MPA seeks five-fold increase in members
THE revamped Manchester Publicity Association is aiming for a five-fold increase in members.
The 90-year-old trade body has been re-branded as the MPA and taken on its first paid employee – managing director Cindy Simmons.
Mrs Simmons told TheBusinessDesk she was aiming to push the organisation’s membership from 500 to 2,500 over the next year, and ultimately to 4,000, as it seeks to become a platform for people working in creative businesses.
The MPA, traditionally for those working in the mainstream media and public relations, has expanded its remit and plans to accommodate those working in creative and digital companies.
Mrs Simmons, pictured, said: “We’re not trying to be a representative body, we’re
trying to be a way in which, for example, you can get a magazine publisher talking to a digital provider so they can collaborate together rather than the work going to London.
“We want to keep as much as we can in the region so companies cross-fertilise and work together. For us it’s about being a conduit.”
She added: “I’ve got 12 months to get 2,500 members so I’m working hard in terms of getting people involved and getting new people to sign up.”
The MPA, chaired by MC2 chief executive Mike Perls, has appointed a strategic advisory board to oversee its growth. Its members are: MediaCity’s communications chief Paul Newman; MD of BJL, Nicky Unsworth; Emma Slater, deputy MD at MEC; the White Room’s Andy Lovatt; Paul O’Halloran, commercial director at the MEN; Sandra Tinker of News International; Marcie Incarico of Out There Events; deputy chief executive of Pro Manchester, Rachel Smith; Nick Melvin, MD of Delineo; Tony Foggett, chief executive of Code Computerlove; and Enda Carey of Vision and Media.
