2011 the year of the APP!

Graham writes... Happy New Year.

2011 is going to be a year when Recognition offers clients even more. It is my ambition that Recognition offers our PR services on all sorts of different platforms; the latest is mobile phones - in particular apps for iphone.

Last year we put considerable effort into breaking a price barrier to bring the cost of these products down and now we can offer clients a basic starter app for £3500 plus VAT(some terms & conditions will apply).

I have put my money where my mouth is and produced one for Recognition PR - its available on iTunes from mid-January. It starts with a screen about Recognition, then has a screen linking to GPS showing every client on the UK map with a dot at their HQ , then it has a screen with the logo and advert for the client and then every media release the client has issued. This took 40 hours of IT time to devise and my team needed to slightly change our web site to make it link up. If you have an iphone download it from iTunes and give it a go - search Recognition PR in the app store.

This new offering can bring clients' products and services to an audience that uses mobile internet all the time; a building society client is producing one showing every branch and including a mortgage calculator which will allow people work work out their mortgage payments while they view a house!

If you are interested let me know; we already have a small queue with three sold already. It will take a number of weeks from order to delivery.

All my very best for 2011 - once people are used to the VAT rise I'm confident there will be a sustainable recovery!

Graham

Paul writes...Tees Valley LEP event

Business people from across Darlington braved the weather last night to find out how the new Tees Valley Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) can benefit companies and organisations across the area.

We ran the event in conjunction with our client, Latimer Hinks Solicitors, allowing firms the chance to hear from and ask questions of Stephen Catchpole, the new managing director of Tees Valley Unlimited, which was successful in bidding to run the LEP.

More than 45 people attended the event at Darlington College, where Mr Catchpole outlined the importance of the LEP for Darlington businesses.

As Anne Elliott, managing partner at Latimer Hinks, put it: “To get the best from the opportunities the new LEP will offer, companies in Darlington need to engage with the partnership.”

The turnout, especially in such extreme weather, shows the desire from business people in Darlington to find out more about the LEP and how it can help the area. Hopefully, this will lead to real benefits for the borough of Darlington in partnership with the rest of the Tees Valley.

We need to take this initial dialogue further and establish a mechanism for the Darlington business community to influence the direction and decisions of the LEP.

Priory TV advert receives lots of responses

Graham writes.....the TV advert we produced for The Priory was screened in the South East of England this week. It has received an excellent response with Priory helping numerous people via its helpline. The advert took a great deal of time to be cleared by the advertising regulators. We needed to convince them that it did not break the very strict codes for services to help people dealing with a drink problem. The rules forbid 'products' to help tackle alcohol dependency. The reason is to prevent people thinking that they can have a drink then take a 'miracle cure', thereby neutralising the responsible drinking message. At first, the regulator sought to apply this rule to this advert. However, after further submissions and documentation, the advert was cleared in time for this important period in the run up to Christmas.

PRASHAD WIN MAKES ME CHEERFUL

Graham writes.....Blogs should be filled with universal good news and this post has some bad to balance the good. we have had marathon run at the business. Since August we won slightly more work than we lost, then this week Rok plc went under - I am owed £7k and lost a significant contract. If I hadn't done the hard work to win the new contracts it would have been terrible, as it is we'll be fine. I'm just angry that a relatively small supplier (recognition) was not paid for three months and the money is lost. The CEO apologised personally. For other clients it means I'll be extra focussed on collecting outstanding monies more quickly.

However, to balance this, the day after this news we made the list for four new pitches and one of our most reliable clients - Wensleydale Creamery made it to the finals of HSBC business thinking competition.

But nothing beats having a new client that everybody gets ethusiastic about, this is the case with Prashad Restuarant in Bradford. This family owned Asain Vegatarian establishment made the finals of the Gordon Ramsey Best Restaurant show on Channel 4. In my view they won the programme, coming across as skilled, fun and authentic (just the type of place I like to dine) but were pipped to the title. Caroline Walker has been working on this new account and is bubbling with enthusiasm. So lots of reasons to be cheerful.

