Profits of Boom

In some circles and for some strange reason, 'profit' is seen as a dirty word. Under the expert guidance of broadcast veteran, Jim Fitzpatrick, a new business programme for Northern Ireland called ‘The Profit Margin’ will seek to decontaminate the word and instead celebrate the pursuit of profit as the means of rebalancing the NI economy.

‘The Profit Margin’, which is made possible by sponsorship from our longstanding client First Trust Bank and the University of Ulster Business School, is a 20 minute audio programme that focuses on issues relevant to the business community in Northern Ireland. It will target anyone with an interest in local business matters whether at home or abroad. Listeners will be able to access the show on a weekly basis directly via iTunes podcast, Twitter, Facebook and email subscription starting on Friday 17th October.

Listeners can expect analysis and insight about a range of issues relevant to the local business community, as well as a more in-depth look at the business news making the headlines each week. The programme will feature analysis around key business issues from a team of experts as well a regular ‘Business of the Week’ slot.

Local start-ups and entrepreneurs should also polish up their 'Elevator Pitch' as a regular slot on the show will carry the best 30sec pitch received that week.

The programme is unashamedly 'pro business' and in the absence of regular business broadcast which offers in-depth business coverage, insight and analysis of the NI market, it is very welcome indeed.

At a time when we need to encourage more local entrepreneurs and support more businesses to grow and develop here, this show promises to be a fantastic platform to champion business issues. We will be listening every week and recommend you do to.

‘The Profit Margin’ will be available from the website www.theprofitmargin.co.uk starting on Friday 17 October. It can also be downloaded directly as a podcast from iTunes as well as through the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Profit-Margin/274265196116309 and twitter account @TheProfitMargin

Football fever hits Morrows!

Morrow Communications has really kicked it into the back of the net with not one but two clients ‘stepping onto the pitch’ and making ‘football associations’ this week (we’re really putting the ‘pun’ in ‘pundit’ here). 
We kicked off the week with Moy Park announcing its status as an Official World Cup™ sponsor and finished off with Dale Farm revealing their sponsorship of the Milk Cup.

The Moy Park team at Morrows will be embracing all things Brazilian this summer (carnivals, samba lessons etc. we assume) to help activate Moy Park’s sponsorship of The FIFA World Cup™. The Moy Park brand will be beamed to millions of viewers across the globe on pitch perimeter boards during matches - including those involving England, France, the Netherlands and Spain to name just a few. Moy Park will be supporting the sponsorship with a comprehensive advertising, promotional and marketing campaign. What’s more, Moy Park will be launching an on-pack promotion that will give one lucky shopper the chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime trip for two to the FIFA World Cup™ semi-finals in Brazil.

In our second soccer scoop, Northern Ireland’s largest dairy company, Dale Farm, has stepped in as lead sponsor of Northern Ireland's major international youth football tournament – now known as the 'Dale Farm Milk Cup.' The renowned competition has seen famous players such as Ryan Giggs, David Beckham and Paul Scholes compete on NI pitches at the start of their careers. First played in 1983, the tournament has attracted a wide range of entries from local county sides to leading English and Scottish premier league clubs and international teams such as Russia, China and Mexico. Following a highly successful media launch to announce the sponsorship, the wheels are well and truly in motion for the rest of the competition!

In preparation for these high profile sponsorships, Team Morrow will be getting into the spirit by practising our football chants and keepie-ups and challenging our office park neighbours to a 5-a-side tournament (suit jackets for goalposts). Keep an eye on the headlines over the coming months as the team at Morrows work with Dale Farm and Moy Park to activate both super soccer sponsorships!

Sowing Seeds for Movember

Movember has been on everyone's lips this month and we have been delighted to have supported our new client Germinal Holdings Ltd on their fantastic campaigns to support the Movember Charity, which aims to raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and testicular cancer.

Here in Northern Ireland, seed specialist Joseph Morton Ltd had one message for local farmers this autumn - size does in fact matter - when it comes to moustaches at least! Hoping to inspire local farmers to support the charity, the company has cultivated an impressive 120m long grass moustache in a Co. Londonderry field.

