ABOUT IAN FLORANCE

Living and Learning

I grew up in Croydon, Surrey, went to Whitgift School in South Croydon, received a First class degree in English and Art History at Leeds University and took an MA course at Reading University in English Literature.

Working

I joined Macmillan Education as a copywriter, then became Promotions Manager organising direct mail campaigns and advertising in the UK and overseas.

I moved on to nfernelson, the major publisher of psychological assessments and then to Hamlyn Publishing, which taught me a lot about consumer promotions. Among my jobs was having tea with Barbara Cartland and taking Nanette Newman to author events. As a spare time publishers' reader, I turned down many potential best sellers on the basis of pure ignorance.

I got my first job because I could quote the Liverpool poets, the second because I am a Gemini and wore a duffel coat with holes in it: so much for objective human assessment.

Moving back to nfernelson I worked in clinical, book, journal and educational publishing and marketing planning as well as developing an international network of agents. As marketing director I integrated direct sales, publicity, P.R., customer service and order processing into a unified customer-facing group. It worked because of the exceptional people who worked there. I then became Director of ASE, the consultancy specialising in psychological testing, training and consultancy in business.

I developed a professional and intellectual interest in the area of human psychology. I was publishers’ representative on the BPS (British Psychology Society) Test Standards Committee, a member of European working parties on testing. I am secretary of the European Test Publishers Group.

I founded OnlyConnect in 2002, after leaving ASE, with the intention of keeping things small and personal. For about five years I was part time visiting tutor to final year Graphic Design students at Central St. Martins College of Art and Design. The students were challenging teachers !

Training

I've attended courses at Henley, Ashridge, Chartridge and Insead Management colleges and have trained in a number of techniques as well as test such as 16PF and the AEM-cube. I also enjoy training people and have run courses in copy writing, design, strategic marketing, brand development, personality theory, public relations practice  and intellectual capital management.

Writing

I started writing poetry and prose when I was at primary school and haven't really stopped since. I started OnlyConnect Publishing in 2011. My writing influences my work with organisations. I often do the copy writing linked to strategic plans I've developed; I'm interested in what creativity means for businesses; and in recent years I've authored books and tests, usually under contract or as a ghost writer. I do regular journalism work for The Psychologist magazine.

Living (again) 

Tracy and I live in Henley-on-Thames. Tracy worked for Macmillan Children's Books but now sells her wonderful photographs at a variety of venues ( see www.tflorancephotography.co.uk.) I recently became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

The rest of this section of the site gives examples of my own writing and other arts projects I've contributed to.