Viatel launches campaign to ban the bull from Thames Valley businesses

London - July 13, 2004 - Viatel launches campaign to ban the bull from Thames Valley businesses

Local Campaign promotes simple and effective communication

The Thames Valley-based, pan-European business communications company, launched a bespoke targeted marketing campaign today to businesses across the region. The firm is hosting a series of events and activities throughout the area, designed specifically to help local industry "cut the bull for business success".

The campaign has been developed to help dispel any confusion caused by the proliferation of "technobabble" - the confusing jargon of the IT and telecoms industry. Viatel research has revealed that in many small and medium size firms, the personnel responsible for communications are often "IT Managers by default" with little or no formal technical training. For this reason, many companies are failing to reap the productivity dividend that technology can bring.

In response, Viatel will be providing "Viatel pink" football referee cards to businesses in the region, bearing the caption "no bull." These are designed to encourage staff to brandish them at their bosses whenever they use bamboozling jargon in meetings.

Further marketing activity will include advertising across local print, outdoor and broadcast media. Viatel mobile "hit squads" will be targeting local businesses and promotional teams will be at railway stations talking to commuters. Viatel CEO Lucy Woods will also be hosting a series of lunchtime seminars for local businesses in Basingstoke, Bracknell, Staines, Slough and Guildford with successful entrepreneur, inspirational speaker and inventor of the clockwork radio, Trevor Baylis.

Lucy Woods, CEO at Viatel comments "The Thames Valley is the at the centre of the technological innovation that occurs in the UK. But local businesses are often so baffled by jargon, that they miss out on the genuine businesses benefits that technology can bring."

"Viatel believes in talking with customers in a straightforward language that we all understand and we hope this campaign will persuade people - and our own industry - of the benefits of simple but effective communication."

-ends-

Lunch with Trevor Baylis and Lucy Woods will take place at the following venues this week between 12.30 and 2pm:

BASINGSTOKE     Monday 12th July, Hilton Hotel

BRACKNELL     Tuesday 13th July, Hilton Hotel

STAINES     Wednesday 14th July, Runnymede Hotel

SLOUGH     Thursday 15th July, Marriott Hotel

GUILDFORD     Friday 16th July, Holiday Inn

 

For your own pink card to bull, please contact Joanne Arnold on 01784 494 200.

About Viatel

Viatel is a pan-European business communications company operating across 6 European markets, including the UK, France and Germany. It has more than 10,000 business customers, providing them a range of business communication services that help companies of all sizes to access the internet, connect their people and places, manage their web applications and increase the security of their data. Headed by Lucy Woods, formerly CEO of WorldCom EMEA and BT, the company employs 200 people throughout Western Europe.

For further information on Viatel, please visit www.viatel.com

For further information please call:

James Ralph or Nick Keegan on +44 (0)20 7340 0430

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