Graham writes……it has been an eventful few weeks at Recognition. Firstly, I have completed a deal with Frances that sees her exit the business to follow some exciting new challenges in her career. Next, I have promoted three talented people to join me in the partnership: Caroline Walker who specialises in crisis management; Jamie Collis who gives so many of our clients access to top national media spots; and Paul White who has developed new ways of working in the new media environment. The results have been brilliant – we have won four new clients including the renowned Wensleydale Heifer Hotel; Beyond Digital an fascinating technology business; Prashad an Asian restaurant featured on Gordon Ramsey’s best restaurants; and Montpellier Developments a specialist developer in the healthcare sector. We are also advertising on TV with a special package to attract new smaller businesses to try our services for a one-off introductory offer see the advert in the video box. So plenty of action at the new look Recognition and thanks to all the clients who have supported me through the ownership changes.

Exciting events for Recognition clients

Graham writes...
It has been a very busy week at Recognition, with two successful key client events taking place.
On Wednesday morning, more than 50 business people from across the North East attended a regeneration executive briefing, run by two of our clients, Henderson Insurance Brokers and Constructing Excellence in the North East.
Another of our clients, John Orchard of Marchday Group plc, which owns Lingfield Point business park, and Michael Dowson or PD Ports delivered exclusive insights into future plans.
This was followed on Thursday evening by the third DURHAMGATE Business Forum, held at Thorn Lighting’s spectacular Academy of Light.
Special guest Lord Shipley spoke to a 60-strong audience about the future of the North East, LEPs and the need to compete economically with city regions such as Greater Manchester and Leeds, in the context of the Coalition Government.
Attendees were also treated to an update on the future of Durham Gate, which has just launched its new website at www.durhamgate.com.

Brilliant news coverage for key clients this week!

Graham writes.... A great news week for Recognition clients. Wensleydale Creamery was featured on national BBC TV for its brilliant export achievements and TAG Energy Solutions got widespread coverage for its £20million investment announcement, see the video below!

TV is told the case for the North!

Graham writes.....the BBC has commissioned research from Experian which suggests Teesside in the North East is the area least able to hold its own at a time of public spending cuts. I don't entirely agree with the research, it uses last year's data and things have got better in the area recently, particularly with the announcement of a possible rescue for the Corus steel plant. But this week both the BBC and Sky focused on the North's fragile economy and Recognition persuaded the broadcasters to be balanced and look at the North's prospects too. Our clients TTE, Coast & Country, NOF Energy and Lingfield Point all featured on national TV putting the case for the North. Keith Hunter at TTE was particularly good, he knows his stuff, you can see him pictured here telling David Cameron how skills training should be organised. When it comes to getting people in front of cameras and microphones Recognition works very effectively!

William Hague

Graham writes....I've known William Hague for more than 20 years. He has been a political colleague, a significant client (we handled all his Northern media appearances during his time as Conservative leader) and a friend. He supported me when I ended up standing in a by-election in Tony Blair's seat, which neighbours his own (see pic). I know he is a man of character and integrity. His warmth and support during my wife's battle against cancer from 1999 to 2005 was instinctive and generous. During his time as leader I witnessed him being asked about all manner of personal things by journalists from all over the world - he has said many times he is not gay and the statement he issued recently should not have been a surprise.

When the media rang me up to ask if I would comment about it, I chose my platforms - local TV and newspapers - and issued a simple statement of my own: He has been subjected to trashy innuendo from trashy people for trashy publications. I think that it is a shame that the Amercian politics of personal destruction forced him to make his public statement but admire him for doing so nevertheless. Those sneering metropolitan commentators who say that issuing the statement was wrong are just trying to create an angle to transform this into a political issue about his judgement; they claim he made the situation worse but conveniently ignore that fact that when his adviser resigned the issue would have been a full blown media story, by issuing his statement he got his position out without, in the media phrase, 'being forced to make a statement'. It is entirely in the character of William Hague to speak plainly, not for him hiding from an issue or dashing to lawyers for gagging orders like sports stars or celebrities.

