Author: Editor

Rob Brown Elected CIPR President

The agency’s managing partner is set to become CIPR president-elect 2015. Rob will take over as president in 2016, succeeding Sarah Pinch, who will take over from current president Stephen Waddington next year. The CIPR president acts as chairman of the institute and as a representative for the profession in the UK. Rob said “The practice of public relations is undergoing a significant upheaval. It has become obvious in recent years that PR needs to change to remain relevant. The CIPR has emerged as a trailblazer in modernising public relations practice in the UK and across the world and in raising standards of professionalism. I’m very honoured to have been given the opportunity to lead the Institute and continue that process.” In addition, 38 people have been nominated for 24 positions on the CIPR Council, the organisation’s governing body.

Agency Promotes Official Grand Départ Book

The agency has been hired to promote Two Days in Yorkshire, the official commemorative book of the Yorkshire Grand Départ.

The book is published by Pan y Agua Velo Europe Ltd (PAVE). It is a hardcover, 144-page coffee-table edition with over 200 images. It has already smashed all sales forecasts on pre-sales alone with a copy being sold every 36 seconds as Vincenzo Nibali crossed the line in Paris to confirm his victory as winner of The 2014 Tour de France.

Welcome to Yorkshire, who delivered the 2014 Tour De France Grand Départ, teamed up with official photographer Simon Wilkinson, who runs Yorkshire-based picture agency SWpix.com, to produce this memento of the grandest of Grand Départs. Simon Wilkinson said: “I’ve known the team at Rule 5 since they set up the agency in November 2012 – we worked together at the Track Cycling World Cup in Glasgow and several times since and I didn’t hesitate in bringing them on board as part of the team when we were planning the book.”

Written by cycling author Peter Cossins and Welcome to Yorkshire’s Andrew Denton, ‘Two Days In Yorkshire’ features stunning images taken by the world’s best cycling and sports photographers. The book reveals the inside story of how, against seemingly impossible odds, Yorkshire won the 2014 Grand Départ, as well as capturing the unforgettable sights and stories of two historic days.

The book costs £35 and is available for pre-order at www.twodaysinyorkshire.com. Copies will be on sale at good bookshops, cycling shops and on Amazon later this month.

Got Talent’s in Town

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Working in MediaCityUK it’s not uncommon to spot the odd familiar face when you pop out to get a sandwich at lunchtime. Today we discovered that Britain’s Got Talent had rolled into town. Alesha Dixon and David Walliams stepped out of their limos to say hello to the waiting crowds. Ant & Dec are hosting the 2014 live auditions at the Lowry Theatre. Fire eaters, acrobats, dancers and divas are stuggling into their sequinned onesies as we write.

Virgin Money Cyclone Drafts in Rule 5

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The agency will promote the four day national cycling festival, staged in the North East. The Virgin Money event, which has attracted some of the world’s greatest riders including Mark Cavendish, Bradley Wiggins, Hannah Barnes and Sarah Storey, is part of Virgin Money’s sponsorship of national sport and community events that include The Virgin Money London Marathon and Walking With The Wounded, Virgin Money South Pole Allied Challenge.

Virgin Money Head of Sponsorship Marketing, Andrew Nicholson, said: “We’re looking forward to working with Rule 5. The team’s extensive experience in sports event communication combined with its expertise in managing national brand sponsorship campaigns makes Rule 5 the perfect partner.”

Virgin Money Cyclone Founder and Organiser, Peter Harrison, added: “Virgin Money Cyclone is a multi- faceted event designed to cater for the needs of competitive and non-competitive cyclists. As we enter our eighth year and celebrate the Beaumont Trophy being recognised as an official UCI event, our focus is on further raising awareness of the Virgin Money Cyclone on a national and international scale, and increasing rider participation across all levels. We are confident that Rule 5 will help us achieve this.”

Commenting on the win Rule 5 Founding Director, Julie Wilson, added: “This is a significant win for the agency. The Virgin Money Cyclone is a recognised event within the international cycling calendar and we’re delighted to play a part in further realising its potential; attracting new riders and spectators.

“With the UK playing host to the Grand Dėpart and dates for next year’s British Cycling Elite Road Series confirmed, 2014 promises to be an exciting year for cycling.”

Virgin Money Cyclone takes place from Thursday June 19 to Sunday June 22, 2014. Entries are open now. For more information or to register visit https://virginmoneycyclone.co.uk/EnterOnline.asp

Rule 5 to Launch in London

The agency is marking its first year in business with the announcement that we will have a London office from January. We firmed up the decision several weeks ago and we’re announcing the news to coincide with our first birthday tomorrow – November 29. We have also committed to a three year lease at the agency’s Manchester headquarters in MediaCityUK.

The new office will be in Shoreditch, London, and will be run by Account Director Carolanne Bamford, who relocates in the New Year. Recruitment for an account executive is underway.

“It has been an incredible year” said Rob Brown. “Launching a new agency in the middle of a recession has challenges but we feel that we’ve built a good brand with Rule 5, we deliver great work and are thrilled by the response we’ve had.” Fellow agency founder Julie Wilson added: “It has always been our intention to launch a London office. It’s a little ahead of plan but the time is right for us and there’s a great sense of creativity and innovation in Shoreditch. We’re looking forward to being part of it.”

In our first year we were awarded Best Newcomer at the Prolific North Awards and a few weeks ago won Gold for Best Social Media campaign and Silver for Best Digital campaign in the 2013 CIPR Pride Awards.

Next month, the agency will also be providing consultancy support to the Cabinet Office with the Government’s review of its communications capability.

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