Connect links up up with LEP for enterprising new contract

WOLVERHAMPTON-based Connect PR has been appointed as the PR agency for a major new enterprise area aiming to bring thousands of new jobs to the south west of England.
 
The agency will lead the national public relations drive for the Junction 21 Enterprise Area (J21EA), which is located off Junction 21 of the M5.
 
J21EA is one of only five Enterprise Areas designated by the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership.  The site offers 72 acres of employment land which is ‘ready to go’ with planning permission and access and aims to deliver 10,000 jobs by 2026.
 
Developers such as Persimmon Homes, St Modwen and Dowlas (UK) Ltd are already on board together with Weston College and North Somerset Council to help promote the commercial, investment and business opportunities on offer at J21EA.
 
Connect PR, which also offers an in-house video news service as well as running sponsorship management projects, already has blue chip companies Persimmon Homes, Volkswagen, WD-40, Goodyear Tyres and Johnstone’s Paint amongst its clients.
 
Hazel Crawford-Upton, managing director of Connect PR, said: “We are delighted with the news that we have been appointed by the J21EA marketing sub-group.  This marks an exciting time for the agency.
 
“We look forward to undertaking a number of national projects for J21EA. Whilst we are located outside of the region, our credentials speak for themselves and our expertise is perfectly matched to raise the profile of the enterprise area.”

Red Marlin rolls out successful tyre safety campaign

WARWICKSHIRE-based PR and communications agency, Red Marlin rolled out a successful campaign for Tyre Safety Month.

The aim of the campaign was to educate drivers about the importance of keeping their tyres properly inflated.

The Red Marlin campaign secured record levels of print, broadcast and online coverage as well as strong levels of partner engagement, helping multiply the impact further.

“Getting motorists and the media enthused and engaged about the topic of tyre safety is not an easy task, so it’s incredibly satisfying to see such our campaign make such a dramatic impact,” said Danny Rughoobeer, managing director, Red Marlin.

The campaign was an integrated affair including a number of digital resources such as animations and videos, as well as traditional point of sale materials that were all supported with strong news-led PR content. Such was the interest in the campaign that it was featured on several ITV news programmes, BBC regional radio as well as in print and online news outlets.

Training exercise proves hot stuff for drpgroup

THE drpgroup has allowed its offices to be used as a venue for a major training exercise by the Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service.

The simulation, which took place at night, saw the firm’s main studio filled with haze and then three teams of fire officers carried out a controlled rescue. The crews were reacting to a scenario where four people needed to be rescued from the main studio.

While the operation was in progress trained observers and drpgroup’s health and safety manager Paul Weston helped to monitor proceedings.

Weston said the whole process had been a useful experience for the drpgroup.
“It was an extraordinary privilege to host a training simulation for the local fire brigade at our facilities in Hartlebury.  These facilities are extremely versatile with a combination of studios, wood workshop, print area, warehouse and offices,” he said.

“From a health and safety managers point of view this was an exhilarating event but also an eye-opening experience that not only tests and familiarises the local fire brigade with our facilities, but demonstrated to them what we do as a company and the hazards for them throughout our buildings in the event of an emergency, it was an experience that tested how robust our practices and procedures are.”

He said the event (below) had been a success and both parties had benefited from the exercise.   

“I would encourage any health and safety professionals out there to do the same as it is an invaluable experience that reaffirms all the safety systems at work and the company’s disaster recovery plans through a real life scenario.  We hope to be able to carry out future collaborations with the local fire brigade,” he added.