In the North his support is solid. No friend, colleague, or for that matter political opponent, has said anything snide to the regional media and the regional media have not followed the metropolitan elite who so despise a successful Yorkshireman. Hague is bigger than the small minded smear merchants who attack him. He is more important to the country and his constituents than the commentators who drip poison. I, for one, was happy to offer public, unequivocal support.

FRANK'S FLOORING WINNING WITH PR & ADVERTISING

Graham writes.....Frank's Flooring is well known for a distintive type of asdvertising; it is a no nonsense simple message delivered by true North Easterner Frank on radio & TV and in the presss. It has been paying off with comnpany growth and some serious job creating investment. Our media release was widely covered in all the regional press and showed the serious side to a fun advert that has been delivering great results. Read the story here:

FRANKS FLOORING STORE ROLL OUT MAJOR EXPANSION AND INVESTMENT

Franks the Flooring Store is set for further growth across the North East, as it plans to open up to ten new sites and make a £1 million investment at its County Durham distribution centre.

Expansion by the region’s largest independent flooring retailer will create up to 60 new jobs as the company looks to increase its store portfolio by a third in the next 12 months to 35.

The £1 million investment at its distribution centre will pave the way for a second state of the art carpet cutting machine, along with a new delivery docking area, which will greatly increase the speed carpets can be off loaded from lorries.

Already this year, Franks has recruited 30 members of staff, and opened a number of stores across the region in Washington, Ashington and Shiremoor. The group currently employs 150 people across the region.

Franks the Flooring Store dynasty was founded by William Maguire Snr in 1981 who began trading from small premises in West Auckland. There are now three generations of the family working in the company.

Jason Maguire from Franks the Flooring Store, said: “As the North East’s leading flooring retailer we have benefitted from the growing number of people who are improving their properties buying new carpets and rugs, rather than moving homes.

“Due to this increased demand we are delighted to announce this growth and a £1 million investment. This decision will allow Franks the Flooring Store to plan on opening a further 10 stores across the North East and create 60 new jobs.”

LEADERSHIP AND PR PUT FOOD PRODUCT IN TOP THREE

70 years ago when TS Elliott wrote about things that were culturally identified with Britain he put Wensleydale Cheese on his list. Well, thanks to brilliant leadership from the Wensleydale Creamery and sustained PR from the team at Recognition (Frances, Graham and Helen) Wensleydale Cheese is once more recognised internationally as a icon of the UK. An extensive survey of 4000 people conducted has identified ten things people associate with Yorkshire. The poll was conducted by Visit York to celebrate Yorkshire Day on August 1st, and places Wensleydale Cheese at number three after Yorkshire Pudding and Yorkshire Tea. This is a well deserved ranking for a firm that has worked so hard to promote a distinct product that rightly seeks protected status from the European Union.

COLLEGE IN WALES RECEIVES PRAISE FROM ‘THE FONZ’

Recognition was delighted to be in contact with Hollywood actor Henry Winkler to promote the Priory Education Services innovative partnership with Coleg Gwent. the partnership provides specialist educational facilities for students with Asperger’s syndrome and tackles the long-term employment issues associated with the condition.

Henry Winkler has been associated with campaigns on this condition for some time.

In 2007, the National Autistic Society launched a report calling for better support and services for young people during the crucial transition stages between school, higher education, training and employment.
The ‘Don’t write me off’ campaign found that only 15% of adults with autism were in full-time paid employment, which could be greatly increased if the right planning, support and service is offered to people with autism during the transition stage.

Priory Coleg Wales is a co-educational college for students aged 16 to 25 designed to meet the academic, social and emotional needs of its students. The Coleg will accept its first students in September 2010.

