vibrancy and excitement, with improvements to the public realm and the addition of events and activities.

“MyMiltonKeynes goes to re-ballot every five years, and after a hugely successful first term, we’re keen to ensure that levy payers and the local business community have a clear understanding of the positive impact the BID has had. Interdirect has felt like a part of our team, providing their insight and experience to help us communicate the hard work we have been doing and the great results achieved over the past few years.”

Anne Walsh, PR & Social Media Account Director at Interdirect says: “Interdirect has long supported local businesses, organisations and charities to give them a voice in the city and promote their important work. We’re proud of the vast achievements that we have seen from Melanie and MyMiltonKeynes since working with the BID, particularly the support they’ve provided to the business and local community over the past 12 months, and we’ve been excited to work together to maximise the opportunities to promote this fantastic work.”

For further information about MyMiltonKeynes and its ongoing work to make improvements to Central Milton Keynes visit www.mymiltonkeynes.co.uk

We have just heard some really exciting news for the whole ID Team. Two of our longest serving members of staff, Tom Jenkins (Lead Developer) and Katie Jenkins (Account Director), who first met at ID a good few years back – have welcomed their second child.

Samuel Geoffrey Jenkins was born on Tuesday 9^th March weighing in at 7lb 1oz. Both mother, baby and the rest of their family are doing really well. We wish them all the very best and it’s amazing to welcome another addition to the ID Team – we’ll have him trained up and coding websites in no time!

As one of Milton Keynes’ longest serving marketing agencies, Interdirect has teamed up with mixed-use developer, First Base to support and promote the future growth and recovery of the city.

Interdirect, which celebrated 25 years in business last October, was appointed by First Base to work with them as they put forward their exciting plans to develop the former council building at Saxon Court.

In a huge boost to the city’s economy, the proposed 250,000 square foot site will create high quality workspace and homes alongside opportunities for local, independent food, drink, leisure and retail businesses. At the centre of the site will be an innovation centre, offering flexible, fully integrated workspaces for local businesses and start-ups, helping to support the city’s fast growing tech industries.

The agency has a long history of positive work with businesses all over the country, but at home here in Milton Keynes it is working harder than ever to help its clients build a rapport and connect with local people.

Nicholas Mann, Managing Director of Interdirect says: “We’ve always been keen to support local businesses, helping with the design and development of websites, managing their online marketing strategies and promoting them via expectational digital and PR activities.

“With our newest client, we’re leveraging their work to embed themselves within the local community, supporting them in delivering important, relevant and timely messages to residents, businesses and the media and sharing their exciting and sustainable ambitions for Milton Keynes.”

Head of Engagement at First Base, Liam Ronan-Chlond explains: “We’ve been really impressed by Interdirect’s positive and proactive approach to the PR and social media activity for Saxon Court. Working with such a well-established Milton Keynes’ based agency enables us to draw on their network of local media, businesses and organisations, as well as their extensive knowledge and experience of the local landscape.

“We’re proud to be working with other local businesses too, including multidisciplinary creative agency, Pooleyville and property consultant, Bidwells. Our commitment to working with locally-renowned businesses ensures that we create a strong and sustainable connection between Saxon Court and the Milton Keynes community.”

For further information about Saxon Court and to have your say on the proposals visit saxoncourtmk.com

When we work with our clients, we like to fully immerse ourselves in their business, supporting their marketing activities as if they were our own and building genuine and long-lasting relationships. This has definitely been the case with local client, dbfb communications, as our much-loved and respected AD, Emma takes on a new and exciting opportunity ‘client-side’ from next week (22 February 2021).

Whilst we’re really sad to say goodbye to Emma, we’re excited to be continuing to work with her as our client at dbfb. Reflecting on her time at Interdirect, Emma told us:

“My time at ID has been somewhat of a journey of discovery. Having worked in creative agencies for many years, my experience was with more ‘traditional’ advertising and branding. I came to ID with limited digital knowledge, but with the understanding that it was an area I need to develop if I was to progress. Although it was a steep learning curve, the team at ID is one of the best I have ever worked with – fun, easy going and hard-working.

Throughout my time at ID, I have been fortunate enough to work with some great clients and across many varied accounts. The broad range of industries and sectors we work across means you’re constantly learning and keeping things ‘fresh’. Although there have been challenges, the strong sense of ‘team’ has always meant someone is ready to listen and help.

ID is truly a team of great people, and enough thanks can’t go to Nick who trusted I could ‘learn the ropes’ and has given me every opportunity to develop and progress to the role of Account Director. And also to Katie – it’s been like working with another half of myself. Her help, guidance and friendship has been such a significant part of my time at ID, so thank you from the bottom of my heart. To the entire ID team, you all make ID what it is and I feel privileged to have worked with you all – keep being amazing!”

As much as I am looking forward to my new role and the challenges it will bring, it is with a heavy heart that I leave the ID family. You guys are fantastic and I’m thrilled I’ll still get to work with many of you #ontheotherside!