Families enjoyed the bank holiday weekend in true British style, with our client Barratt East Midlands at its development in Mansfield.
Daisy the donkey supplied by Dunton Stables
The authentic Punch and Judy was a hit with the children
Who could say no to free ice-cream!
A sales advisor with the specially made Barratt branded sticks of rock
Green fingered youngsters living at Barratt West Midlands’ Monarch Fields development entered into a competition this month to grow the tallest sunflower. A prize will be awarded to the winner in September.
Some of the children with their seedlings ready to plant.
In preparation for a ‘British’ themed family event this bank holiday weekend, the PR team went all out to source the best entertainment and catering for our client Barratt East Midlands.
Visitors to the Grange development this Saturday will be treated to donkey rides, an authentic Punch and Judy show and complimentary ice-cream and fish and chips! We even had Barratt branded sticks of rock made as a memento for visitors on the day.
Lets hope the rain stays away. Unfortunately sunshine is probably the only thing we can’t guarentee.
We’re good but we’re not that good!
We may not have seen much of the sun this month but the PR team’s organising skills have shone through, arranging a host of summer events for our clients. From hog roasts, to face painters and bouncy castles, there’s nothing we can’t find to make a family funday a Summer success!
Our monthly snap shot is of Barbara Goodwin, Sales Director for Harron Homes at the launch event of a new show house at the Chamberlain Place Development in Uttoxetter.
The face painter was a hit with the children at the Harron Homes event.
Three days on and the media interest has kept on building for our client, Westleigh Developments. The PR team’s Dave Toyn lept into action yesterday afternoon when BBC East Midlands contacted us, eager to cover the Belgrave housing scheme story.
The Westleigh news feature aired this morning on BBC East Midlands breakfast show. You can take a look for yourselves by clicking the following link: bbc-tv1-east-midlands-300710-0628
The first phase of work has begun on a £15m project for our client Westleigh Developments, causing a media flurry on announcement. Along with Westleigh, the redevelopment of the former British Union Shoe Machinery (BUSM) works on Ross Walk, Belgrave, is the result of a collaborative partnership between Leicester City Council, the Homes and Communities Agency, and two housing associations based in Leicester and Nottingham.
Featured in today’s Leicester Mercury, the low cost housing scheme for an initial 119 new properties, was herald for bringing affordable homes to the Belgrave Community, something that was in great demand.
BBC Radio Leicester also featured the story last night, which you listen to by clicking on the following link: bbc-radio-leicester-270710-1742
Westleighs Chris Beighton with land owner, Mandeep Singh, representitives of the LHA-ASRA and NCHA and Leicester City Council's Director of Planning, Andrew Smith.
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.
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
Youngsters at Cromwell Park Primary School in Hinchingbroke were keen to be seen this National Walk to School Week with high visability slap bands donated by client Barratt Northampton.
Cromwell Park Primary School children
The importance of effective marketing and PR has never been so apparent. Take the recent election for example. Much has been made of forgotten microphones, misplaced statements, media appearances and if the formation of a coalition government will be accepted.
What is clear is the power of our, the public’s, perceptions. Reputation management, whether it be how you market services or products, present your current affairs and the way in which you recruit and expand is crucial for success especially in such a tough economic environment.
One slip, even of the tongue, could be very costly!
Unsworth Sugden Advertising Ltd, De Montfort House, De Montfort Street, Leicester, LE1 7GE