Priory Coleg Wales is set within the grounds of Coleg Gwent, the largest further education college in Wales with 5 separate campuses. The learning centre is located on the Pontypool campus and comprises of classrooms, IT facilities, a therapy room, learning kitchen and dining room.

The learning centre is a safe area within a mainstream setting providing retreat when students feel challenged by social situations. It is also the base for the College’s in-house programme of support. Local buses and transport are used to travel between the campuses with the help of support workers where required, but with the overall aim of increasing independent travel skills for the future.

A number of therapies are also offered to students to help with their on-going personal development including art therapy, speech and language therapy and counselling.

The Priory Coleg Wales will initially create 10 jobs in the area, potentially reaching 50 plus jobs in the next couple of years.

Henry Winkler, best known for playing The Fonz in Happy Days, who is promoting the My Way! campaign, sent a message to Priory Coleg Wales: "Every child learns in their own way and no matter what that path is, each child must be celebrated."

Positive start to July!

Graham writes....we have had a really positive start to July at Recognition. First we won a great new client - TAS Engineering Consultants, which has an enviable track record advising some top international firms. Secondly, we have recruited some new people, increasing our staff numbers and our talent pool! Richard Hall joins us as a PR consultant, he recently worked in the Newcastle Building Society press office; Anna Dawson joins us as a PR assistant, she recently worked at a local advertising agency and is now responsible for booking our TV crews. Kate Power joins the team as the PA to the Partners, Kate recently worked for chemical firm Croda.
Finally some excellent coverage for www.shopsafe.co.uk, which is operated by Darlington internet firm Edward Robinson. The Daily Mirror highlighted the fantastic service they provide to internet shoppers. Click here.

BUDGET 2010

Recognition has organised a special event for Stockton-based Henderson Insurance Brokers and the Institute of Directors which was attended by business leaders from North-East. Budget Live! on June 22 allowed guests to watch George Osborne’s emergency Budget and then hear a panel from politics, business, and trade unions discuss its implications. The Budget was broadcast live to an audience of leading North East business leaders and was followed by a Question Time-style debate featuring a panel comprising Peter Wilkinson, Group Claims Director of Henderson Insurance Brokers, Alastair Thomson, North East Chairman of the Institute of Directors, Alan Milne, Regional Officer, of the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union and Lord Bates, of the Conservative Party.

Our video shows highlights from the event, which was also covered by the regional media and the BBC's Newsnight on BBC2

Social networking widgets

More and more clients want to ensure that our media releases are distributed using social networking in the internet. Now our journalist's page includes buttons so that journalists who also blog and use social network tools (which includes many forward thjinking journalists) can simply click a button and put our client's stories on their facebook or twitter feeds. See the buttons below to use the system on this blog!!

National TV - hatrick coverage

Graham writes.....three of Recognition's associates featured on an important BBC report about the economy this week. In his preview of the Bank of England's interest rate decision the BBC's business reporter, Nigel cassidy, came to the North and interviewed EOS, a company which makes steel framed housing, Arlington Financial, a Hartlepool based financial advisory firm and the convenience store group, Mills.

The BBC covered the North East Chamber of Commerce/Northern Echo/Arlington Financial shadow MPC which suggested interest rates stay on hold at 0.5%. See the video here....

Duncan's soccer aid drive

Bannatyne’s Health Clubs across the UK will be ‘keeping it up for Soccer Aid’ this weekend (22/23 May) to raise money for UNICEF’s crucial work helping children around the world.



Bannatyne’s has organised a range of fundraising activities at its 60 UK health clubs to support UNICEF’s Soccer Aid initiative, which is being spearheaded by pop star and football-fanatic, Robbie Williams.



Members who raise over £50 for UNICEF will be entered into a special Bannatyne’s prize draw to win a pair of tickets for the celebrity Soccer Aid football match on June 6 in Manchester. The prize also includes an invitation to a VIP reception at Old Trafford before the game.



