Media Buzz: Finn PR; Tuna Technologies; Tresamo; The Whole Caboodle; Umpf
Finn PR has secured a place in a national PR industry league table for the first time after seeing year on year growth.
The Leeds agency scooped a place in the PR Week Top 150 PR Consultancies league table in recognition of its growth in the past 12 months – the largest in the North and within the top 15 nationally.
Founded by Richard Rawlins, the agency grew its fee income 58%, year-on-year, which it attributes to its “robust client retention”, the launch of two specialist divisions and a series of new business wins.
Finn PR entered the national league table at 126 with a fee income of £1.2m in 2012, increased from £787,000 in 2011, making it the agency with the largest growth in the North of England.
Finn boasts R&R Ice Cream, Morphy Richards and Quorn amongst its roster of retained clients and a 19-strong-team.
The news follows the agency’s latest new business win from specialist food company, All About Food.
Finn has been appointed by All About Food to manage the consumer and trade PR for its portfolio of brands, including Nando’s, Pizza Express and Gourmet Burger Kitchen.
:::
A SHEFFIELD-based business was a big winner at this year’s Big Chip Awards in Manchester.
Hosted by comedian Andrew Ryan, the awards attracted 246 entries from 127 digital and creative organisations and freelancers from across the North.
Sheffield’s Tuna Technologies won Best Use of Visual Design and Best Use of Gaming for Eufloria, a real-time strategy video game which won the Grand Prix Award.
Chairman of Big Chip Steering Group, Shaun Fensom, said: “This year Big Chip has attracted the widest spread of entries yet, from all parts of the North. I am delighted to see such a strong range of entries, with big advances in areas such as gaming and application of technology. The longest-running digital awards in the UK are showing the world that the North has a strong, mature and growing sector.”
The awards are organised by trade association Manchester Digital, with support from partners including Digital Union in the North East, Leeds Digital Festival, Creative Sheffield and Creative Liverpool.
:::
AS the venue has already achieved 2,000 more Twitter followers than Wembley Arena, the team at Leeds’ first direct arena has announced it is retaining the Yorkshire agency that has established its social media presence to date.
Tresamo, which has offices in Whitby and Merseyside, will continue to help realise the 13,000 seat venue’s ambition to become the most socially engaged arena in the UK.
The agency was initially appointed for its knowledge of Leeds and extensive experience in the sports, leisure and hospitality industries, including project managing the social media output for the Aintree Grand National Festival.
Since managing the arena’s social media feeds, including Facebook and Twitter, followers of @fdarena have increased by more than 300%.
Lee Kidd, account manager at Tresamo, said: “We are delighted to be working alongside SMG Europe and the first direct arena. Tresamo are specialists at adding social media value to dynamic businesses and projects and they don’t come more exciting than the opening of a unique world-class venue.”
The team is currently working with the arena to plan activity around Bruce Springsteen’s performance on July 24 before the September opening season, which includes Sir Elton John, Andrea Bocelli, Cirque Du Soleil and Leeds favourite, the Kaiser Chiefs.
:::
DIGITAL, PR and advertising agency The Whole Caboodle has hired SEO expert Carly Chaffer.
She recently joined the agency in Harrogate as head of the SEO team and has already gained new accounts, including Approved Garages, an on-line motorist’s MOT and car service, Vantage Motor Group, Stonebridge Homes (house builders) and Stonebridge Offices.
Karl Rahmani, managing partner, said: “Carly has a natural ability to communicate SEO in a simple no-nonsense way which enables clients to fully understand the value a strong SEO and social media campaign can bring to their on-line marketing.
“Since joining, she has strengthened her team with the recruitment of three additional staff and has been instrumental in helping the agency in winning additional digital clients.”
:::
PR and social Media specialist Umpf has grown its offering by employing three new members of staff, hailing from Lucre, Epiphany and MK Things Happen.
Joining Umpf as an account manager is Matthew Balmforth, having previously spent two years at Leeds-based agency Lucre. He brings a wealth of social media and consumer PR experience working with brands such as Jet2.com, Hallmark, University of Leeds and Ronseal.
Also joining the team is Amy Byard, who joins as an account manager from search agency Epiphany, where she has been head of their online PR team for the past two years. She has delivered creative campaigns for clients such as Debenhams, Waterstones, Savills and Kempinski Hotels.
Ellie Hallsworth joins Leeds-based Umpf as a senior account executive from Sheffield PR agency MK Things Happen, where she was an account executive working on accounts such as McCain Foods GB, Napoleons Casinos & Restaurants and Off the Shelf Festival of Words.
