Park life Its a celebration! Kelvin Reynolds encourages us to shout about our Park Mark success n the UK, a quarter of car parks have achieved the Park Mark Award. Thats 5,000 of an estimated 17,000-20,000 car parks. Thats good news. Lets celebrate it. Around a fifth of those with Park Mark also have Disabled Parking Accreditation (DPA) and we are working hard to bring all Park Mark car parks into the DPA. Our research shows that motorists using Park Mark car parks are highly satisfied with the service provided by the operators. More importantly, once motorists are aware that a car park has Park Mark, they say they are much more likely to use one in the future. Its so important that motorists know when they are experiencing safer parking and thats where you come in. If you dont promote your award locally, how will drivers know that youve got it? We often reference a brand when we choose where to shop, what to buy, and the car we drive. Park Mark is a brand and it needs to be promoted as the go to one for parking. Theres a Park Mark website (parkmark. co.uk); weve developed an award-winning media campaign called The Art of Safer Parking, which is featured on YouTube and was on the back of buses in several cities; and we regularly write articles for a range of magazines. I Id want to tell the world that I had police-approved parking that is cleaner, brighter and safer Park Mark is a brand and it needs to be promoted as the go to one for parking Since Park Mark was launched in 2004, Ive seen great examples of imaginative ways to fly the flag for Park Mark from banners to floorpainted Park Mark ticks. Our brand guide will help you think of innovative ways to promote your achievement. We can send you posters and signs for free, and there is an approved traffic sign for showing the way to Park Mark car parks. If your car park doesnt have these awards, then get in touch with your area manager. Experience has shown that periods of austerity and difficult times can lead to an increase in crime. Now is the time to commit to these schemes, in spirit and in practice, by becoming part of a world-leading programme that recognises excellent customer service and shows that you care about the wellbeing of your customers. Parking is the talk of the town; its been mentioned at every party conference in recent weeks. Its ironic, isnt it many believe that parking should be an invisible experience and yet we want everyone to notice how good it is. Help us to help you speak positively about parking that is cleaner, brighter, safer and accessible to all. Need help with promotion of your award? Just ask your area manager or email media@britishparking.co.uk Promoting success All the publicity in the world will be pointless, however, if motorists dont recognise a Park Mark-awarded car park when they see one. We know that fewer than half of the award holders promote their award why is that? Id want to tell the world that I had police-approved parking that is cleaner, brighter and safer. Kelvin Reynolds Director of corporate and public affairs kelvin.r@britishparking.co.uk 46 britishparking.co.uk PN Nov19 pp46-47 Kelvin.indd 46 24/10/2019 12:54