Among the activities planned for the weekend of 22 and 23 May, Bannatyne members will be taking part in sponsored ‘keepy uppy’ challenges. Using a football or a balloon, members will use their feet, legs, arms, chest and head to juggle a ball without letting it touch the ground – the longer they can do it, the more money they can raise.



Bannatyne’s will also be hosting a simultaneous spinning class at its 60 UK health clubs. Over a thousand members from across Britain will take part in the cycle-based challenge on Saturday 22 May, which will start at every health club at 10am.



Bannatyne’s is backing Soccer Aid after it named UNICEF as its primary charity for the next three years. Company chairman and founder Duncan Bannatyne is a UNICEF Ambassador and has visited a number of the charity’s programmes around the world to support its exceptional work.



Some of the money raised by Soccer Aid will be used to help children affected by the earthquake in Haiti. Duncan was due to visit Haiti with UNICEF the week the earthquake struck and he has committed to raise money to support the charity’s work in the country.



Duncan Bannatyne said: “We’re encouraging all our members to ‘Keep it up for Soccer Aid’ and help millions of children worldwide through UNICEF’s work.



“Every minute of every day, children die from common diseases like measles, diarrhoea and malaria. Millions of children don’t go to school, or have food, shelter or clean water.



“Children all over the world suffer from violence, abuse and discrimination, are forced to work in dangerous conditions and denied the chance to play. This is wrong, but through the work of UNICEF we can help to put it right and the lives of these children can be dramatically improved.”



Nigel Armstrong, Managing Director of Bannatyne Fitness, said: “The ‘Keep it up for Soccer Aid’ activities we’ve organised should be great fun and raise money for an extremely important cause. Whether they’re going to use their football skills, endurance on the spinning bikes or take part in any other ‘Keep it up for Soccer Aid’ fundraiser, our members will be helping to make a real difference to the lives of children.”



Michael Newsome, Director of Fundraising for Soccer Aid said: “Bannatyne’s have truly risen to the challenge. Across the country, people from all walks of life will be keeping it up for Soccer Aid’, which is fantastic! With every spin of the wheels, with every header, toe-tap and goal, children across the world will benefit. What better motivation is there to get fit, join in and have fun whilst getting sponsored to make a lasting change to children’s lives. Tune in to ITV 1 on June 6 so see what a huge difference these activities make.”

NEW GOVERNMENT

Graham writes.....the new Government's agreement document has been of interest to many of Recognition's clients. I've also had requests for details from both the Lib Dem and Conservative manifestoes. Already a number of our clients have been in the media commenting on the Cameron Coalition. Charlie Mullins of Pimlico Plumbers gave a great reaction in Business Matters Magazine; Tony Earnshaw of UK Commercial Cleaning was on Radio 5 Live; Duncan Bannatyne has been tweeting; George Rafferty of NOF Energy has been giving views on the outlook for nuclear power. We are at the early stage of planning a big IOD event in the North on the day of the emergency budget (which if it is 50 days on Tuesday will be 30th June). Now the Government is formed the media will have new aspects to write about it, scrutinising the detail of policy, and our clients will all be using Recognition to give their views, whatever they may be.

Publicity at the election is not just for politicians!

This video is timely, it is Gordon Brown - not the THE Gordon Brown - making good use of the publicity surrounding the general election. Recognition produced this You Tube video which has received coverage in regional media. Other clients to get involved with the election were Duncan Bannatyne - who backed Gordon Brown's Labour Party and Charlie Mullins, of Pimlico Plummbers and Tony Earnshaw of UK Commercial Cleaning who backed David Cameron's Conservatives. We also placed our client Jon Sturrock of Arlington Financial in Hartlepool on the BBC's 5 Live national radio economy debate. All earned the respect of the media and good coverage for getting involved in the debate.

Strictly New Business

Graham writes.....a successful PR initiative in Darlington which promotes three of Recognition's clients: Lingfield Point; Henderson Insurance Brokers; and Arlington Financial.

