Birmingham Press Club attracts top newsreader to spring lunch

NEWS at Ten anchor Julie Etchingham – the first woman ever to win the Presenter of the Year accolade at the Royal Television Society journalism awards – is to be the guest speaker at Birmingham Press Club’s Springtime Celebrity lunch.

Born in Leicester, the newsreader got her first job in journalism working at her home-town BBC radio station, moving onto BBC Midlands Today as a presenter before locating to London.

She then joined Sky News in 2002 before switching to ITV six years later to co-present the re-launched News at Ten alongside Sir Trevor McDonald.

She co-hosted the station’s coverage of Prince William’s wedding to Kate Middleton, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and, in 2013, travelled to Rome to provide coverage of the election of Pope Francis.

Press Club chairman Ed James said: “Julie has travelled the world during her award-winning career, covering a host of major assignments and we are delighted that she will be able to talk about her experiences during a visit to the Press Club.”

The venue for the lunch on Thursday, March 10 is yet to be confirmed people can register their attendance at fred.bromwich@btinternet.com

Encore set to repeat success with new contract

ENCORE Communications has secured a new contract to promote Midlands-based international investigation company Netwatch.

The award followed a competitive tender process and Encore will be tasked with promoting Netwatch’s suite of digital investigation services to corporate customers across the insurance, retail and legal sectors

Elizabeth Laidler, managing director of Encore Communications, said: “This new contract is a great start to the year and builds on the success of the last few years, which has seen significant growth both in terms of turnover and personnel.

“Netwatch is an innovative business, shaking up the traditional investigations sector, and we’re looking forward to working with them to showcase their expertise across the UK and further afield.”

Pukka plan for telecoms provider Cloud9

INNOVATION Birmingham Campus-based telecommunications provider, Cloud9 is targeting new success on the growth of one of its largest accounts.
 
Established in 2013, Cloud9 is a strategic communications supplier which provides bespoke project management services for a wide range of connectivity solutions including infrastructure, fixed line, broadband and mobile.
 
It has doubled its annual turnover in the last 12 months, with plans to accelerate the current rate of growth with a number of new jobs.

The company’s success follows a year which saw one of its largest accounts, international organic tea and food supplement provider, Pukka Herbs, extend its current contract.
 
During 2016, Pukka Herbs will be relocating its current multi-site office environment to a single office. Cloud9 will be integral in servicing the move; providing infrastructure, full mobile and fixed line telecommunication services to support the relocation of the business and its 100 staff.
 
Stuart Allbut (pictured), Operations Director at Cloud9, said: “We are thrilled to continue developing our positive working relationship with Pukka Herbs and supporting them in their relocation to Parkview Office campus.
 
“It has been another fantastic year for Cloud9 and with more and more companies beginning to demand faster broadband and secure mobile connectivity, we look forward to continuing to work with each client on a case-by-case basis to ensure we meet their individual business needs.”