As a Manchester-based business, we love to get involved with a variety of local and regional organisations, whether it be to increase our knowledge base on different topics, make a contribution based on our own knowledge and experience, or simply to have a natter and a glass of wine cup of tea with lots of different people!

Yesterday, I attended the North West Business Leadership Forum, a meeting of representatives from businesses, education and the public and voluntary sector in the North West. We meet every month to discuss current issues that are relevant to the region’s development and wellbeing.

It’s a great opportunity to find out more about key organisations within, and plans for, the North West - and to contribute your opinion on some exciting issues. Plus, it’s a really friendly, welcoming meeting that’s a pleasure to attend.

Yesterday’s event included a presentation by Jackie Potter, the new Chief Executive of the Manchester City South Partnership. This partnership has been agreed between Manchester City Council, The University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University and the Central Manchester and Manchester Children’s University Hospitals NHS Trust (phew, there’s a mouthful!).

Together, they are aiming to boost the economic, social and cultural development of the area of Manchester that stretches along Oxford Road, between St Peter’s Square and the Whitworth Art Gallery, and extends out into Hulme, Moss Side and Ardwick.

It’s quite a challenge. Getting everyone who lives and works within this area to unite as one community and share a sense of place is not easy in a location where academic institutions - traditionally viewed as the preserve of the privileged - sit alongside some of the most deprived areas in the UK.

For the project to succeed, it’s going to require the development of innovative schemes that really capture the imagination of a diverse range of people; the sustained commitment of many influential individuals and institutions; a willingness from both public and private bodies to contribute funds and develop further partnerships - and a well-thought-out, multi-targeted and carefully delivered marketing plan.

But, from the ideas that have already been outlined, and the interest and excitement that Jackie generated amongst the NWBLF last night, I think it just might work. One thing’s for sure, it will certainly be interesting to see how “City South” develops over the next few years.

All Words will help in any way we can.

Sometimes it’s hard for people to understand the value of using a copywriter - after all, we can all write can’t we? I suppose most copywriters would say they do more than simply bash out a few words on a keyboard.

One of the most important skills is the ability to see how powerful a message can become by making the most simple of changes.

I love insane advertising. I love advertising that makes no sense. I love advertising that makes me laugh.

I love this advert.

This week I spent an interesting few hours with some of the leading businesswomen in the North West.

We’re all part of Spark, the Women’s Enterprise Ambassador Network. Spark is bringing together successful businesswomen and those who support enterprise to encourage women to recognise that business is for them.

In the UK, 1 in 5 businesses are women-owned and us ladies make up 27% of the self-employed population. That lags a long way behind the fellas. A recent survey by WorkingMums.co.uk of over 1000 members revealed that 55% of women look for a new job after they have children - imagine if we could encourage them all to start up new businesses?

There are now over 1,000 Spark Ambassadors, using their experience to encourage and inspire women of all ages to get involved in business.

The network is co-ordinated by Make Your Mark and delivered by the Regional Development Agencies on behalf of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.

If you’d like me to come to your school, club or business to talk about how fantastic running your own business can be, then just drop me a line at nicola@allwords.co.uk

The illustration above was not done by me (I can barely draw a stick man). It was done by our friend, illustrator Ryan Welsh. He’s self taught (not jealous, honest) and hails from Birmingham. If you like to get in touch with him you can call him on 07900 263068 or email rajyellow@hotmail.com.

Have small children? Remember those long gone heady days spent lounging around in hotel bars and dancing the night away with your loved one? Miss them. So do I *sob*.

So when Nana Cooper-Abbs offered to have the youngest member of the All Words team (Mia – 19 months) for a night I jumped at the chance.

A few months ago I had the pleasure of joining a friend for drinks at a smashing boutique hotel called Great John Street in Manchester. I thought it would be the perfect getaway for a night off from toddler chasing. I checked their slickly designed and easy to use website and noticed they had a late availability offer for £135. For a city centre hotel (overlooking Granada Studios and a stones throw away from Deansgate) that’s pretty reasonable.

I booked over the phone (online booking isn’t available for late deals). A few days later I received an email from a member of staff informing me that there would be a function on the roof terrace the night we were staying in the hotel, nicely reassuring us that we wouldn’t be disturbed. I didn’t fancy joining in that party as well so requested a room as far away as possible.

On an unseasonably hot Saturday afternoon we arrived at the hotel to a very warm (‘scuse the pun) welcome. The receptionist checked us in, asking whether we need wake up calls or papers in the morning. All very efficient, yet calm and unhurried. She mentioned there had been some confusion when booking as my address hadn’t been taken, but it was quickly resolved.

We went up to our room (Baby Grand) which was stunning. Sumptuous decoration, bathroom upstairs complete with roll top bath and classical music playing gently in the background. Unfortunately it was directly under the roof terrace and opposite the staircase to the soon-to-be-filled-with-revellers-terrace. With mild irritation I made my way back down to reception and explained we had requested not to be near the roof terrace, and emails had been exchanged to confirm this. The very lovely, if slightly flustered receptionist, told me that the notes on the computer said I had requested a room on the second floor under said roof terrace.