The event was a combination of Dragons' Den and Strictly Come Dancing - Strictly New Business gave three new businesses the chance to win a package worth in excess of £10k! Click the video for details.

Also great national coverage for The Priory - which was featured on national BBC Radio 4, BBC TV and Radio 5 live as well as a host of UK papers - for its deal with UK athelitics.

Graham writes.....It was good to see the Newcastle Journal printing a massive feature about a real North East success story in Darlington. Recognition has been promoting shopsafe.co.uk for a while now and its success is really impressive.

www.shopsafe.co.uk, the North-East based online shopping directory has continued to grow with a 16% increase in page views by visitors in its tenth year.Having received 1,673,989 page views in January 2010, www.shopsafe.co.uk has vastly outgrown its modest start when it received 32,950 page views ten years earlier.During the same time, the number of monthly visitors has grown from little more than 9,400 to in excess of 304,900.Now, around 10,000 visitors a day use www.shopsafe.co.uk to access 4,000 retailers, including the likes of Hamleys, Next, Amazon, Marks & Spencer and Nike. Each site has been checked for security and ease of use before being accepted onto the directory.The directory was launched only a year after Google and web giants such as YouTube, Facebook and Twitter were not to appear until years later. The likes of Boo and Clickmango, big names in their day, were among countless victims of the dot com crash of March 2000.However, the key to www.shopsafe.co.uk’s success has been offering a service which continues to provide visitors with what they want – a reassuringly safe online shopping environment.

New staff at Recognition

Graham writes.....Thanks to new clients coming on board, Recognition has added two new members to its team and awarded a promotion to employee, Michelle Bond, who has already been with the firm for two years.

Experienced Public Relations Consultant Kimberley Walker, 26, has a Public Relations degree and five years experience in the field. Kimberley is currently working on a diverse range of clients including leading healthcare provider, The Priory Group, nationwide commercial cleaning experts, UK Commercial Cleaning and leading health club provider, Bannatyne Fitness and Spas.

Melanie Smith, 23, who has a degree in Media and Cultural Studies and completed the National Certificate for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) at Darlington College, has joined the team as PR Executive. Since graduating Melanie has had experience working for BBC Radio Tees and Stockton Borough Council.

Michelle Bond, 23, has worked for the company since she graduated with a Media and Popular Culture degree. She joined the company as PA to the Partners, furthering her formal qualifications by studying for a Professional Certificate in Marketing. Michelle joins Melanie as PR Executive and will offer support to the Senior PR Consultants.

NEW JOBS FOR NORTH EAST - SOME GOOD NEWS!

Graham writes.......I was delighted Recognition was chosen to promote a major new jobs announcement which featured in the national and regional media and on TV.

The GT Group Ltd based in the North East of England is to create 200 new jobs over four years and safeguard over 200 more after securing forward sales commitments of £200 million for its revolutionary engine emissions control systems.The specialist engineering product design and manufacturing company, based in Peterlee, County Durham, has secured the commitments, spanning the next five years, for its ground-breaking systems, developed in partnership with the world’s leading on and off highway diesel engine manufacturers.

You can see our video here:

Wensleydale Cheese gets Chris Evans endorsement

Graham writes.....celebrity endorsements are great things. Even better when they are unsolicited. Chris Evans' chatter on his Radio Two breakfast show was a great boost to real Yorkshire Wensleydale Cheese at a time it is being increasingly listed in supermarkets. The radio star had visited the visitor centre in Wensleydale during the summer as part of a private trip to the Yorkshire Dales. We regularly send people like Chris, and his predessor Sir Terry, cheese to sample. Anyhow, the result was a gret endorsement which we circulated to all media especially the supermarket trade press. It is entirely appropriate we do this as the farming community in Wensleydale is absolutely reliant on the creamery performing well and the rurtal economy is under constant presure. Thanks Chris.

