Beattie partners with translation services provider

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Beattie has partnered with language service specialist One Global in order to provide clients with multilingual PR and marketing campaigns.

Beattie North director Rachel Gladwin with One Global managing director Paul Green

The partnership will add content translation, global interpretation, multilingual SEO and digital services to Beattie’s communications offer.

Rachel Gladwin, director of Beattie North, said: “This partnership creates a truly unique offer with unlimited potential to help businesses expand or explore new markets.

“In a year that we at Beattie announced our expansion into Canada, including plans to open an office in French-speaking Montreal, we believe One Global’s expert linguistic skills fit seamlessly with our expanding team’s PR, marketing and creative talent.”

One Global expands its reach into PR and digital marketing services, enabling its clients to communicate with international media and prospective clients.

Paul Green, managing director at One Global, added: “We believe in business without borders and, by partnering with Beattie, we are not simply adding another dimension to our services but removing boundaries.

“Rather than just translate existing content, this offer allows UK businesses to create bespoke overseas PR and digital marketing campaigns and maximise their reach and impact.

“On the international stage in an age of digital connectivity, localised and translated PR and marketing content are critical in helping support businesses reap the benefits of trading across the globe.”

 

Instinctif Partners acquires Champollion Group

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Instinctif Partners has extended its UK public policy offering through the acquisition of London-based consultancy Champollion.

Left to right: Richard Nichols, CEO at Instinctif Partners; Simon Buckby, CEO at Champollion; Estelle McCartney, managing director at Champollion and Warwick Smith, senior managing partner at Instinctif Partners

Champollion, which will integrate with Instinctif Partners’ public policy practice, specialises in public affairs, media relations and digital communications.

Richard Nichols, CEO at Instinctif Partners, said: “We’ve been aware of Champollion’s fantastic reputation and first-class client work for many years, so we are really pleased to be welcoming the team to Instinctif Partners.”

The Champollion team will move to Instinctif’s London office, with Simon Buckby and Estelle McCarty joining as managing partners under the leadership of senior managing partner at Instinctif Warwick Smith.

Simon Buckby, CEO of Champollion, added: “I am delighted that after 12 successful years Champollion is joining Instinctif Partners. We have worked together in the past and are certain that the fit will bring new and exciting business opportunities for us all.”

PRCA launches online CPD programme

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The PRCA has launched its first online CPD (continuous professional development) programme which will reward its users for undergoing training, mentoring and coaching and attending conferences and events, including Gorkana, Cision and PR Newswire’s media briefings and other events.

Francis Ingham

Users in the CPD programme can take control of their own development, via the platform, which allows them to plan, record and reflect on their learning goals and achievements.

Francis Ingham (pictured), director general of the PRCA, said: “CPD is a recognised part of good professional practice. It helps individuals maintain their edge, build their careers and develop their expertise, improving practice and raising standards across the industry.”

The PRCA CPD programme is open to members and non-members. Its cycle runs from October 1 to September 30.

Ingham added: “We are committed, at the PRCA, to creating a culture of CPD across the global PR industry and have developed PRCA CPD and an easy to use online platform encouraging users to take control of their own development.

He continued: “We recognise the PRCA does not have a monopoly on excellent training, events or other career development opportunities so the programme is open to employers, membership bodies , training providers and more. We hope all providers of quality CPD activities, like Gorkana and Cision, sign up.”

Jeremy Thompson, CEO (EMEA & India) Cision and PR Newswire, commented: “We know our client events, including our breakfast media briefings are essential for PRs and communicators who want to build their networks, keep on top of media relations and understand what key journalists and titles are doing, and thinking. However, it’s great to see this validated by such a scheme and we are delighted to support the PRCA’s drive to raise industry standards.”

PegasusLife appoints Farrer Kane

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Farrer Kane has been appointed by retirement living developer PegasusLife to support its media relations campaign and to help build and strengthen its brand across B2B and B2C channels.

PegasusLife develops property for the “older generation”, and is currently developing 30 sites across the UK, backed by investment management firm Oaktree Capital Management.

Tajinder Leonard, PR and communications manager at PegasusLife, said: “To raise brand awareness of why we’re different requires an agency that is responsive, is on top of the news agenda, and really understands why and how we’re different. With the team at Farrer Kane team I am confident we have the right partner.”

