P&C PR promotes Schools OUT UK and LGBT History Month

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P&C PR is handling the PR, on a pro bono basis, for Schools OUT UK, the UK charity behind LGBT History Month, which is currently taking place. The charity is marking the 50th anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of male homosexuality this year.

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LGBT History Month 2017

Schools OUT is a membership-based organisation that began life as The Gay Teachers Association in 1974. Its aim is to make schools and educational institutions safe spaces for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) communities, from teachers to students.

P&C PR plans to promote the free resources available to educators to enable the ‘usualising’ of LGBT people throughout the curriculum.

In 2005, Schools OUT UK founded LGBT History Month. Every year since, in February, schools, colleges, youth groups and local authorities across the country celebrate the lives and achievements of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people – both past and present.

This year’s theme is Citizenship, PSHE and Law, as 2017 marks the 50th anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of male homosexuality. Last year’s theme was Religion, Belief and Philosophy.

P&C PR will also raise the profile of ‘OUTing The Past’, the third National Festival of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Trans History, which started last week (February 4) in Coventry.

It will also develop strategic media campaigns to market Schools OUT UK’s commercial website and magazine, OUTburst, as well as promote the charity’s founder Professor Emeritus Sue Sanders of the Harvey Milk Institute.

Sanders said: “It was apparent from the first meeting between P&C and me that we were both ambitious and passionate about the LGBT community, thus eager to deliver a positive difference.

“At a time when the right is baying at our heels and when homophobic attacks have increased since Brexit by 147%, the importance of ‘Educating OUT’ prejudice, by providing free resources and a national festival of LGBT history is vital.”

Amelia-Eve Warden, CEO of P&C PR, added: “When we discussed the brief with Sue, we certainly believed this is something that we personally and professionally are passionate about. One in four people in the millennial LGBT generation experience hate crimes in the community on a regular basis.

“We believe we can deliver awareness and solutions with the amazing content generated by the charities to push their resources into the media and expose them widely across the country. Securing this account is a great start to an ambitious year for us, so with our recent opening of an LGBT-based internal team, we are looking to secure many more accounts in this space.”

In November, Warden, a former Hotwire employee aged 21, partnered with senior Deloitte associate Bethany Simpson, aged 23, to launch P&C PR, which they claim makes them the UK’s youngest  PR agency owners to date.

Newgate appoints Bread PR’s Louise Nicolson as partner

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Newgate Communications has appointed Louise Nicolson as a partner in its corporate team.

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Louise Nicolson

Nicolson, who has started the role, has become a senior strategic adviser to a number of clients in the extractive industries, technology and private equity arenas.

In addition, she has secured a new client in the form of clinical-stage biotechnology company NovaBiotics, on a long-term project basis.

Nicolson will be responsible for developing Newgate’s capabilities in employee engagement and internal communications.  She reports to senior partner and vice chair Deborah Saw.

Gavin Devine, chief executive at Newgate, said: “Bringing Louise into our senior team is a tremendously exciting development.  Not only does she augment our capabilities in respect of employee engagement and internal comms, she is a seasoned strategic advisor to a whole range of clients.  She is already making a big impact and I am certain she will play a major role in our on-going fast-paced development as a business.”

Nicolson added: “There is a palpable buzz in the Newgate team as we work hard to deliver brilliant counsel to clients and build something special.  I am thrilled to join Newgate at such a critical time in the firm’s development.”

Yellow Jersey advises on Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas IPO

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Yellow Jersey PR is advising Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas as it makes its IPO today on AIM.

Eco Atlantic is an oil and gas exploration company, focusing on the identification, acquisition and development of petroleum opportunities in politically stable and “technically de-risked jurisdictions” around the world.

It has an estimated market capitalisation of approximately £19m.

Felicity Winkles, director of Yellow Jersey PR, said: “Eco is one of two IPOs we – as an agency – are due to get away this week. Today has kicked off well with coverage across the business pages of the national newspapers. We look forward to tonight’s QCA Awards, where we have been shortlisted as Best PR Firm for a third consecutive year.”

HEMA appoints LEWIS for corporate support

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Dutch retailer HEMA has appointed LEWIS to be its corporate PR partner for Europe.

HEMA has plans to expand and accelerate its international operations with the opening of stores in the UK, France, Spain and Germany. LEWIS will support the openings and provide maximum media exposure for HEMA for each opening in these countries.

LEWIS has already supported several HEMA store openings on a project basis, including flagship stores at Stansted Airport and in Euston (UK), Hasselt (Belgium), Madrid (Spain) and, most recently, Cologne in Germany. The LEWIS Amsterdam team will be coordinating the support across Europe, giving HEMA a single point of contact for all international activities.

