Author: Editor

World of Wedgwood Opens

A week ago the World of Wedgwood, an inspiring new visitor experience in Stoke-on-Trent, opened to the public. The agency had invited the media to preview the attraction, part of a £34m investment in the Wedgwood Estate, which features an engaging factory tour, flagship store, Wedgwood Tea Room and a revitalised museum celebrating Wedgwood’s 250 years heritage in ceramics.

Substantial media coverage appeared in The Times, The Telegraph, BBC News, The Independent, BBC Radio Stoke, The Stoke Sentinel, The Express, ITV Central and many more.

“In a £34m redevelopment, the company headquarters have been turned into a stunning visitor attraction that combines a swish flagship store, factory outlet and places to eat.” The Express

“The best thing on this site, and I don’t say this lightly because the new deco-style Wedgwood Tea Room and the design studios are spectacular, is the museum.” The Times

“The wonderful World of Wedgwood…it looks brilliant.” BBC Radio

Within the first three years, over 175,000 annual visitors are expected to flock to the attraction, set in 240 acres of Staffordshire countryside. For further details about the World of Wedgwood, and to plan your visit see www.worldofwedgwood.com

Rule 5 Nominated Six Times in CIPR Awards

The agency has been nominated six times, including in the category for Outstanding Small Consultancy, in the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) PRide Awards, announced today.

Rule 5 has been shortlisted for its work for Waterford Wedgwood Royal Doulton, Virgin Money, British Cycling and Buy Art Fair. The CIPR PRide Awards recognises outstanding public relations in the UK regions and nations and attracts entries from the country’s leading communications agencies. The awards will be announced at a black tie dinner on 5 November 2015 at The Midland Hotel in Manchester.

The CIPR says, “they are a celebration of exceptional talent and a reflection of public relations best practice. Only the highest calibre of experts, drawn from the very top of their fields are selected to judge our awards.”

K-State Comes To MediaCityUK

Rule 5 played host to a visit by student from Kansas State University earlier this month. A group of communications and public relations students were in the UK to broaden their international experience. The students were accompanied by Dr Barbara DeSanto, Assistant Professor in Public Relations at the University.

As part of their itinerary, the party of ten visited the agency at its MediaCityUK offices. They learnt about some of the innovations taking place in digital communications and the use of social media in a public relations context. The students were taken through the award winning case study on use of video at the UCI Track Cycling World Cup in London last December. The social media campaign incorporated video content, edited and shared in near real-time ahead of TV highlights. The campaign delivered close to 130 million impacts through social media channels. Rule 5 was selected to be part of the Kansas State Univesrity summer programme on the advice of Dr. Danny Moss at the University of Chester.

Rob Brown on BBC Ten O’Clock News

Alton Towers re-opened to the public yesterday following the tragic incident on the Smiler ride, which crashed into an empty carriage, seriously injuring the passengers at the front of the vehicle. BBC News turned to agency Managing Partner Rob Brown to provide expert comment on the impact on the reputation of the parent company Merlin Entertainments; “It’s inevitable there will be a degree of trust lost” said Rob, but he added “they’ve taken the incident exceptionally seriously and have shown proper concern for the impact on the victims.”

The item was broadcast on the Six O’Clock and Ten O’Clock News on BBC1 and is available on-line here.

Rule 5 at MIPTV in Cannes

Rule 5 Managing Partner, Rob Brown, is at MIPTV in Cannes this week for the Marché international des programmes de télévision, to give it its full French title. MIPTV is an international trade market for audiovisual content, or what used to be called television. The market takes place annually in April at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès de Cannes. Over 11,000 participants from over 100 countries attend with TV formats and finished programmes being traded. Increasingly there is a focus on digital platforms and content. Rule 5 attends the market to support existing clients and to gain insight from the event’s conference programme. There is also a substantial networking opportunity, often in the evening over canapes and rose in one of the beach front restaurants or grand hotels on the Croisette. “We met the team from Raw Cut for the first time in Cannes two years ago and we have several new business meetings this year,” said Rob. “Whilst people are here primarily to buy and sell TV content they are happy to talk to providers that can support that process.”

RULE 5