The field, which belongs to a Ballykelly farmer, contains an Aber High Sugar Grass and red clover mix which was shaped into a giant version of the Movember moustache logo using an agricultural mower by Morton’s North West Technical Sales Representative, William McCollum.

As well as raising awareness of men’s health issues and fundraising amongst staff, Morton’s is calling on local farmers to grow their own moustache during November, and is offering a prize of £500 worth of Morton’s products for the most impressive ‘mo’. Morton’s will also donate £500 to the Movember charity on the winner’s behalf. Entrants are invited to take pictures of their ‘before’ and ‘after’ facial hair at the start and end of November and send them to info@josephmorton.co.uk

Meanwhile British Seed Houses, also owned by Banbridge based Germinal Holdings, has also gone big to show its support for Movember by giving the world famous Cerne Abbas Giant in Dorset a grass moustache.

The huge mo added a rakish look to the imposing 180 ft tall landmark grown from British Seed Houses’ Grade A grass seed. The ancient naked giant is a protected site owned by the National Trust, which gave special permission to allow him to sport a mo for the first time. It is fair to say that helping to promote these campaigns has been a 'Mo'st enjoyable experience !

Action Stations for Nature

We have been delighted to have supported the East Border Region’s Action for Biodiversity Project, which is part funded by the European Union’s INTERREG IVA Programme. The project is aimed at helping create a richer and more diverse environment in the East Border Region of the island of Ireland, through raising awareness of biodiversity and the need to protect it – and has supported over 80 local conservation projects over the past three years.



Campaigns delivered have included the 'Give an Hour to Nature' campaign coinciding with the clocks going back at the end of October as well as the development and promotion of a 'Winter Wonderland’ online nature guide, based on public nominations of the top spots for enjoying nature in the winter months received through facebook at www.facebook.com/actionforbiodiversity .

Putting DEAC on the Map

Morrows are delighted to be working with the District Electoral Areas Commissioner on the current review of District Electoral Areas (DEAs) which will be used in future local government elections across NI. The Commissioner has already published his recommendations which look at the make up and naming of electoral areas for the new 11 Councils, or Local Government District areas as they are formally known.

These proposed DEAs represent the key building blocks for future local government elections and not only take into account the reduction in Councils themselves but the resulting reduction in wards across NI from 582-462. Among other things the provisional recommendations will consider whether DEAs will be made up of 5, 6 or 7 wards as per the legislation. As each ward effectively (albeit indirectly) represents a seat on Council this represents an important piece of work which is likely to interest both political parties and the electorate.

As well as organising and managing the planned 9 public inquiries taking place across the province during August and September, we are supporting the Commissioner on his media relations throughout the review.

Pride without Prejudice

We are delighted to have been shortlisted in no less than 10 separate categories in this year's CIPR Pride Awards which celebrates the best work of the local PR/Communications industry. The categories include:

• Best Corporate and Business Communications Campaign
• Best Not for Profit Campaign
• Best Community Relations Campaign
• Best Low Budget Campaign
• Best Consumer Relations Campaign
• Best Use of Media Relations
• Best Use of Digital
• Best Integrated Campaign

We are also thrilled that our very own Kelly McKee is shortlisted in the 'Outstanding Young Communicator' category, and that we have once again made it onto the the 'Outstanding PR Consultancy of the Year' list - the seventh such time that we have been shortlisted in the last 8 years. 

All fingers and toes will be crossed on the night of Friday 11th October that we can pick up a few more gold and silver awards to add to our collection and who knows, even retain our Consultancy of the Year title. One thing is sure that whatever happens we will be letting our hair down !  

Showers don’t deter Open Farm Weekend crowds

Despite some bad weather, the UFU’s Open Farm Weekend initiative enjoyed a fantastic turnout recently with nearly 10,000 people visiting real, working farms to learn more about farming and local food. The event, now in its second year, saw a large increase in participating farms and an even larger increase in people visiting a farm, many for the first time on the weekend of the 15^th and 16^th of June.

