Some months ago, Swindon Borough Council’s Economic Development Department appointed the award-winning, Swindon-based agency, Blue Click PR Ltd. to handle its inward investment campaign. The council’s existing PR department was at full capacity and handles purely local or political issues so this particular project was outsourced to an independent, B2B communications specialist. The remit is to raise awareness as to why Swindon is such an excellent business location with its thriving proximity to major road, rail, sea and air transport connections.
Speaking of transport, Swindon’s magic roundabout traffic system is famous throughout the world. Since good PR is not just about the written word but also about attracting attention on the printed page, Blue Click PR art-directed this photo featuring a map of the magic roundabout and the Economic Development Team. It is sufficiently eye-catching to have been used as a business magazine front cover and has become a recognisable visual hook in a number of newspaper, magazine and web articles, as well as council newsletters.
Swindon is home to nearly forty major corporate headquarters and these companies benefit from the quality of life combined with the strong economic growth of the town. Blue Click PR has interviewed and written about Intel, the Technology Strategy Board, The Royal Mail, The National Self-Build and Renovation Centre, HSM, Glasses Direct, Swedish bank Handelsbanken and ODS. These joint press releases and case studies demonstrate why relocating to Swindon and investing in the town makes sound commercial sense.
According to Bill Cotton, Director of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs, ’We know that changing people’s perceptions about a town is a big task, but this is a long-term project. When people realise the business economy is thriving, and understand what the town will offer five years from now, we’d like them to consider Swindon as an option and come and be part of this exciting growth story. Swindon is in a unique position as it undergoes urban regeneration worth £1bn and will house another 45,000 by 2025. To be successful, we need jobs for this new pool of labour and Swindon competes for inward investment with towns up and down the country‘. He continues ‘We needed an agency who understood the town and selected Blue Click PR Ltd. because they are already working with property developers here and have a track record of dealing with blue chip companies at an international level.’
Blue Click PR has written entries that have won global awards for clients and in 2007, the agency won the Chartered Institute for Public Relations Gold PRide Award for Small Agency, based upon its strategy of linking an SME with its largest clients to build brand awareness cost-effectively. Previously, Blue Click PR has secured the cooperation of some of the world’s largest brands such as Microsoft, Cisco, Cable & Wireless, Carlsberg (5th largest brewer in the world), IPA Greene King, Alfa Romeo (Denmark), Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein, three of the UK’s top four high street banks, Nationwide Building Society, Innogy, Brann Direct and others.
Managing Director, Rhona Jack comments ‘We do not underestimate this task but our work has been scrutinised at the highest levels before. We want the best for Swindon and are very proud to be associated with such a dynamic and forward-thinking government organisation.’
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