News & Views

I attended a recent RIBA event and unsurprisingly got chatting to an architect about PR. “I don’t need PR,” he said. He added: “My work sells itself. If I design a great building, it is there forever, a permanent advert.” I think somewhere in all that there is a valid point. That being, out of all the professions, architects are sitting on gold in terms of PR collateral.

New buildings improve landscapes, communities and lives – and in the process drive huge interest.

With its specialist built environment PR team, Freshfield has managed the communications affairs of architects for many years. And in a profession (PR) where we fight hard to unearth great stories and positive messages, handling the PR for architects is a joy. A PR dream in some cases. (more…)

Posted by
Simon Turner

Freshfield has just launched the latest business magazine for North West accountancy firm, Moore and Smalley. The summer edition of Bottom Line features an exclusive interview with Edwin Booth, the chairman of Booths Supermarkets, who offers an insight into his career and some tips from the top. In Spring, we featured Matthew Riley, founder and chief executive officer of Daisy Group plc.

Bottom Line goes to over 6,000 businesses across the region, offering finance and business advice to FDs and directors. Freshfield writes and designs the publication as part of Moore and Smalley’s thought leadership strategy.

Posted by
Adrian Hope

We have a vacancy in our team at PR assistant / account executive level.
Assisting the PR team on a range of business-to-business and business-to-consumer programmes, the role would be perfect for either a PR or journalism graduate.

The role will primarily include writing / content generation, media relations, social media, client relations and administration support.

Accomplished writing skills are essential. Applicants must also have a good understanding of social media, strong organisational skills, a creative mind, excellent customer service skills and the drive to go that extra mile. Experience of developing online content such as podcasts and videos would be an advantage.

Freshfield is Lancashire’s only member of the Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA). Our personal development programme has been officially certified by the PRCA.

After a successful six months, you will be enrolled onto our Group Pension Scheme. The role will be based at our head office in Winckley Square, Preston.

Attractive salary and benefits. Start date: ASAP

This is a great opportunity to be part of one of the Northwest’s most progressive PR and marketing communications consultancies and work with some great clients and people.

Send CV and covering letter to recruitment@freshfield.com

Posted by
admin

Freshfield has developed the new brand and communications strategy for the North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce’s (NWLCC) first annual business week.

RISE: The Business Week will take place in June 2011 and will comprise a series of events aimed at driving growth in the private sector economy.

The week kicks off with a conference on June 6, chaired by Insider editor Michael Taylor. The conference will involve political and business figures from across the country who will debate the major economic issues of the county. The week will culminate in the BIBAs, the largest awards event in the county. (more…)

Posted by
Simon Turner

I recently attended an education conference in London which was fronted by some of the UK’s leading education writers and education PR specialists. The resounding theme of the day was the need for FE and HE providers to be upfront and responsive to the economic shakeup to the education sector and, for me, it all pointed towards the need for effective communications.

Since the Coalition Government took to the helm 12 months ago, both further education (FE) and higher education (HE) institutions have had budgets cut and provisions slashed in what is expected to be a 25 per cent cut to education spending in England over the next three years.

In these uncertain times, credibility, competence and trust will all be facilitated by rock solid communications. Be it a media briefing on the announcement of a university’s fees, comment from a principal on the latest cuts to affect students, or the launch of the latest course guide or prospectus, communication must cut through the confusion. (more…)

Posted by
Jess Hardisty

It might seem the wrong time to be talking up traditional forms of media at a time when two newspapers have gone into administration.

As I write, the publisher of the Daily Sport and Sunday Sport, Sport Media Group, had ceased trading and a buyer was apparently being sought.

Furthermore, ABC figures are down, readers are supposedly migrating in hoards to online portals and social media channels.

But as a PR practitioner and, in particular one with a background in newspapers, traditional media outlets should remain high priority when planning campaigns.

Social media became part of a marketer’s toolkit some time ago, and campaigns designed to reach a specific targeted audience, for example, an age group or professional sector, have a far larger arsenal than just a few years ago thanks to changing technology. Quite rightly for an industry built around communicating, use of LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook has become industry standard. (more…)

Posted by
Ben Hewes

Freshfield has strengthened its PR team with the appointment of Emma Booth as a PR account manager.

Emma, who joins from Lytham-based Stage9 Marketing, has previously worked with a wide range of businesses and brands, including Tesco, Super-Click Flooring, Sofrito Restaurants, and Marsden Rawsthorn Solicitors.

Emma has also worked in PR and communications roles for Freedman Brown Communications and Preston’s Cardinal Newman College, as well as a stint in journalism.

For Freshfield, Emma will be working on a range of business-to-consumer and business-to-business programmes. (more…)

Posted by
Andrew Taylor

The much heralded Localism Bill is about to shake up the way development plans are submitted for any major organisation, particularly in the burgeoning energy and environment sector.

As David Cameron’s vision of the Big Society starts to take shape, any major plan will need to take heed of local community sentiment.

The Localism Bill currently passing through Parliament at a great rate of knots – which should become law in October when it will receive Royal assent – will dramatically change the whole way that new development proposals are viewed and accepted or rejected.

The Bill creates an obligation for developers to ‘publicise the proposed application to bring the proposed application to the attention of a majority of the persons who live at, or otherwise occupy premises in the vicinity’. (more…)

Posted by
Paul Tustin

I recently spoke at the Social Media Academy conference in Manchester, where various social media topics were discussed, including planning, resourcing and content development.

It was clear that organisations on a global scale, whether in the public and private sector; don’t need much convincing that social media can help them interact and engage with their audiences.

However, many simply don’t know where to begin. What we are seeing as a consultancy is that many organisations still aren’t actively engaged with social media and this may be down to a number of reasons:

•    Fear of technology (If I can use it, anyone else can)
•    Senior management just don’t ‘get it’
•    Don’t know how to get started
•    Don’t know how to gauge its impact or determine resources needed. (more…)

Posted by
Michael Gregory

Freshfield is in the running to be named PR Agency of the Year at the How-Do Awards 2011, and is the only Lancashire agency to be nominated for the regional award.

How-Do serves the media and creative industries in the North West, offering news, opinion and resources for those working in all aspects of media, marketing, PR and advertising in the region.

The How-Do Awards have 16 categories spanning the region’s rapidly converging media and creative sectors and reflect the very best that the region – one of Europe’s most vibrant – has to offer.

Simon Turner, managing director of Freshfield, said: “The last 12-months have been a very successful period for us and to be the only Lancashire PR agency in the North West to be shortlisted in our category, next to well-established big city agencies, is a great achievement for us. (more…)

Posted by
Andrew Taylor