Morrow Communications ran an integrated communications campaign for the project involving media relations, social media management and advertising across TV, radio, online and local press titles. The campaign ran in two distinct phases - the first targeting the agri-sector to encourage participation in the event from potential host farmers and young farmers and the second to drive awareness and understanding of the event with the consumer, which ran just ahead of the main event. Morrow were also tasked with managing the project’s online presence and providing on-farm teaching aids to help relate the “field to fork” message to farm visitors.

The OFW team at Morrows were delighted to see attendance figures this year soaring far beyond those of Open Farm Weekend 2012 - in total 9,690 people visited participating farms this year - an almost 100% improvement on 2012 figures. 

Barclay Bell, Deputy President of Ulster Farmers’ Union said, “The weather conditions were certainly challenging for some of our farmers on the Saturday. But I was delighted to see first-hand that this didn’t deter the people of Northern Ireland from coming out in their thousands to make the most of Open Farm Weekend!”

The 2013 initiative saw 19 real working farms opening their gates to the public to learn more about where their food comes from and to get a “behind the scenes” look at a real, working farm. Each event was as unique as the farmer, with some providing fascinating guided tours and others hosting eating challenges, barbecues, games and petting zoos. 

Open Farm Weekend is a project by Ulster Farmers’ Union and is supported by The Department of Agriculture’s Regional Food Programme and Business in the Community NI, on behalf of The Prince’s Countryside Fund and is sponsored by Bank of Ireland UK and NFU Mutual.

SENTINUS Vs POTUS

Clashing directly with the recent G8, President Obama's visit to the Waterfront Hall,  and the associated (and over-hyped) traffic chaos in Belfast city centre, is the type of nightmare scenario that would give most event organisers sleepless nights. Yet despite this, hundreds of young innovators and their teachers from across Northern Ireland still attended NI’s Largest Science Fair – the Sentinus Young Innovators Exhibition –at the nearby Odyssey Arena. 

While Obama was eloquently suggesting that NI's future lay in the hands of the younger generation within the Waterfront Hall (and by association, not those of our comparatively ageing politicians, media and business leaders that also managed to snaffle a ticket), the Odyssey was meanwhile bursting with the very thing he must have had in mind.

As exemplars of what is required to drive forward a strong knowledge based economy in Northern Ireland, these young primary and secondary school students(and their excellent teachers) were at the Odyssey from early on - with their innovations and experiments in tow. Keen to avoid the expected traffic problems and with many travelling long distances from all parts of Northern Ireland they were not going to be deterred by the presence of Presidents or Prime Ministers. They have a passion for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) and were determined to showcase their excellent innovations. It was also an opportunity to meet and learn from fellow innovators from all traditions and to test themselves against their peers.

While it was a hugely successful event with many remarkable inventions and innovations on display, unfortunately not all the news was good on the day.  Sentinus Chairman, Jim Stewart took the opportunity to express serious concerns about the current statutory curriculum commitment to STEM subjects in Northern Ireland. Speaking at the event he said;

“The presence of the G8 countries here today brings into sharp focus the economic standards that NI must aspire to and that is particularly apparent in their commitment to the promotion of Science Technology, Engineering and Maths subjects in their schools.  Within Northern Ireland we have unfortunately been falling behind in this global race and the current curriculum commitment to the delivery of STEM subjects in our schools fall far short of what is needed to compete with the strongest economies in the world. In many primary schools STEM subjects are barely given lip service while in secondary schools there is no requirement for students to take STEM subjects, with the exception of maths, at GCSE level. If we are to compete with the best in the world we must inspire and enthuse more young people, like those attending the Young Innovators Event today, to see the importance of STEM subjects. Our concern is that we are barely able to meet the needs of current employers seeking such skills and if we are serious about becoming a strong knowledge economy, it is imperative that we act now and prioritise STEM on our school curriculum.”