Arnold Drijver, head of corporate communications at HEMA, said: “We have had a very positive working experience with the LEWIS team in the past year. On top of this, LEWIS has offices in all the markets we are active in which makes coordination and cooperation most efficient. In every country we have had the opportunity to work together and we have found them to be very enthusiastic and supportive.”

Yvonne van Bokhoven, SVP Western Europe at LEWIS Global Communications, said: “We are thrilled to further extend our cooperation with HEMA in 2017. We love the HEMA brand, and are all fans. It is great to see how a much loved Dutch brand like this is very well received in other cultures too. We are absolutely delighted to be part of its international success story.”

4mediarelations reappointed for World Travel Market London

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4mediarelations has been named the official broadcast partner for World Travel Market London 2017 for the 5th year running.

4mediarelations has been named the official broadcast partner for World Travel Market London 2017

World Travel Market London

Its reappointment comes after it secured more than 300 pieces of coverage across the three-day event last year, including BBC 5 Live, Radio 4, BBC World Service and BBC Scotland.

4mediarelations says organisations that benefited from its broadcast PR activity last year included the Egyptian Tourist Authority, Destination Canada and global car hire company Europcar.

The on-site studio at the event hosted celebrity spokespeople such as Tracey Edwards, Michael Portillo and former cricketer Sir Viv Richards.

More than 1.1 million business meetings took place over the three days, according to 4mediarelations, and deals worth more than £2.5 million were agreed.

For the first time this year, 4mediarelations will also take on a TV brief for World Travel Market London, which takes place from 7 to 9 November at ExCel.

Paul Nelson, press and PR manager at World Travel Market London, said: “We selected 4mediarelations again as our official broadcast partner mainly because of its vast experience in the travel sector and previous broadcast support at WTM London 2012, 2013 and 2016’s highly-successful event.

“Its dedicated team will ensure WTM exhibitors truly get the most out of WTM London 2017. We look forward to working with 4mediarelations again over the next few months and hope for a successful and fruitful WTM London 2017.”

Darren Ryan, associate director at 4mediarelations, added: “We are extremely pleased to have secured the levels of coverage we did for World Travel Market London 2016 and are delighted to be selected as the official broadcast supplier again for WTM London 2017.

“The 2016 event was a huge success which built on the success we achieved previously in 2012, 2013 and 2015. This year, we are also pleased to be handling all global TV editorial opportunities as well. Working alongside the team at WTM London, our ultimate goal again this year is to maximise the radio and TV broadcast opportunities that exist for all exhibitors during the three day 2017 event.”

Mystudenthalls.com hires Rooster

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Mystudenthalls.com has chosen Rooster to enhance its position as the UK’s first and “most comprehensive” student halls search engine.

Mystudenthalls.com has chosen Rooster to enhance its position as the UK’s first and "most comprehensive" student halls search engine

Mystudenthalls.com

Mystudenthalls.com allows students to contact their desired halls directly without having to create a user account.

Rooster has been briefed to develop a media strategy for the brand, as well as run the company’s press office function.

In addition to managing media enquiries, Rooster will focus on generating quality coverage in key national, regional and consumer media titles through news and content generation.

Dan Roberts, MD of Mystudenthalls.com, said: “We were really impressed by Rooster’s media expertise and strategic recommendations to increase our profile among students and property partners.

“The team has hit the ground running and we’re already working on some exciting campaigns to raise awareness of Mystudenthalls.com among our target audience.”

James Brooke, MD at Rooster, said: “This is a really exciting brief for us and we’re proud to have been appointed by the UK’s original dedicated student halls search engine. We’re looking forward to implementing some successful campaigns to raise media and consumer awareness of Mystudenthalls.com throughout 2017.”

Scott Storey Outdoor Living and James Grace hire The Lucre Group

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The Lucre Group has won two PR briefs from Scott Storey Outdoor Living, which launches this year, and James Grace, a specialist in bespoke staircases.

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Tamarind Wilson-Flint

Scott Storey Outdoor Living, which specialises in non-wood decking, is due to launch later in 2017.

Lucre will support the launch of Scott Storey Outdoor Living and raise the profile of the brand as it grows and establishes its place in the UK market.

James Grace has briefed Lucre to enhance awareness of the brand and expand its digital footprint across both PR and social media.

It will focus on media engagement, content provision and social media support.

Both account wins are the result of recommendation without a pitch taking place, according to Lucre.

Tamarind Wilson-Flint (pictured), co-owner and director at Lucre, said: “These brands are a perfect complement to our existing portfolio and with both having such exciting plans for 2017 it is a wonderful time for us to join their teams.

“James Grace is a best kept secret which has already firmly established itself as number two in the market and has its sights firmly set on being the market leader in 2017.

“Scott Storey Outdoor Living is a US concept which is being brought to the British market and will transform how we utilise our outdoor spaces at home.”

Rostrum hires first PR apprentice

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Tania Correia

Rostrum, the corporate PR agency, has announced that it has hired its first PR apprentice Tania Correia.

