New staff and new clients at Recognition!

Recognition Marketing and PR, the national public relations consultancy based in the North East, has grown its team to help meet the needs of its expanding client base.

The Darlington based firm has appointed a new consultant and two support staff, having won a series of new clients for 2012.

Among Recognition’s clients wins are:

• Truckman, the Midlands based manufacturer of the toughest hardtops on the market for all makes and models of pick-up truck.

• Carlton and Co a development company based in Newton Aycliffe, offering its clients expertise in investment, developments, construction and enterprise.

• Glen Care, a specialist provider of supported living services based in the South East of England and London, working in partnership with the NHS, local authorities, social services and mire than 35 PCT’s.

• Wetherby Whaler, the rapidly expanding traditional high quality fish and chip family business established in 1969 in Tadcaster with four restaurants based in Wetherby, Wakefield, York and Pudsey.


Recognition has appointed Fiona Charlton as a PR Consultant, Michaela Salvati as PR Assistant and Stephanie Gardner as an Administrative Assistant.

Fiona Charlton joins Recognition’s Business to Business team, working with clients such as NOF Energy, DurhamGate, The Institution of Civil Engineers and Pimlico Plumbers.

Fiona brings numerous years of experience within the financial, customer service and education sectors.

Michaela Salvati, who graduated with a MA in English Literature from Edinburgh University, joins Recognition to assist the Consumer and Health Care team, working with leading clients such as Just Learning, Vertu Motors and Black Sheep Brewery.

Michaela was interviewed by BBC TV correspondent Hugh Pym in October regarding the amount of young people in the region struggling to find employment. Graham Robb, Senior Partner of Recognition was extremely impressed with Michaela’s interview and liaised with ‘Common Purpose Tees Young Million’ the leadership development group, to organise a meeting with Michaela to discuss potential job opportunities for her at Recognition.

Stephanie Gardner who has a NVQ Level 2 in Business Administration has been appointed to assist with administrative tasks within Recognition. Stephanie had been unemployed for a year before undertaking an intense job search programme run by Triage, a private sector business working in partnership with the jobcentre, whose ultimate aim is to attain long-term sustainable employment for 18 – 24 year olds.

Graham Robb, Senior Partner, said:” It is an exciting time at Recognition and with such great client wins and three new members of staff our team is growing from strength to strength. Fiona, Michaela and Stephanie are all very enthusiastic individuals who bring a varied skill set to Recognition and I’m confident that they will quickly become valuable members of our team and have successful careers ahead of them”

“Over the last twenty years, Recognition has grown to become one of the North East’s largest PR firms. We have done this by continually developing the firm’s staff and pushing the boundaries in terms of the technology and new media.”

Recognition launches paid internship for 2012

Graham writes......If you have left University and are still looking for a position, I know there are loads of people like you and I want to help. Recognition Marketing and PR has launched a new paid internship programme and is recruiting its first candidate but hurry up, we've had lots of applicants so far and the deadline is 29th February!

The paid internship will begin in March or April this year and will run for three months. It could thewn lead to a full time job depending on your performance and that of the business. The intern will support the two teams that make up Recognition PR, the consumer team and the business-to-business team. Daily tasks will include client research, event organisation, updating clients’ websites and writing press releases.

Recognition Marketing and PR was one of the first businesses to sign up to the Northern Echo’s Foundation for Jobs programme and is committed to supporting young individuals who want to embark on a career in marketing and public relations. Recognition PR has recently employed two young individuals in full time paid jobs who were struggling to gain experience within this sector.

It’s disappointing that many firms are using interns in the North East, but not paying them. By paying interns a modest sum you can give them a real taste of the cut and thrust of life in the workplace. I am proud that Recognition is setting a positive example.

Applications with a full CV can be sent to: pr@recognitionpr.co.uk. Deadline for applications is the 29th February 2012 - see the careers section of the Recognition website for further information.

RECOGNITION GAINS PRESTIGIOUS QUALITY MARK

Recognition Marketing & PR, the North East based national PR firm, has secured 93.4% in the independently assessed Consultancy Management Standard (CMS). Combining elements of ISO9001 and Investors in People with criteria specific to a PR consultancy, the CMS is an internationally-recognised accreditation, used by PR companies in 15 countries around the world.

CMS tests all firms in their ability to plan and implement PR campaigns together with their business planning, personnel development and financial structures.

The CMS was devised by the PRCA, the professional body that represents UK PR consultancies, in-house communications teams, PR freelancers and individuals. All PRCA members are bound by a professional charter and codes of conduct, and benefit from exceptional training.

The PRCA represents many of the major consultancies in the UK, and currently has more than 250 agency members from around the world including the majority of the top 100 UK consultancies. Having launched in-house membership in 2009, it also represents over 70 in-house teams including many of Europe's leading corporations and UK public sector organisations. Recognition Marketing & PR is the only independent PRCA agency member in the North East.

Francis Ingham, Chief Executive of the PRCA, said: “We are delighted that Recognition has achieved this important standard. The CMS audit is an industry recognised mark demonstrating professionalism and best practice, and Recognition will now have a formal review every two years by an independent auditor to ensure they continue to meet these high standards”.

Graham Robb, Senior Partner at Recognition PR, said: “Achieving the Consultancy Management Standard is proof Recognition is a well-run business, with all the correct systems and structures in place. It demonstrates a real commitment to staff development and gives clients peace of mind they are buying a professional service from a PR company that's committed to excellence.

“I was thrilled that Recognition achieved such a high score and delighted that my team have been accredited for the best practice they adopt across all areas of the organisation.”