With G8 mania behind us, this is a challenge that our politicians and leaders would do well to tackle. Developing a knowledge based economy is recognised as a critical part of our future economic aspirations and instilling an interest and passion for STEM subjects in our young people is a fundamental building block. Some have said that Northern Ireland has always had an innovation gene - but even accepting that was the case,  it would appear that we need to rediscover it and to ensure it is embedded in our young people's DNA.    

Business Editor at the Belfast Telegraph, David Elliot  picked up on this point in a recent editorial where he said; "That news needs more urgent attention than anything which came out of G8 and should be the big take away from everything which has gone on this week."  

Hopefully these words and those of Jim Stewart will not be lost in the G8 afterglow.

Putting the Media in the Spotlight

We were delighted to be a part of the 2013 Coca Cola CIPR Media Awards last Friday night- celebrating the cream of our local print, broadcast and online media. Sponsoring the Broadcast Journalist of the Year Award, Morrows attended the buzzing event at The Mac Belfast basking in the evening sunshine.
Hosted by Eamonn Holmes, the theater style event was a fresh approach on the 20 year old awards ceremony. It was fantastic to see new talent such as Sara Girvan and the Cool FM breakfast team winning gold on the night as well as seasoned reporters such as Anne Hailes who claimed the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Special congratulations go to Claire Savage from the BBC who picked up our sponsored category for Broadcast Journalist of the Year. The judges said Claire was a 'polished reporter who always finds the connections' - we couldn't agree more and were delighted to present the gong to her on the evening.

Congrats also to the CIPR NI committee for hosting another great night allowing our local media to be recongised, applauded and, most importantly, let down their hair to celebrate!

Practice Made Perfect!

We would like to welcome TM2 to the Morrows fold!

Based in East Belfast, TM2 is a leading practice management software company, specialising in the rehabilitation sector. In layman’s terms, they are the creators of the computer systems at your local physiotherapist!

They are however more than just a ‘systems’ provider – the software can help with bookings, invoicing and data capture along with assistance in patient note taking and reports. The 35-strong team at TM2 are in fact so well reputed that they’re strategic partners to a number of industry leaders including physiotherapy, chiropractic, healthcare and more throughout the UK, Ireland and Australia.

One of the recent projects we have worked on has been to announce TM2’s record customer numbers as they celebrated their 10 year anniversary. As part of the campaign, we arranged for the DETI Minister, Arlene Foster to pay the TM2 offices a visit – she took a tour of the office and talked to Director Kyle Lunn about the 1200 clinics worldwide that use TM2.

In the months to come we hope to be announcing a rehabilitation industry first, which will bring together key players in the field....watch this space!

Stepping Out for Walk to School Week

For over four years we have been working with Travelwise NI, the sustainable transport team within the Department for Regional Development, to promote Walk to School Week. We are delighted to announce that once again the initiative, which took place from 20^th to 25^th May, was a huge success with thousands of children from across Northern Ireland choosing to make the daily journey to school on foot.

Getting children out of cars and onto their feet is the driving force behind the initiative, which aims to encourage school children to adopt sustainable travel behaviour habits and experience the health, environmental, social and financial benefits of walking.

To encourage children, parents and teachers to get involved, we teamed up with Paralympic gold medallist, Michael McKillop. At the 2012 London Paralympics, Michael was awarded the prestigious Whang Youn Dai Achievement Award in recognition of his work with the youth of Northern Ireland in promoting healthy living and paralympic sport. Michael was a real inspiration to the children by helping them to consider the benefits of walking –the perfect choice for the 2013 Walk to School Week ambassador!

The launch event at the Ballymoney Footbridge in Co. Antrim was a real highlight when Transport Minister, Danny Kennedy, Michael McKillop and pupils from four schools in the Ballymoney area came together to mark the official start of Walk to School Week 2013. Throughout the week thousands of pupils also engaged in fun-filled classroom activities that helped to raise the importance of making smart travel decisions. 

