New accounts for WPR

WILLOUGHBY PR’s retail team has won two new accounts and retained a third for an eighth year. Following a competitive pitch, the agency has been appointed by High Street brand Regis hair salons to help drive footfall across the UK and raise awareness of the brand. Lakeside shopping centre in Essex has also signed up Birmingham-based Willoughby to work on a summer holidays project, aimed at promoting the venue as a day out destination. In addition, WPR has already been reappointed by the Sharps following the collapse of the Homeform Group. Sharps has been bought out of administration and asked Willoughby to continue supporting the brand’s fitted bedroom and home office ranges. Managing director Jane Ainsworth said: “We are delighted to add such high profile brands to our retail and leisure division, and to continue what has been a very strong partnership with Sharps.”

Classy apprenticeship scheme

DIGITAL agency Class Creative has launched a new hands-on apprenticeship scheme for people who want to get into the creative industry but have opted not to go to university. The paid programme is targeted at those who are keen to progress their fledgling careers in creative and digital media with live commercial experience. The firm, based at Birmingham Science Park Aston, will run the scheme for 12 months.

Security certificate for Stoke web firm

STAFFORDSHIRE web services provider Internet Central has been awarded a certificate for outstanding information security. The Stoke company has become one of only a few hundred UK businesses to be awarded the ISO 27001 certificate. To be awarded the standard, Internet Central had to demonstrate its information security management systems are of a world-class standard.