Alex Kane, managing director at Farrer Kane, added: “With over 10 developments coming to market this year, it is a really exciting time to be involved. From a media perspective, it is great to work with a business that has such a strong viewpoint on what needs to happen within its own industry. We look forward to working with PegasusLife to carve out a powerful and distinct market voice.”

Daily Mail executive news editor joins MHP Communications

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Keith Gladdis, the Daily Mail’s executive news editor, is to join MHP Communications as a director. He will join the agency’s Media Unit in May, with a brief to provide senior counsel to clients on media strategy, crisis comms and effective campaigning.

Keith Gladdis

Gladdis has been a journalist for more than 20 years, and has held senior positions at titles including the Daily Mail and the News of the World.

As executive news editor of the Daily Mail, he manages one is responsible for the news, politics and campaigning content of the newspaper.

He helped navigate the newsroom through the 2015 General Election, the 2016 Brexit campaign and led the coverage of Donald Trump’s win in the Presidential race.

At the News of the World, he was Whitehall editor and northern editor.

Gladdis, who joins MHP in May, will work with Ian Kirby, the agency’s head of media and a former political editor of the News of the World, and director Adam Batstone, a former assistant editor at the BBC.

The MHP Media Unit is staffed by former journalists from all parts of the UK media. Its aim is to develop effective media strategies, provide media training, handle a crisis situation, develop compelling media content and engage effectively with key journalists.

Alex Bigg, CEO of MHP Communications, said: “I am delighted to welcome Keith to our team. He has worked at the sharp end of journalism for over 20 years and we were delighted he has agreed to join at a great time for MHP.

“Our Media Unit provides a wide range of services for clients and Keith’s knowledge, experience and passion for journalism will be a major benefit to our clients. Keith is the first of a number of new hires we will be making over the coming months to further strengthen our offer.”

Gladdis added: “I am very excited to be joining the team at MHP Communications at such an exciting time. I’ve been hugely impressed by the passion and professionalism on display at MHP and very much look forward to being part of its future.”

Manifest wins UK rollout brief for bike sharing company ofo

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China’s largest non-docking bike sharing company, ofo, which is valued at over $1bn according to Bloomberg, has appointed Manifest as its retained agency to support its UK launch and rollout.

ofo

The ‘unicorn’ company is on a mission to “get Britain on two wheels” and will launch in Cambridge in April, before rolling out in other cities later this year, including London and Oxford.

ofo gets its name because when written, the letters form the shape of a bicycle, and the company was first established by graduates at Peking University.

Having since spread across China, launched in Singapore and started a US trial in San Francisco, ofo has now set its sights on the UK market to kick start its European presence.

The company recently received $450million of investment, with global expansion a primary objective.

Manifest’s brief includes brand consultancy, PR, social media strategy, community management and influencer marketing; alongside digital content creation delivered through Manifest’s content division, O.

Claire Chen, head of ofo UK, said: “We are very excited to be bringing our cycling revolution to the UK, and from our first meeting Manifest shared our enthusiasm and vision for the brand.

“Its integrated approach and their understanding of purpose-driven marketing was just what we were looking for to help us make a big impact in the UK and build a loyal community of users to kick start our presence here.”

Alex Myers, founder and group CEO at Manifest, added: “Following its huge impact in China and Singapore, ofo is already a disruptive business that is making its mark globally – so it’s exciting to help steer the brand’s evolution and success in the UK.”

Museum of London hires Pagefield

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The Museum of London, which tells the story of the city, has hired Pagefield to work on its upcoming City Now City Future season.

Visitors at the Museum of London

City Now City Future marks a change in tone and content for the museum, putting visitors at the centre of a conservation around the past, present and future of city and London living. Earlier this year, Pagefield started developing a comprehensive communications strategy for the season, including messaging, advertising copy and media and stakeholder engagement.

Pagefield’s campaign will help to reposition the Museum of London ahead of its 2022 move to West Smithfield, where content will focus on “contemporary issues which matter to everyday Londoners”.

Andrew Marcus, head of communications at Museum of London, said: “City Now City Future is one of the steps on our journey to create a new museum in West Smithfield which will open in 2022. To achieve this vision we must think, act and communicate differently. This is no easy task and will require best-in-class agencies, like Pagefield, to support our talented in-house team throughout the process.”

