News & Views

Freshfield has achieved the coveted Consultancy Management Standard (CMS) – the gold standard of service for the PR industry, only weeks after joining its awarding body.

The CMS is an independently-audited set of eight tests which a consultancy must pass as a member of the Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA). It combines elements of ISO 9000 and Investors in People with criteria specific to the public relations industry.

In October, Freshfield joined some of the UK’s most successful PR businesses by becoming a member of the PRCA. (more…)

Posted by
Andrew Taylor

Francis Ingham, chief executive of the Public Relations Consultants Association, talks about the benefits of the Consultancy Management Standard.

The most frequent question I’m asked as PRCA chief executive is a simple one: “How’s business?”.

As you’d expect, the answer I give has changed over the past couple of years. But one element has remained constant – that there is no common experience. That each individual agency has a unique experience – is faring better or worse than its peers. (more…)

Posted by
admin

Designers, account managers and clients are often at loggerheads over colours. Colour is quite an emotive subject, but it’s important that businesses take a strategic view towards colour. The business colours you choose to represent your company can say a lot about you. Are you confident that the ones you use are the most appropriate?

Colour enhances the visual appearance of any document. It’s particularly important in your customer-oriented materials, since it adds impact to promotional items and presentations, enhances the realism of pictures, and gives a more professional appearance to your business stationery. Colour adds appeal and attracts attention. (more…)

Posted by
Sam Nayi

The best TV advert? Simple. One that people talk about for years.

You weren’t expecting a definitive answer were you? Oh, ok, let’s discuss.

Firstly a bit of background. Television advertising is riddled with advantages and disadvantages and a lot of businesses are not able to make use of it. But when it works, it really works.
(more…)

Posted by
Matthew Reed

Following on from the Government’s recent announcement that confirmed all employers, no matter how small, will have to offer a company pension scheme to their staff, Freshfield has created and launched a new pension advisory brand for a leading financial services group.

TP NEST Services is a specialist product run by the employee benefits division of North West-based Taylor Patterson. The new identity will cover a full range of marketing materials both on and offline, supporting the group’s business development activities. NEST stands for National Employment Savings Trust, the name of the new Government scheme available to employers. (more…)

Posted by
Andrew Taylor

It’s testament to the success of our publications that our dedicated service remains strong during these austere times. In Autumn we signed off six publications for Moore and Smalley Chartered Accountants, Backhouse Jones Solicitors and Taylor Patterson, the financial services group. With a team that comprises former business editors and magazine designers, we have the perfect combination to create results that build relationships, demonstrate thought leadership and warm up leads.

Ian Jones, managing director Backhouse Jones Solicitors, one of the UK’s leading transport law firms, commented: “We run a national series of events and publications are one of our staple comms tools. Freshfield has delivered once again and our latest series of publications have generated some strong feedback.”

Posted by
Simon Turner

Businesses large and small across most of the North West are celebrating the good news after four bids for Local Enterprise Partnerships were approved…unless you live in Lancashire.

As a public sector PR specialist, we at Freshfield find it not only disappointing but hugely frustrating, and sad.

We and the many SMEs in the Lancashire region feel aggrieved that we have again been under-represented at this regional economic level. (more…)

Posted by
Paul Tustin

There’s no denying that last week’s spending review announcement will have huge ramifications for many industries and sectors, PR included.

However, after recent involvement in the launch of Bolton College’s brand new £90m campus, I couldn’t help thinking what the impact of the spending review will be on the education sector in particular.

When the Chancellor, George Osborne, presented his first Budget, education was among the sectors to be hardest hit by cutbacks. Higher education (HE) faired far worse than further education (FE), with reported 40 percent and 20 percent cuts, respectively. I’m no mathematician, but even I know that’s a huge amount of money which is going to leave a very large gap in the budgets of schools, colleges and universities across the country. (more…)

Posted by
Jess Hardisty

Freshfield has joined some of the UK’s most successful PR businesses by joining the Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA).

The PRCA is a professional trade association that was founded in 1969 and aims to raise standards in the PR industry.

The PRCA is particularly known for its Consultancy Management Standard (CMS) accreditation which combines elements of ISO9001 and Investors in People with criteria specific to a PR consultancy. The standard is internationally recognised and used by PR businesses in 12 countries. (more…)

Posted by
Simon Turner

When it comes to business cards, I find it hard to beat this one. It’s from Steve Martin, legendary US comedian. Totally engaging.

Posted by
Sam Nayi