Latest news with #BenJeffries
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Road closures announced for 10K race in Torfaen
Several roads in Torfaen will be closed on July 13 for the Mic Morris Torfaen 10K. Residents and motorists are warned of the closures to ensure the safety of race participants. More than 1,000 runners have signed up for the 10K race, starting in Blaenavon at 9am. The finish line will be in Pontypool Park and runners are expected to complete the race by 11am. All participants will receive a medal and merchandise, with proceeds going to the Mic Morris Memorial Sporting Trust Fund, which supports young athletes in Torfaen. Road sections to be closed at specified times are: Blaenavon to Abersychan (junction of A4043 and B4246), from 8am to 10am; Abersychan Old Road to Hospital Road, from 9am to 10.30am; and Hospital Road to Park Road (Salvation Army), from 9.15am to 10.45am. A full list of affected roads includes: A4043 Cwmavon Road (from Prince Street/New William Street in Blaenavon to Old Road in Abersychan), Old Road, Limekiln Road, Freeholdland Road, George Street, Mill Road, Hospital Road, the northern section of Osbourne Road (up to Riverside), Riverside, and Park Road leading up to Penygarn Road. Side roads will remain open, but no vehicles will be allowed on the race route during the event. The emergency services will have access at all times. Ben Jeffries, event organiser from Torfaen Council, said: "Whether you're a seasoned runner or just starting out, there's still time to sign up and be part of one of the fastest 10Ks around. "We appreciate the public's patience with the temporary road closures. "This year, we've worked to stagger the closure times to help reduce disruption for residents and road users. "Roads will reopen as soon as it's safe—thank you for your continued support." Residents living on the affected roads will be informed in advance, and each section will reopen when safe. If the road closures affect your travel or caregiving responsibilities, contact Torfaen Council on 01633 628936 as early as possible.
Scotsman
02-05-2025
- Health
- Scotsman
Five tips to safeguard your mental health on social media
Mental Health Awareness Week kicks off on the 12th May 2025 – and this year has seen the highest suicide rates in the UK since 1999. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... We must do more to protect our minds – but translating that into practical tips that are easy to follow is trickier than first thought. 58.4M UK residents used social media in January 2025 (79%), and 47% of marketing professionals use paid social media advertising. Blocking social media platforms or switching off, taking breaks or digital detoxing is simply impossible for many UK creators, influencers, advertising and marketing employees – so how can we mindfully cultivate a safer space while also ensuring we don't let online careers implode? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ben Jeffries, CEO of Influencer, has come up with 5 clever yet simple and practical tips to safeguard Social Media use for both creators and the general public, to try and help with positive mindset and mental health when using online platforms. Ben founded Influencer at just 18 Limit what you see - use Focus Mode Instagram, TikTok, and even iOS (which is what I use regularly!) have Focus tools to reduce distractions. Use them to silence notifications all together, and stay present when you need a break. Block the scroll - with app limiters like Opal Opal lets you block or time-limit access to social apps without deleting them. Perfect for stopping doomscrolling before it starts. Ben Jeffries CEO of Influencer Hide like counts - protect your peace On Instagram, you can hide like counts on your own posts and others'. It's a simple way to avoid comparison culture and focus on creating, not performing. Turn off the noise - filter notifications Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad On TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, you can mute certain types of notifications - e.g. just mute likes, comments, or DMs. Great for setting boundaries when feedback feels overwhelming. Use built-in breaks - they're underrated TikTok's Screen Time Breaks and Instagram's Take a Break nudges remind you to pause and reset. A smart way to create mindfully instead of constantly. Ben launched Influencer at just 18 years old, dropping out of university to create one of the globe's largest influencer marketing agencies. In 2019, Influencer secured a game-changing £3M investment from a top-tier VC fund, propelling the company into its next phase of rapid growth. Today, Influencer stands as a true powerhouse in the marketing world, delivering creator-driven, data-backed campaigns for iconic brands like Nike, Viator, Monzo, SharkNinja, and Coca-Cola. With a globally diverse team spanning North America, Europe, and MENA, Influencer is not just adapting to the future of marketing - it's shaping it. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ben is an award-winning entrepreneur, recognised in Forbes 30 Under 30 and named BMW Entrepreneur of the Year. He's shared his vision on some of the world's biggest stages - from Web Summit and Advertising Week to Cannes Lions - always pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the creator economy.
Forbes
03-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Stop Hiring Influencers. Start Partnering With Them.