Oliver Foster, chief executive at Pagefield, added: “City Now City Future is set to spark fascinating debate, thinking and action across London and beyond. The season is perfectly timed to create excitement ahead of what will be a transformative five years between now and the move to West Smithfield. Pagefield is thrilled to be working with the Museum during this period, as it redefines what it means to be a museum today.”

Geoff Duggan, Pagefield associate partner, will lead on the Museum of London work.

Alastair Campbell: ‘Comms will not fundamentally change because of Brexit’

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Alastair Campbell is well known for his anti-Brexit views but he says comms is one industry unlikely to be affected as the UK leaves the EU. He talked to Gorkana at the opening of parent company Cision’s European HQ about his new role at The New European, the secret to the title’s success and how a post-truth society will affect the PR industry.

Alastair Campbell speaking at the opening of Cision’s European HQ

Congratulations on becoming editor-at-large at The New European, what’s been the secret to its success?

What’s amazing is it’s a time when everybody says that print is dying! Matt Kelly had the idea and at first instance he set off with limited ambitions but it was in profit without any advertising, any marketing or anything else.

I think it’s because there’s a massive feeling out there that Brexit is going to be a disaster and these guys can put across a different view.

The other thing is so many people want to write for it for nothing. This week I’ve got Nick Clegg’s wife writing about trade negotiations, Jonathan Powell’s writing about the impact of Brexit on the peace process in Northern Ireland, we’ve had Tony Blair, Martin McGuinness, Sturgeon.

Interestingly Arron Banks was in the paper for a couple of weeks and it’s fair to say the readers just went berserk, they didn’t want it. It wouldn’t survive if you didn’t have the passion of the people that are involved in it.

You’re well known for your views on Brexit, but how do you think it will affect comms specifically?

I think the fundamentals of comms stay the same whatever goes on. Sometimes it’s about how the landscape changes or how technology changes it. I don’t think Brexit changes the fundamentals of that.

There’s going to be a lot of churn, which is usually good for comms. But I don’t think it’s going to change the industry fundamentally like in the way it’s going to change agriculture and energy and academia and all that stuff. I think comms is much more rooted in fundamentals.

How has comms changed since your time working for the Labour Government?

I guess the biggest change is the omnipresence of the internet. The other big change recently is the whole Trump/Brexit -‘it’s ok to lie’- thing. That’s a big change!  The idea that Boris Johnson can tell a pack of lies about £350million a week for the health service and end up foreign secretary, that was unthinkable 50 years ago.

The whole thing about post-truth is a big change, but I think the real changes are technological. And the other thing is this phenomenon of algorithms pushing us all into ever more narrow silos where we seek out the things we want to hear, and want to read and want to believe. That to me is what populism is, that’s how Trump and Brexit won. It’s about building these networks that just become very polarised and don’t want to know another opinion.

What’s currently the most demanding aspect of PR?

What I say to anyone who’s in public relations is: it’s not about whether you get good press or not. It’s about whether outcomes that you get match what you set out to do and what your strategy is. So, it’s possible to get a very good reputation for what you do while also getting very bad press for what you do.

I don’t confuse bad press with a good reputation. I think I’ve got quite a good reputation, definitely in the industry, but I get a lot of bad press and I have done for a long time. Then you take someone like Rupert Murdoch who owns more media than anybody else, he’s got a terrible reputation but he gets good press.

The stuff I do at Portland for example – I do a lot of mentoring and training – what I say to them is that anybody can write a press release. What it’s about to me is, strategy and how you align your communication with strategy. So, I don’t think that’s changed, I think the landscape in which we’re operating has changed.

You get one option: you can either have your favourite football team, Burnley, stay in the premier league or another EU referendum in two years. What do you choose?

Oh my God. I’m going to go for the referendum – only because Burnley is safe anyway! My son works in data in football and says we’re safe.

  • Alastair Campbell is a writer, communicator and strategist best known for his role as former British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s spokesman, press secretary and director of communications and strategy. Still active in politics and campaigns in Britain and overseas, he now splits his time between writing, speaking, charities and consultancy.
  • He’s the chairman of fund-raising for Bloodwise, Britain’s main blood cancer charity.

