Recognition’s clients among the most influential

Jamie Collis writes......The annual report detailing the 250 most influential people in the North East has been published by the Newcastle Journal. Recognition and its clients are featured.

Our clients have always been important in their own sectors, but it is good to see the Journal recognising the importance of business leadership in the way our region functions. Recognition’s Senior Partner, Graham Robb, was also featured as a new entry on the list.

Good communication of ideas, products and services can lead to influence. People who set the agenda and are at the forefront of their field are sometimes too quiet about their achievements and successes; however, properly presented they can result in influence and greater success.

RECOGNITION SIGNS UP TO PRCA INTERN POLICY

Recognition PR has become the first public relations consultancy in the North East to publicly commit to a list of firms paying at least the minimum wage to interns.

The Darlington-based firm has become one of more than 30 PR agencies across the UK to sign up to a campaign to ensure all interns are paid for their work.

The move follows an initiative by the Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA) – the professional body that represents UK PR consultancies – and PRWeek, a trade publication for the PR industry.

The PRCA placed a list on its site of all member agencies who commit to paying at least the minimum wage to interns.

Graham Robb, senior partner at Recognition, said he was proud the firm was setting an example as the first in the North East to join the scheme; the scheme reflects existing practice at Recognition.

He said internships allowed companies to evaluate the potential of possible employees.

Meanwhile, interns get the opportunity to build their CV and gain hands-on experience in a career sector.

Graham added: “There are many firms using interns in the North East but not paying them.

“Sometimes clients don’t know their work has been done by unpaid interns.

“By paying interns a modest sum you can give them a real taste of the cut and thrust of life in the workplace. The scheme is to be welcomed and I am proud to say Recognition has paid its interns for a long time.”

Tom Hawkins, PRCA research and policy executive, welcomed Recognition PR to the scheme.

He said: “I’m delighted to see another member agency wanting to join up to our expanding intern list.

“PR is a people business that must attract the best and brightest talent, not the best connected.

“Our industry must improve in helping to ensure that nobody is deterred from a career in PR because of their background.

“Recognition is making a progressive commitment to paying interns that not only improves social mobility, but adds value to the service it provides.”

Other agencies to have signed up to the pledge include Edelman, MHP Communications, Burson-Marsteller, Grayling, Portland and Cohn & Wolfe.

RADIO FESTIVAL PR SUCCESS!

Graham writes……Recognition won a prestigious account earlier this year and the work was delivered this week. We were appointed to handle the PR for the UK’s Radio Festival 2011, organised by the Radio Academy. Throughout the year we have been planning our media operation for an event that boasted celebrity speakers, leading industry figures and real debate about the future of this important medium.

Our team, which included Melanie Smith, Caroline Walker, Jamie Collis and me, attended the festival for four days and ran a dynamic and proactive media operation. The result was widespread coverage on TV, Radio and in the printed press. We also had extensive coverage on blogs, twitter and all over the internet.

The Festival – thanks to its creative producers and the inspired leadership of the Radio Academy – was the most successful ever.

Take a look at this tongue-in-cheek film with an American presenter, Elvis Duran, who was broadcasting live from the festival to 30 million listeners. It shows the virtue of juxtaposition – the leader of Manchester Council on a ‘zoo format’ US breakfast show!