The key aim of the campaign was to help reverse the trend for children to travel to school by car and we are delighted that so many schools took part in this exciting event!

Are you the full Irish?

Long-standing Morrow’s client, Irwin’s Bakery and top Irish Chef, Paul Rankin are encouraging the public to join in a unique St Patrick’s Day fundraiser by downloading a new app, which asks users a series of quirky questions to work out their percentage Irishness or their “Paddy Proof.”

The Paddy Proof campaign, created by Morrow Communications, capitalises on the GB public’s desire to get involved in St. Patrick’s Day celebrations and to become – even just a little bit – Irish for the day. The app leads a wider GB focused campaign promoting the Irwin's Rankin Selection range of Irish breads and aims to give Rankin Selection “ownership” of the interaction non-Irish people have with St. Patrick’s Day.

Paddy Proof is a light-hearted, fun app and for every free UK app store download, Irwin’s Bakery will make a donation to Macmillan Cancer Support - so it’s all in aid of a very good cause. The app can also be played on Facebook and is expected to go massively viral as St Patrick’s day approaches and the Gaelic Diaspora clamours to declare their Irishness!

To download the app from the app store or play on Facebook

 

Happy St Patrick's Day!

'Bowled Over' by CIPR Chairman's Award

Congratulations to our fabulous colleague - Kelly McKee who picked up the CIPR Chair's Award for 2012 in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the industry and to the NI CIPR Committee.

Speaking at the recent AGM, the words of outgoing Chair Gillian Shields says it all - "Kelly is without doubt one of the most talented young PR professionals I have had the pleasure and privilege to work with. She has been a huge support to me in organising and promoting all of this years events, both in securing sponsorship and in supporting the management of these events.

Her attitude, understanding and passion for the industry is unquestionable and their willingness to throw all that they have at any challenge has unaltered throughout the year."

This comes as no surprise to the rest of us who work with Kelly every day and the award is well deserved. We are all just wondering what she is going to do with the massive crystal bowl - she tells us it only holds four bottles of wine ! 

MEDIA STATEMENT FROM SPRUCEFIELD CENTRE LIMITED AND JOHN LEWIS

Below is the full statement from Sprucefield Centre Ltd and John Lewis following their decision to withdraw the planning application for a John Lewis department store and new shops at Sprucefield, Northern Ireland.

Friday 1st February 2013

MEDIA STATEMENT FROM SPRUCEFIELD CENTRE LIMITED AND JOHN LEWIS

The Sprucefield Centre Limited (comprising Westfield and Snoddens Construction) and John Lewis can confirm that they have taken the decision to withdraw the planning application for a John Lewis department store and new shops at Sprucefield.

This decision follows the Minister for the Environment’s recent announcement that he intends to change the current policy and now confine further development at Sprucefield to bulky goods only, therefore excluding the new John Lewis department store.

With the deadline looming to submit evidence to the Planning Appeals Commission, The Sprucefield Centre Limited and John Lewis have been forced to accept that the uncertainty over BMAP planning policy means they cannot proceed to Inquiry at this time.

The Sprucefield Centre Limited, together with John Lewis, was committed to invest over £150 million into Northern Ireland and create over 1,500 retail jobs. Additionally, John Lewis would have opened a distribution facility in Northern Ireland resulting in further investment and jobs.

Over the last nine years John Lewis has clearly and consistently stated that, having reviewed all available options, Sprucefield is the only suitable location to develop a new full line department store in Northern Ireland.

The Sprucefield Centre Limited and John Lewis will review their position once the Executive has considered the BMAP policy and there is clarity on the role of Sprucefield as a regional shopping centre in Northern Ireland. John Lewis has reiterated its continued interest in opening a new department store at Sprucefield.
-Ends-

For further information, please contact:

Westfield
Jacqueline Scott
PR and Corporate Affairs Manager Westfield UK/EU
E: jacqueline.scott@westfield-uk.com
T: +44 (0) 207 061 1536 / + 44 (0) 7760 316 636

John Lewis Partners
Kieran Donnelly
Morrow Communications
E: k.donnelly@morrowcommunications.com

Helping to make Belfast a Brighter Place!