Opinion: comms is critical to breaking the modern slavery taboo

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Forster’s CEO Amanda Powell-Smith discusses how businesses need to openly talk about modern slavery and how comms can help.

Amanda Powell-Smith

Modern slavery remains a real and present issue which society must face up to. There are an estimated 13,000 people living in modern slavery in Britain and 21 million worldwide, of which 1.2 million are children.

It is often hidden and hard to identify but – partly thanks to the introduction of the Modern Slavery Act in 2015 – organisations know they cannot afford to ignore this issue. It is not isolated to one industry and its causes and impacts are extremely complex, requiring a collaborative and cross-sector approach that looks at prevention initiatives, prosecution of perpetrators, and support for the individuals affected.

Given the scale of the challenge and the horror for the individuals who are living in slavery-situations, why are so few businesses actively talking about this issue?

The Modern Slavery Act was introduced with the aim of consolidating previous efforts to tackle modern slavery in the UK. Later in 2015, an amendment to the Act required businesses with an annual turnover above £36 million to publish an annual statement highlighting the steps they are taking to ensure slavery and human trafficking are not taking place in their organisation or in any of their supply chains. The alternative is to declare that haven’t taken any such steps.

This presents a clear choice for organisations – acknowledge and tackle modern slavery or ignore it. The recent Corporate Human Rights Benchmark report found only a few companies taking a lead on doing something about the issue. While businesses perform strongly on making policy commitments and governance, the Benchmark report highlighted that too few employers were undertaking specific practices to mitigate risks and prevent harm.

Now is the time for leaders to speak up. While there are great strides being made within businesses, the complexity of the subject and the fact that modern slavery is a crime means that action is taking place behind closed doors and not increasing awareness and understanding amongst employees or wider public. It needs to be part of both internal and external communications strategies.

Businesses need to start being more open and talking about the issue internally, showing what they are doing to prevent modern slavery and helping their colleagues to understand how they can help with both prevention and – should there be a need – raising concerns. The issue of whistleblowing needs to be carefully explored according to organisational culture, with safe spaces provided and on-going endorsement of good practice by senior leaders.

There is also a need to raise awareness externally, building eyes and ears across consumers and creating an environment in which it is OK to ask questions and voice concerns – at the local nail bar, in a restaurant, in a retailer, on a construction site.

We know that the best way to break a taboo is to start talking about it, and that is why we have focused the first of our Business to Society Action series on modern slavery.

The articles in our Business to Society report explore some of the innovative ways that progressive organisations are working to end modern slavery – sharing best practice, forming successful partnerships, speaking out, and educating employees.

They are a starting point of what we hope will be a groundswell of initiatives that can be openly shared in the year ahead. Active communications is a powerful force for change and the challenges that businesses face in breaking the human trafficking chain make it more important than ever before.

Hanover launches Middle East office in Dubai

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Hanover launched its Middle East office today, which is headquartered in Dubai.

Jonty Summers

The launch follows Hanover’s recent appointment as communication advisors on a number of projects in the UAE. Managing director Jonty Summers will lead this next phase of the consultancy’s international expansion, which follows the launch of its Dublin office in January.

Hanover Middle East will provide strategic communications services to businesses in the region and to GCC clients requiring EMEA market access. The practice will focus on leadership advisory, strategic counsel, crisis and issues management and creative content development.

The agency’s advisory presence is supported by special adviser, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, former Chief Inspector of Her Majesty’s Constabulary for the UK, who is currently based in the United Arab Emirates.

Summers said: “Hanover’s ability to provide regional businesses and their leaders with specialist corporate communications and strategic public affairs intelligence and counsel to help them navigate complex challenges of regional and international business is unparalleled.”

Charles Lewington, chief executive of Hanover Group, said: “As Dubai grows in standing as a global centre for business, organisations increasingly require specialist advisers who can support them in protecting their reputations and promoting their market proposition as they take advantage of the cross-border market dynamics that characterise the modern world of business.”

Lewington added: “Jonty Summers is a natural fit with Hanover’s entrepreneurial flair. He is a superb client advisor and has a proven track record of building out regional offices, having previously established another European consultancy in the UAE before joining Edelman.”