Correia joined Rostrum after finishing her A-Levels and was chosen out of a number of candidates, having demonstrated ability to draft content and pitch to the media during the interview process.

She is part of the corporate team at Rostrum and will work across a range of sectors including SME finance, legal technology and cybersecurity. She will be with the agency for 15 months where she will complete her Level 4 PR diploma.

Michael Kahn, director of resource and development at Rostrum, said: “We felt it was the right time to introduce an apprentice into the Rostrum team as we continue to recruit and train the best and brightest talent. Tania is already proving to be a capable individual and I’m confident she will continue to develop during her time at the agency.”

Correia said: “The experience so far at Rostrum has been a very rewarding one. Not only am I doing a job I really enjoy, my diploma also allows me to learn the theory behind everything I’m doing day to day, which is definitely helping me to progress in my role.”

Tommee Tippee appoints Kindred to handle UK PR

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Tommee Tippee, the UK’s largest baby-feeding brand, has appointed Kindred to handle its PR, following a competitive pitch.

Tommee Tippee has appointed Kindred to handle its PR

Tommee Tippee

Kindred has been briefed to raise awareness of Tommee Tippee’s product portfolio, which includes its Starter Kits and Perfect Prep range, across national, consumer and lifestyle media.

The agency will also lead separate campaigns to heighten recognition of the brand’s #ParentOn campaign. Kindred will also provide ad hoc support for Tommee Tippee’s internal teams with social media and content creation.

Sam Holl, client service director will lead a team of four at Kindred and report to Kiera Day, head of regional marketing for Tommee Tippee’s parent company Mayborn Group and Sarah Brownrigg, digital marketing manager.

Day said: “We are delighted to appoint Kindred as our UK PR agency. The team’s experience in the parenting sector, creativity and ability to work across a number of different media channels was exactly what we were looking for.”

Holl added: “This appointment is a great testimony to our consumer PR credentials and rapidly expanding portfolio of lifestyle clients. Tommee Tippee is already an established brand name in the parenting market and we’re excited about building its profile in front of an even broader audience.”

60 Seconds with Swinton Insurance’s Gill Galassi

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Gill Galassi, head of public relations at Swinton Insurance, tells us about working with the business as it celebrates its 60th anniversary, how she is creating an in-house PR team and the dynamics of the insurance sector.

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Gill Galassi

What made you want to work at Swinton?

As a proud Mancunian, I’m aware of Swinton’s heritage and history.  The business was founded in the city 60 years ago and is now one of the largest private sector employers in the area.

My early career was spent working for insurer RSA and, more recently, I worked for Well Pharmacy. Swinton has a unique business model, with a network of almost 200 high street branches, so I’m looking forward to combining my experience of both the retail and insurance sectors in the new role as head of PR.

What is exciting you about 2017 at Swinton?

The business has created several new digital and marketing positions to support what is going to be a very busy 12 months.  This year marks our 60th anniversary and will see more than 1,000 head office & contact centre staff move to a brand new HQ in the centre of Manchester. At the same time, the expectations of our customers are changing thanks to advances in technology, so we’re investing in our digital capabilities. I’m looking forward to being part of the team with the opportunities this presents and helping build the right plan to guide us through an exciting period of change.

How does your new role fit into that drive?

PR is critical to raising awareness of who we are and what we stand for across all media platforms. My focus will be to develop our external narrative and manage our reputation and brand profile so our insurance partners and existing and potential customers understand why they should place their trust in us.

What are your personal goals and expectations for your new role?

I’d like to visibly demonstrate the value that PR can add to a business. In terms of my expectations from the team, it would be that we each play our part in bringing the Swinton story to life across traditional and digital media both regionally and nationally.

On a personal level it’s getting that work / life balance right – which isn’t always easy with my seven and eight year old sons running around at home!

Where would you like to see the most improvement? Do you anticipate any challenges?

I’m establishing a dedicated in-house PR team – a first for Swinton – so the challenge will be to get the team up and running as quickly as possible. I’m working closely with the leadership team at Swinton to make that happen.

The changing dynamics of the insurance sector presents a number of challenges, too. We’ve seen the marketplace become increasingly competitive thanks to the pace of technological advancements and intensifying regulatory pressure.

What has been the highlight of your career to date?

There’s been so many it’s hard to choose from. I loved leading on the rebrand of Co-Operative Pharmacy to Well. It culminated in the craziest four days of my life – two days of events in Birmingham followed by two solid days of press briefings.

My manager there, Tim Davies, was truly inspirational and really helped me grow and push myself. When I worked at PZ Cussons, I was also lucky enough to spend time in Nigeria – one of its biggest markets. I met some fantastic people out there and had some amazing experiences.  I’m looking forward to creating some future highlights at Swinton.