Teenage girl filming video of herself on mobile phone For years, brands have treated creators like billboards. They've hired them to hold up products, hit share buttons, and boost reach. But the game has changed. As the creator economy matures, the most forward-thinking brands are rethinking their approach—not as buyers of influence, but as partners in creativity. That shift is the central message behind the Creator Perspectives report, a study released by influencer marketing platform Influencer and cultural insights firm Crowd DNA. Based on qualitative and quantitative insights from 500 global creators—ranging from nano influencers to megastars—the report flips the traditional brand-first script. It places the creator at the center of the conversation, offering a rare, unfiltered look at what's working, what's broken, and what needs to change in creator-brand collaborations. 'Creators tell all of our brand stories, and without them, we wouldn't exist,' said Caspar Lee, Chief Visionary Officer at Influencer and a pioneering YouTube creator. 'When we put together this report, we really wanted to understand and broadcast their perspectives in more depth and detail—not only to get valuable insight we could share with the industry but to learn more from them ourselves.' More than half (54%) of creators say they'd perform better if brands simply communicated their marketing KPIs more clearly. Another 64% actively want to learn what success looks like for brands so they can build aligned strategies. But instead of bringing creators into campaign planning, many marketers hand them rigid briefs or worse—vague talking points with no strategic context. The result? Misaligned output, endless revisions, and missed opportunities on both sides. 'Creator marketing isn't just a part of the marketing mix that's nice to have—it's becoming one of the most powerful growth drivers for consumer brands,' said Ben Jeffries, CEO and co-founder of Influencer. 'We commissioned this report to spotlight the real challenges that creators face and to show brands how they can turn their pain points into mutually beneficial opportunities.' FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder What creators want isn't full creative freedom. In fact, 58% say they prefer clear brand guidelines over complete autonomy. What they need is structure with purpose—space to innovate, but also the clarity to know what's expected. 'I make comedy videos. A lot of brands want to remove the comedy from my proposed scripts, which makes me wonder why they chose to work with me at all,' said @itscrystalwright, a macro creator in the UK. 'Fit matters. The story needs to make sense for both of us.' The most successful creator campaigns start with a collaboration, not a contract. 'When brands treat creators as powerful brand custodians, they recognize their role,' the report states. 'In return, creators turn campaigns into cultural moments.' 72% of creators prefer long-term partnerships with brands, but only 54% have them. That mismatch is limiting potential. Long-term deals allow creators to become true brand advocates. They build trust with audiences over time, align their storytelling with brand values, and help marketers create more meaningful, sustained impact. 'A tech brand invited me into their office to meet their tech gurus and genuinely get me excited about the products,' said @paperboyo, a macro UK-based creator. 'That's so much better than a purely transactional approach.' And yet, too many partnerships are still treated like one-night stands—quick, performance-driven engagements with little room for relationship-building. In a media landscape driven by authenticity and emotional connection, that's a missed opportunity. The creator economy may be booming, but most creators aren't thriving the way brands assume. Despite the billions pouring into influencer marketing, only 12% of creators produce content full-time. Even among hero and megastar creators, just 25% rely on content creation as their primary income. That means a vast majority of the people brands rely on for high-quality, platform-optimized content are also juggling day jobs, side hustles, and burnout. Creators aren't just 'on camera'—they're scriptwriters, editors, strategists, customer service reps, and creative directors. And that grind should inform how brands approach briefs, timelines, and compensation. 'Behind the glamour, most creators are balancing multiple jobs,' the report notes. 'Level up your relationship with your creators by recognizing their hustle and supporting their journey with flexible partnerships and realistic expectations.' As algorithmic feeds and short-form discovery continue to dominate social platforms, creators are emerging as the essential link between brands and online culture. 'Creators don't just make content—they shape culture,' says a global brand strategist quoted in the report. 'They connect with communities in ways brands simply can't, turning trends into movements and audiences into loyal tribes.' From niche fandoms to mainstream virality, creators are plugged into the conversations that matter. Brands that engage them as co-strategists—not just paid talent—will create content that resonates, not just performs. Caspar Lee puts it bluntly: 'The real game changer is when a creator understands how a brand collaboration can elevate their content—and a brand understands how the creator can strengthen their offering.' It's time for marketers to move beyond counting likes and shares. True partnership is about co-creation, shared vision, and a mutual respect for craft. And in 2025, the brands that win won't be the ones who simply hire creators. They'll be the ones who build with them.