Click the video to see/hear his comments.

Corus - The Times features our clients' views

Graham writes.....The Corus closure in Teesside has dealt a terrible blow to manufacturing in the area and afflicted thousands of families with job losses. Recognition has several clients locally and they have been affected too; both financially and, let's face it, emotionally as the bad news affects everyone who works in the Tees Valley.

We arranged for the big issue of the future development of Redcar to be the subject of a major article in The Times. This featured our clients Iain Sim of Coast & Country Housing and Keith Hunter. It is a positive feature despite the bad news.

You can read it properly by clicking here: http://www.recognitionpr.co.uk/journalistarea-story.asp?id=7764

Recognition devise competition to promote office space for start ups

Graham writes........Budding entrepreneurs from across the North East are being offered the opportunity to win a year’s quality office space at Darlington’s prestigious Lingfield Point business park.‘Strictly New Business’ is the brainchild of Marchday Group plc, owners of Lingfield Point. The aim of the competition is to reward the entrepreneurial spirit of the North East and encourage anyone thinking about starting their own business to take the plunge.In conjunction with Business and Enterprise North East, Marchday is encouraging would-be business owners to pitch their ideas to win the superb prize.In true reality TV style, a selected number of finalists will feel the pressure when they are invited to present their business proposals in front of a live audience to a panel of respected and established local business people. Each contestant will be marked by the individual panellists and the person with the most points will win the prize and become the latest occupier of Lingfield House. The prize includes rent, rates, service charge, buildings insurance and utilities. Office insurance will be provided by Henderson Insurance Brokers.

Busy January

Graham writes....It was a busy start to the New Year at Recognition. We have won a couple of new clients including Henderson Insurance brokers Ltd., and Costain Energy and Process which have both opened on Teesside. Pimlico plumbers in London has received lots of coveage in the national media for its reaction to the Government's boiler scrappage scheme. The Priory's senior managers had a media training course which resulted in a lovely email congratulating us on the high quality of the content. Duncan Bannatyne made an impressive plea for Haiti which received thousands of views. Our client Iain Sim of Coast & Country Housing made some impressive comments about industrial policy which were extensively reported. Also this the latest advert for TTE, Recognition's first client 20 years ago! Lots more happened besides, keep reading the blog!!!

Help for Haiti

Graham writes.....we were proud to help our client Duncan Bannatyne speak up for the victims of the earthequake in Haiti. Duncan is an ambassador for UNICEF. He made a video appeal at our studios which has been used on the UNICEF website and has had well over a thousand views on our own Broadband TV channel website; thanks to broadcaster Chris Evans for plugging it and well done to Paul White at Recognition for asking him to.

You can see the video at:

www.broadbandtvchannel.co.uk/clip.asp?clipid=512

Energy for the New Year!

Frances writes…….Recognition has always been at the forefront of promotion developing business sectors. Even in the recession one sector that is growing is energy. We recent won a great new contract to highlight a new North East investment by Costain Energy and Process and for several years we have been promoting one of the most significant trade bodies in the sector NOF Energy.

George Rafferty (pictured), Chief Executive of NOF Energy, which represents over 300 companies in the oil, gas and energy sectors, was featured in the media last week commenting on the Crown Estates announcement to licence nine new areas for UK offshore wind farms.He said: “This is very good news for North East businesses serving the energy sector.There is a wealth of skills and experience from the oil & gas supply chain that are transferable to the offshore wind sector. “This will provide new opportunities for our members and help create some of the 60,000 jobs that are believed will be generated by the development of these offshore turbines.”

George knows what he is talking about and, as a result of raising the profile of NOF Energy, is increasingly seen as a real UK expert in the energy sector.

Meanwhile my business partner Graham, has organised a working group of businesses to advise the Conservatives on the views of Tees Valley based businesses on reform of ONE North East should the Tories win. Energy and gas storage has been right at the heart of the discussions.