In Sue's most recent Letter from the Editor, she shared our highlights from 2021.

From building new partnerships to sharing our specialist knowledge, there's a lot we've done that's made us feel proud during such a challenging year.

Take a look through then share your own proud moments below!

Shaping the industry

You know that bit at the end of a job interview where the candidate gets to ask a question? This is the best one I've had in recent months.

"What are you most proud of over the last year?"

Ooh, that’s good, isn’t it? I felt really put on the spot, but in a good way.

I replied that - putting client work aside - my first thought was Agency Bootcamp, our jam-packed week of remote work experience for 20 students across the UK (and Sierra Leone).

This week allowed us to share our expertise and provide attendees with real value, helping them get to grips with marketing campaigns and projects that intrigued them.

During Bootcamp, we were reminded of our responsibility to help shape the industry in the right way. No agency exists in a bubble, and we all have a part to play. I did a talk on this at Digital Leaders Innovation Week.

Feel free to take a listen and steal our ideas!

Making a positive difference

It isn’t just me who has felt energised by doing good this year. Asking around the team, a similar pattern emerged. No matter who I ask, it’s the work we do that leaves a positive impact on the world that springs to mind as a highlight of 2021. The projects where we get emotionally invested in their success.

Like the newly-launched Findacure podcast Rarely Heard, in which you’ll hear moving and uplifting stories from the rare disease community. Or Oval Medical Technologies and their autoinjectors for IVF and diabetes. Or teenage mental health specialists GKMH, for whom we're writing website copy and helping spread their message.

Each of these projects has allowed us to flex our creative skills to either shine a light on an important topic or help these dynamic businesses continue their vital work.

Sharing our knowledge

Throughout the year, we’ve also held workshops on everything from podcasting to paid social media. We like to share the knowledge - not hug it tightly to ourselves.

Despite the ongoing pandemic, we’ve continued to incorporate this knowledge-sharing element into our work, a trend that will continue into 2022 with our new winter webinar series.

You can also see this in our monthly Sookio Sharpeners, exclusive clients-only events where we share trends and insights. And have some fun along the way!

Emphasizing engagement

We talk about engagement a lot around here, but it’s more than just data.  

Engagement is also about bringing people closer to the spaces and experiences around them.
With this ethos in mind, our ‘Shop Local’ campaigns for district councils in Huntingdonshire and South Cambridgeshire have been hugely rewarding.

Telling stories through video. Far-reaching social media campaigns. Skills workshops on social media and more.

All this activity is funded by public money, and we focus on helping small business owners become better marketers themselves, ultimately making sure the money goes back into the local economy.

Equally, with the #ComeOnInCam campaign for University of Cambridge Museums and partners, we’ve helped boost the cultural sector.

Our series of Instagram Reels were designed to offer fun and engaging content which would lure people into these amazing venues on their doorstep.

Growing our team

The Sookio family has continued to grow in 2021!

We’ve added fresh skills from our new team members:

• Julia Latif, Administrator

• Ed Grundy, Business Development Manager

• Naomi Vowles, Copywriter

There’s also new roles for teammates at Sookio, with Marisa Crimlis-Brown becoming our Head of Creative, and Sasha Patchett becoming our Digital Marketing Assistant.

Building partnerships

The partnership approach is something we’ve used to great effect in education too, supporting the Cambridge Judge Business School and Eastern Learning Alliance through strategic consultancy and content planning.

Then there are our friends at the Cambridge Trust, with whom we acted quickly in taking events online, helping even more students around the world achieve their dream of studying at the University of Cambridge.

So, I think we're spoiled for choice when someone asks what makes us feel proud. We've pulled together against the relentless challenges of Covid and we're still smiling, still supporting each other, and still applauding when we see a job brilliantly done.

Same again for 2022?

Yes, but without the pandemic, please!

Don’t forget to sign up to get Sue’s Letter from the Editor and our monthly blog blast, full of helpful tips and tricks to turbocharge your digital marketing.