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.

Rule 5 Wins Best Social at Big Chip

Rule 5 scooped the coveted award for Best Use of Social at the Big Chip Awards in Manchester last night (3 July 2014). The winning campaign was the communications programme that Rule 5 delivered for the BMX Supercross World Cup. It’s the first time the category has had a winner since 2012. Last year the judges decided that none of the entries were of a high enough standard to win a Big Chip.

The Big Chip Awards are by far the biggest digital awards outside London. In their 16th year, they are also the longest running digital communications awards in the UK. They are run by Manchester Digitalworking with Digital Union in the North East, Creative Sheffield, and user groups and networks in Leeds and Liverpool.

The Big Chip Awards are for all things digital – from mobile apps to social media, animation to websites and digital brand to cloud software. Judges include BBC journalist Bill Thompson, Daniel Nye Griffiths, who writes for Wired UK and Paul Fabretti of Telefonica.

“Whilst we’ve been at a few PR awards this is the first time we’ve been at an event run by and for the digital communications industry” said Rule 5 founding Director Julie Wilson. “When we arrived it felt like we were gatecrashing someone’s party so we were both stunned and thrilled to have our work recognised by the leading light of the digital world.”

Virgin Money Cyclone – 4,000 Saddle Up

Last week over 4,000 people descended upon the North East for the annual Virgin Money Cyclone Festival of Cycling.

Amongst the throng of cycling enthusiasts were Rule 5’s Jules and Carolanne, who were on the ground delivering live updates from the cycling events and directing all media communication.

The four day festival offers rides for amateurs and enthusiasts at all levels – from sportive challenges and family routes to a weekend of professional racing culminating in the women’s Curlew Cup and men’s UCI European Tour Road Race, the Beaumont Trophy.

Taking the trophy in the women’s national road race was Pearl Izumi Sports International Tours cyclist and reigning World & European Team Pursuit Champion, Katie Archibald.

It was a heated finish in the newly accredited UCI Beaumont Trophy, which is only one of four UCI road races in the UK, with Kristian House of Rapha Condor JLT powering to victory.

An abundance of media were in attendance throughout the weekend including BBC North East, The Newcastle Chronicle, Living North, Road Cycling UK and Velo UK. Going the extra mile was Dan Black from Metro Radio station, who embraced the 63 mile sportive reporting live from the saddle. The event was featured on BBC Look North throughout the four day event.

Rule 5 Becomes Seven

Rule 5 has appointed Chidi Onuoha and Rachel Drabble as Account Executives.

Prior to joining Rule 5, Chidi worked at Souter PR where she worked on Warburtons, the Dental Law Partnership, and Gorvins Solicitors. Rachel, a graduate from Salford University and former member of the GB Waterpolo Team, joins following internships at Beattie Media and Jam PR.

Speaking on the signings Rule 5 Managing Partner, Rob Brown, said: “An agency is as good as its people and in Rule 5 we have built a team that we are proud of and that we are confident rivals any other. We’re delighted to welcome Chidi and Rachel on board.”

Both executives will report into Account Manager, Miranda Wade, and work across the agency’s British Cycling, Virgin Money Cyclone and WWRD accounts.

RULE 5