This month, client Barratt North Midlands has been promoting a ‘New Year New You’ mantra with a health and fitness themed launch event at its Nottingham based development, The Fairways.

Visitors were treated to a healthy selection of food and refreshments, as well as some excersize and dietary help from a health and fitness adviser from local leisure centre Chilwell Olympia.

We commissioned a photographer from Page One to cover the event and he gave us this great shot of Sales Adviser Andrew Handslip getting some advice on his New Year fitness regime! 

Client Barratt North Midlands was joined by two very special guests last month, to help celebrate the launch of its latest Nottingham development, The Courtyard on Barlock Road.

The PR Team put their heads together and came up with the idea of inviting some X Factor judge look-a-likes along to spend the day meeting and greeting visitors. People flocked to visit the development and see Dan Hadfield and Jenna Scottow AKA Gary Barlow and Tulisa, who we invited to be the guests of honour at the X Factor themed launch. Since the event they have had a lot of interest from magazines and TV programmes. They have even appeared on The Xtra Factor with the real judges as their ‘fake judge’ look-a-likes, and had their picture in Heat Magazine!

Client Barratt West Midlands had some extraordinary visitors at its Monarch Fields development in Telford during a Part Exchange event weekend this month.

A selection of animals from Hoo Farm Animal Kingdom located a few minutes drive from the development on Humber Lane were out to meet and greet visiting families, and included a meerkat, a Burmese python, a racoon and a barn owl.

It’s not just about writing press releases in the Unsworth Sugden PR office, as Hannah and Tom found when they went to visit client Barratt Mercia’s new Discovery House at the Bluebell development in Nuneaton last week. They took classes from two local primary schools on a tour of the property, with activities and quizzes throughout the day. The children were also treated to a fun but informative talk by presenter Hannah Patterson which they all loved.

The Lyng, a new homes development from client Barratt West Midlands was officially opened to the public by West Bromwich Albion legends, Tony ‘Bomber’ Brown and Brendon Batson MBE.  It was a superb event, well managed by the Unsworth Sugden PR team and extremely well attended by local homebuyers - more than 100 came to visit over the weekend.  Many interested parties also turned up in the Baggies shirts and got the chance to have their photo taken with their idols.  Thanks to Toby Savage for the photos.

Director of PR Hannah with Brendon and Bomber

Don’t forget, The Lyng - a major regeneration project by client Barratt West Midlands - will officially kick off this weekend (Saturday 16th April), with the help of West Bromwich Albion legends Tony Bomber Brown and Brendon Batson.  For details contact 0121 585 5605 or visit www.thelyngalive.co.uk.

Tony in 1978, picture thanks to West Bromwhich archivist Laurie Rampling

The legend that is Tony ‘Bomber’ Brown will be opening a development of brand new homes for client Barratt West Midlands on Saturday 16th April.  At 10.30am the former West Bromwich Albion player will be attending The Lyng, a new regeneration project from Barratt which is set to change the face of West Bromwich.  Tony, who will be joined by another Baggies legend, Brendon Batson MBE will be cutting a navy and white ribbon into the new show homes and be available for autograph signings and photographs.  Anyone interested in going to the event should call 0121 585 5606 for details or go to The Lyng marketing suite on Lyttleton Street on the day.

50 people from Birmingham people have found new jobs at a Shard End development.

Client Barratt West Midlands has announced that 50 local people have found jobs in the last five months at its new development in Shard End.

The Crescent, a £27m project to build nearly 200 homes, is now the place of work for 50 labourers, tradesmen and sub-contractors – as well as two apprentices. Many of the people employed live within five miles of the site.

Since the scheme began last November more than £2.2 million worth of contracts have been given to local suppliers, operating within five miles of the site, including electrical contractors, ground workers, bricklayers and security companies.

As well as new homes the development will provide a new vicarage for All Saints Church, a new library and 14,000 sq ft of retail units including a Co-op, bookmakers, post office, chip shop and a bakery.  A number of the retailers operate from the area already and are being relocated in brand new premises as a result of the development.

In total 124 one-, two- and three-bedroom houses will be available for private sale along with 67 affordable homes.

Adrian Farr, Managing Director for Halesowen-based Barratt said that the development is a classic example of how new construction projects can quickly employ significant numbers of people and benefit the local economy.

“From the start the Shard End scheme has been about more than just fulfilling housing needs and is one of a number of projects we are working on in the region that have local people at its heart.

“We have worked for a number of years with our partners here in Shard End to devise a scheme that would benefit the whole community and it is pleasing to see that in developing this site we are also able to aid both physical and social regeneration.”

Details of one of the apprentices and the local labourer are:

Alex Lennon

Carpentry apprentice

Age 16

Lives in Kings Heath

Studying NVQ in carpentry at South Birmingham College

Alex said, “Being an apprentice is fantastic; I like being outdoors and am learning a trade which I enjoy.  I had to take test to get this position so I feel really lucky to be working here. 

“I knew I wanted a real job and to study at the same time and being able to do this with Barratt is ideal.  In the future I’d like to get into construction management and hopefully this apprenticeship will put me in good stead to achieving that one day.”

Chris Adams

Site labourer

Age 33

Lives in Shard End

Found position through Job Centre, was previously unemployed for six months

Chris Adams (L) and Alex Lennon (R)

Children from Hob Hill C of E Primary School have been trying their hands at poetry after taking part in a Valentine’s Day competition with client Barratt West Midlands.

And Jayde Hibbert aged 9, Stephen Rodda, aged 10, and Joel Edwards aged 10 have had their poetic talents rewarded after their romantic verses were picked as first, second and third respectively by their class teacher Leigh Danckert.

Jayde’s poem was especially impressive and earned first prize, along with £20 in Toys’R’Us vouchers:

Love is like the fire of my heart,

Love is like a shimmering star,

Love is surrounding us all around,

Love is the beat of the sound,

Love is the pitter patter of the rain,

Love is when I see you again.

The winners with their poems