But she immediately rectified the mistake and moved us to the best room she could find on the same floor. It was yet another beautiful Baby Grand with queen size bed and a cooling breeze of air conditioning. We’d just managed to find the mini bar and kick off our shoes when there was a knock at the door. Earlier flustered receptionist was now red cheeked receptionist who confessed that she had booked us into someone else’s room who was now standing in reception. Ummm.

Before we even had a chance to express annoyance she whipped out the trump card, free upgrade. Don’t you just love those words?

Once again we took a little trip down the corridor to our new, Boudoir Grand room. This one featured a king size bed, a natty flat screen television and more room to scatter the mini bar remnants around.

Five minutes later the phone rang and we answered (presuming news of some toddler hi-jinks) only to be asked if we would like some complimentary drinks to compensate us for all the inconvenience. We thought it rude to decline.

A restful, very quiet night followed with no party noise. If you’re looking for the kind of hotel where you are treated with personal service and every staff member does their absolute best for you then give Great John Street a whirl.

We’re looking for a babysitter so we can go back. Any volunteers?

It’s happened. I’ve had an epiphany. I think my eternal nirvana could be a tapas restaurant in Preston.

Preston. My birthplace and home until about 5 years ago is the administrative centre of Lancashire, home of the second biggest bus station in Europe and the legend that is Tom Finney. Much as I love my hometown, it isn’t renowned for its thriving café society and culinary experiences (unless you count butter pies and parched peas as the height of gastronomic excellence).

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I know, I know, never discuss religion or politics. However, in the case of God Explained in a Taxi Ride I’ll make an exception. Written by Paul Arden, former Executive Creative Director of Saatchi & Saatchi, he was responsible for some of the UK’s most successful advertising campaigns. He has taken the tricky subject of religion, and tackled it in a very visual way. This isn’t a fuzzy wuzzy book about spirituality and in a famed direct approach, he doesn’t shy away from the big questions.

This book will make you think, a couple of pages actually made my head hurt, which I happen to think is a good thing. At times he is purposely controversial about a topic which already has an intrinsic ability to inflame the most mild mannered of people. But then he was well known for his difficult manner and his opinion that to be exceptional you had to dispense with convention. Maybe he returns to convention at the end of the book when he announces that he found god, or maybe that is the ultimate twist. Whatever he found on this side I just hope it was there to greet him on the other side - Arden passed away on 2nd April 2008.

I have to admit to having a mild case of technophobia (er, a raging case of the techno scaredy cats if the truth be known). However, I’ve just stumbled across something which has, quite literally, blown my socks off. I am sat here, bare footed, ga ga over a piece of technology. It gets worse, it’s a piece of software.

My better half introduced me to the world of Microsoft Silverlight. I can’t begin to talk about the technology behind it as I’d make an coffee spluttering embarrassment of myself but the best way I can describe it is that someone took Flash and gave it steroids. The best demonstration of its capabilities is on the Hard Rock Memorabilia site (and sorry, you do have to download the software - stop that booing at the back!). I won’t spoil the fun for you, just look at The Beatles and keep zooming in, and in, and in…Amazing.

I’ve read a few copywriting books in my time. From supposed top tips (‘Just Stick the Word “Sell” into Everything’ by E. Ternal-Optimist) to rub-your-nose-in-it success stories (‘How I Became a Billionaire by Convincing You All to Buy My Book’ by I. M. Useless), there’s plenty of guff out there about how to be a good writer by people who aren’t actually good writers themselves.

But if you really want to understand and witness first-hand the engaging power of words in business, I recommend you pick up a book by John Simmons.

With a writing style that blends simplicity, imagination and humour, John strips business writing clean of jargon, clichés and bullshit – and in their place installs clarity, honesty and a refreshing dose of humanity.

In doing so, he demonstrates exactly how effective the right words can be – and how important they are in communicating with and successfully engaging customers, employees and stakeholders at all levels.

Most important of all, his creative, easy-to-read style reveals that business writing does not have to be dull – in fact, the more lively and interesting it is, the more effective it is likely to be.

One of my favourites of John’s books to date is part of his Great Brand Stories series – ‘Innocent: Building a Brand from Nothing But Fruit’. Innocent happens to be one of our best-loved brands here at All Words, for their a) wonderfully engaging copywriting style; b) understanding of the value of tone of voice in establishing and maintaining both a brand and company ethos – and c) lip-smackingly gorgeous blackberries, raspberries and boysenberries smoothies. Yum.

This book delves into the success of Innocent’s simplicity to reveal its more complex creativity – and along the way teaches us some important lessons about the often underestimated power of words.

It’s also what all decent books should be (although sadly so many are not) – entertaining.

Give it a go, and let us know what you think.

And if you like it, mine’s a cranberry and raspberry, thanks…