case study: Cambridge Trust

Opening up world-class education to global leaders of the future

Sectors: Education, Charity

 

The client

The Cambridge Commonwealth, European & International Trust is a charitable trust which works closely with the University of Cambridge.

They award approximately 500 scholarships annually and supports between 1,100 and 1,400 students in residence each year from 85 countries across the world.

During its forty-year history of offering scholarships at the University of Cambridge, the Trust has awarded a total of more than 20,000 scholarships to students from around the world, so many of whom could previously only dream of studying somewhere like Cambridge.

The services

  • Strategic support

  • Video

  • Photography

  • Organic and paid social media campaigns

  • Training

The numbers

  • 300 hours of consultancy a year

  • 6 paid social media campaigns

  • 1 showcase video

  • 1 video series: Faces, Voices, Stories

  • 50+ video clips for social media

  • Video and consultancy support on 5+ events

  • People filmed: Dozens of students and staff; 1 Archbishop; 1 member of the British Royal Family

  • 215k users to the website each year, with 325 sessions

  • 6k clicks from YouTube to website from video a year


 

The challenge

Historically, the Trust's communication presence was built around beautiful, printed documents and live events. There was a need to develop the online presence to make the most of their extensive network of alumni and remove obstacles in reaching fresh audiences.

The goal was to engage past, present, and future alumni in the Trust’s work, opening up opportunities to study at this world-class University to brilliant students around the world.

 The approach

We have worked in partnership with the marketing team at Cambridge Trust since 2018, focusing on strategic monthly support and effective content creation.

Strategic support

Developing an end-to-end social media strategy, offering support in implementation, and reporting monthly on results.

Training

From social media skills to speaker workshops on how to look great on camera.

Paid and organic social media campaigns

Of critical importance during the pandemic, enabling us to reach international students and extend the opportunities of studying at Cambridge to a global audience.

We have largely focused on Facebook, with visually appealing graphics and boosted video content.

Virtual events support

Taking prestigious events online and ensuring they ran smoothly despite the challenges of the pandemic.

This included the New Scholars Welcome Event, attended by 500 people around the world, and a more intimate private event hosted by Dr Rowan Williams with students from Syria, India and Afghanistan who had taken his scholarship.

Video content

case_trust3.jpg

The results

Our work with the Cambridge Trust has delivered an impact in three major ways:

Enhanced profile

Moving from print and in-person events as a means of communication towards a much more  contemporary approach using video, enhanced social media and the latest digital techniques.

Boosted skills and confidence

The team are now adept at using social media, and taking prestigious events online with our support. They're even sharing our tips on looking great on camera with friends and family!

Increased reach

The Facebook page has grown from pretty much zero when we first started working together to close to 150k people. Paid campaigns extend this reach and help spread the word to students everywhere from big cities to remote villages in India, Ghana and Syria.

We're proud to use our digital expertise to enhance the work of the Trust, enabling students worldwide to be part of this incredible academic institution to the benefit of themselves and society.

  • Their expertise, enthusiasm and support throughout the process was impressive, as have been the results!

    Working with Sookio has been an absolute pleasure.

    The team took time to understand the Trust, its business and its aims, before producing a tailor-made strategy for implementation.

    Their expertise, enthusiasm and support, particularly from their digital strategist, throughout the process was impressive, as have been the results!

    I would have no hesitation in recommending them for digital marketing support.

    Communications Manager, Cambridge Trust

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