The PR Team managed client Barratt Mercia’s official launch at its Bluebell development in Nuneaton recently.  Events were captured on film… watch this successful event for yourself HERE.

The many forms of communication are often discussed in terms of how they can develop and generate opportunities. Little is said however of its uses when everything is going wrong and the only coverage you are getting is negative. Why is this?

When it is, it is often spoke of as being better than none at all. As Oscar Wilde once said “the only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.” What is meant by this is If you can ride the difficulties there is the opportunity to emerge with your rise drawing substantial attention and interest which, accompanied by that already generated by the negative coverage, can lead to further success.

How accurate though is such an assumption? Is it better to be discussed in any light than not at all or is it simply good fortune that brings future accomplishments after an unfavourable spotlight?

Media coverage of BP’s disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico can hardly be described as promotional. Huge financial costs and a drop in confidence has seen share prices plummet. The terrible loss of life in the initial disaster and features showing the effect on iconic, helpless wildlife has even led to BP Chief Executive Tony Haywood being labelled as the most hated man in the USA.

BP’s response has been to document its attempts to rectify the leak but this has been somewhat undermined by its failure to do so and the emergence of details accounting the accident to BP negligence. Its most recent attempt to null the criticisms has been to allow journalists access to the company’s crisis centre. Although showing it is working hard to fix the leak it has not come early enough and its effect will be limited amongst the allegations of cost cutting influences.  

The severity and length of the problems means there is very little for BP to attain from the situation unlike suggested by assumptions valuing all communication. It is hard not to speculate though that had the leak been swiftly stopped, it would have drawn valuable public and business interest despite the severity.

Presentation of BP as being a company which valued and put procedures in place to ensure and reflect its social responsibilities rather than being driven solely by profit margins at any cost, as commonly thought of the oil industry, would have recovered some of the reputation lost by the initial disaster if it had been done in the early stages. This could have prevented them being dragged through what can be described as a lengthy, hostile media portrayal. 

With its communication of attempted solutions being out weighted, BP’s recovery will be reliant on its previously strong identity. The extent to which its identity and reputation can be recovered however remains to be seen.   

We’ve all been getting into the World Cup with a company sweepstake but so have our clients with promotions and events that tap in to this national obsession!  Here’s just one of the promotional photos we’ve comissioned for client Barratt Northampton…

Barratt sales advisor Rachel shows her skill!

On Friday 18th June client Barratt Mercia’s landmark regneration scheme, Bluebell in Nuneaton, was officially unveiled by the Worshipful the Mayor of Nuneaton and Bedworth, Cllr Don Navarro.  We were there to organise, record and promote proceedings.

Welcoming Mr Mayor and Madam Mayoress

Longstanding Unsworth Sugden client, the Earl Shilton Building Society, has been recognised as one of the country’s top children’s account providers at a national awards ceremony.

The Society was highly commended in the Best Children’s Account Provider category at the 2010 Moneyfacts Awards, which were held at the Millennium Mayfair Hotel in London last Friday. A representative from the Unsworth Sugden PR team accompanied employees from Earl Shilton to the awards, which were hosted by ITN News’ Economics Editor, Daisy McAndrew.

This was the first year that Earl Shilton has been nominated  at these awards, so to finish second only to the winners in its category was a fantastic achievement.

Subsequent work by the PR department has seen the story feature in both the Hinckley Times and the Leicester Mercury.

ESBS' Jamie Clarke with guest host Daisy McAndrew

The foundations of any company’s business model, irrespective of their size or sector, are formed by their corporate identity and brand positioning. This is somewhat common knowledge but of increasing importance as marketing budgets are tightened.

Establishing a strong, well known identity is not an easy task but the gains of successfully doing so are prosperous. Recent weeks have seen Apple overtake Microsoft as the most valuable technology producing company thanks to its extensive profits.

Effective communication of Apple’s identity and product lines means very few would fail to recognise their logo, associate them as a leader of ground breaking home and office technology or name any of its products. Mass enthusiasm surrounds Apple’s identity as consumers aim to get their hands on the technology and suppliers compete to sell it. 

The question that dominates in the current economic climate is where do you prioritise your marketing communications spending to raise the profile of your organisation? An especially tough decision when tight budgets increase the pressure for clearly visible results.  

Such budget management is even more difficult with specialised communication agencies competing for a large share. Full service agencies offer an attractive means of consolidating marketing, advertising and public relations under one roof with many also having a digital arm to coincide with the expanding opportunities offered by interactive media thus offering multi platform reach.

Using such agencies allows all areas of your marketing strategy to be easily co-ordinated to communicate consistent, clear and direct messages. These are key to any branding campaign as the profiles and values expressed build a relationship between the audience and your corporate, product and/or service identity; an awareness that encourages future business.

The communication of success stories and strong products and/or services through PR, advertising and marketing alongside an establishing identity further enhances brand strength. A strength which continues to grow as awareness of your brand does, opening more opportunities for future business and expansion.

Such growth reflects the need for the continuous management of your identity and brand positioning. Once established, they need to prosper through regular up to date communication rather than fade into the background if they are to be successful.  

This is as time consuming as it sounds but it is essential. Again a full service agency can be of great use here as they can tailor and progress communication activity across all areas with this purpose in mind.  

Although just the roots of marketing activity, it offers the foundations from which future campaigns can be built. Once established, corporate identity is further enhanced by all positive future communication increasing business opportunities and therefore providing significant returns on investments in it. 

The PR team is delighted that Hannah B appeared on BBC Radio Leicester during this morning’s breakfast show… have a listen here -BBC Radio Leicester 7.54am Tues 8th June.

Unsworth Sugden’s advertising division and digital marketing division, US Digital, have combined their specialities to great effect for the Woodland Trust. Their knowledge of advertising and the importance of utilising a strong online presence has allowed the Woodland Trust to find the right candidates for numerous positions.

Thanks to an effective combination of print, website design and website development, the Woodland Trust was inundated with strong, high quality applicants. This proves the internet has not yet completely outdated print and that the qualities of both can be used to great affect.  

EXCITING NEWS! Hannah B will be supporting James Morrison at his Leicester Tigers stadium concert on Thursday 15th July.  Watch this space for further updates…

We recently welcomed De Montfort uni student Liam Grimmette to the PR department for work experience.  Here’s how he got on…

I’m just coming to the end of three weeks work experience at Unsworth Sugden which has been fantastic. My first day started with a brief tour of the building where I got a very positive vibe. Everyone had a smile on their face which was welcoming in itself. It wasn’t long before I felt like a genuine member of the team and I had a list of jobs to do.

My first jobs included coming up with competition ideas for a future newsletter and updating the company marketing calendar. I remember one of my lecturers at university saying that no day is ever the same when working in PR, and they weren’t wrong. Over the past three weeks, I have done everything from writing press releases and putting together launch event packs to arranging press-cuttings for meetings and researching strawberry-shaped balloons. The work experience has also enabled me to gain insight into how a PR company works together to create successful results.

Overall, my experience at Unsworth Sugden has been priceless and has been genuinely enjoyable throughout. The clients at Unsworth Sugden are very fortunate to have an extraordinary PR company representing them.