MPs get marketing lessons

Parliamentarians are being encouraged to sign up for a course to learn about marketing and its role in business.

The Secrets of Marketing course is the first of its kind to be offered to MPs and peers. It is to be run by the Bradford University School of Management, which was awarded the contract by the Industry and Parliamentary Trust (IPT) following a tender involving ten other institutions. The IPT is an independent, registered charity, which aims to increase understanding between business and Parliament through study programmes.

The course starts from October 24 and will cover fundamental marketing principles and include topics such as carbon footprinting and organic food. It aims to give MPs a better understanding of issues affecting businesses in their constituencies, including the impact of legislation on marketing activities.

Ian Stewart, MP for Eccles in Salford, is among the first to sign up for the course. He says: “I know nothing about marketing. I need to understand the business pressures and modern techniques for promoting British business locally and globally.”

Secrets of Marketing has been devised by Julian Rawel, an academic with a business background and also a chartered marketer.