The Morrows events team recently delivered the Brighter Belfast Environmental Awards and Belfast in Bloom Awards on behalf of Belfast City Council in a glittering gala ceremony for 120 guests.

Now in their sixth year, the environmental awards reward those who are working to improve their local environment and contribute to creating a brighter, cleaner and greener city whilst Belfast in Bloom recognises local residents and community groups who help to improve the visual appearance of our city.

In total 18 awards were presented including Best Hanging Basket, Best Window Box Display, Best Community Group and the prestigious Isobel Bennet Memorial Award as well as Litter Heroes, Business and the Community Together and Education for Change Award.

Local comedian William Caulfield hosted the event within City Hall and entertainment was provided by Swingabella, a 1940s trio performing Andrews Sisters tunes who had the audience on their feet! A fantastic evening that brightened up a cold, wet January evening! 

Previous 'Propellers' Explain the benefits of the Invest NI Propel Programme

We have just completed a short video to showcase the benefits of the Invest Northern Ireland Propel Programme and hear directly from a number of previous participants on why they would recommend it to would be entrepreneurs with innovative ideas that have export potential. The deadline for applications for the 2013 intake is 22nd January and you can find out more at www.propelprogramme.com

QUB extend Morrow's AV contract into 2014

The Design and Production team are delighted to have had our contract for the provision of video services to Queen’s University extended until 2014. We have been working with the marketing team at the University since January 2011 and have produced several successful videos and established a fabulous relationship with the team. We are delighted at this endorsement of our hard work and ability to deliver exactly what a client needs!


QUB Slice of Life from Morrow Communications on Vimeo.

Cool FM’s Jingle Ball Rocked!

Morrow Communications’ client, Cool FM last week filled the Odyssey to the rafters with thousands of screaming pop fans for the first ever Cool FM Jingle Ball Live. Thousands poured into the arena to witness the biggest pop gig Belfast has ever seen - a line-up which included JLS, Matt Cardle, Labrinth, Amelia Lily, Misha B, Ryan O'Shaughnessy, Stooshe, Lawson and Joe McIlderry and Morrow’s own pop svengali, Marty Byrne was backstage taming the press pack in an exclusive media room

The press conference-style backstage media room brought together a host of glamorous showbiz reporters and some slightly less glamorous press photographers for quickfire questions and photos just before the artists took to the stage. The media room ran very smoothly despite some extraordinary wardrobe choices, demands for better refreshments and a dash of diva behaviour (and that was just the journalists).

Morrows were involved with Jingle Ball Live from the beginning, organising media partnerships with local press titles, celeb interview pieces, ticket giveaways, social media and crisis management consultancy as well as management of the backstage press area. With the event being hailed as a huge success, we’re already looking forward to Cool FM’s Jingle Ball Live 2013!

Local schools visit Boys' Model School

Earlier this week we attended the Boys’ Model School as part of its Transition Open Day.

The School invited pupils from 18 local primary schools to come along to the special ‘open day’ with the aim of giving the pupils an insight into what school life would be like if they decided to attend the Boys’ Model.

Pupils spent time with school staff and student mentors in each department and were given the opportunity to get to grips with gym equipment, conduct science experiments, create comic strip animations in the Media Centre, and to cook up a storm in the Home Economics Department.

Commenting on the open day Alan Logan, Acting Principal from Boys’ Model School said: “The day was a great success. More than 18 schools from our catchment area attended, and the feedback from the pupils and their teachers was very positive.

“The move to post primary school is an exciting time for children. However, it can equally be a time of uncertainty due to the prospect of meeting new friends, learning new subjects and getting to grips with a more independent lifestyle. The Boys’ Model Transition Days are designed to familiarise primary school pupils with the facilities, routines and culture at the School and reassure them of the fun and rewarding learning experiences they will have if they choose to come to the school.”