Does Your Work Do the Talking ? Communication Consultants Wanted !

As one of Ireland’s largest integrated communication consultancies, at Morrow Communications we let our client work do the talking. We are currently on the lookout for some new talent to join the conversation.

Ideally, the successful candidates should have a relevant third level qualification in Public Relations, Communications or other Marketing discipline and will have three to five years top end PR/communications experience working with clients across the public and private sectors.

You should have excellent influencing and relationship management skills with the confidence and ability to competently engage with senior stakeholders internally and externally. You will be expected to demonstrate a consistent record of strategic thinking, management and results and to convince us of your instinctive flair and creativity.  You will also be able to demonstrate your skills and experience in identifying and shaping new business connections.

We are particularly interested in people with direct PR consultancy/agency experience, but will also welcome interest from those who believe they can excel in this type of challenging environment.

The Morrow Communications Ethos
We are first and foremost strategic thinkers who understand the importance and power of professional communications within our varied clients’ worlds. With a wide range of communication tools at our disposal, it’s our job to think ahead of our clients’ immediate needs to plan communication programmes with real impact.

Through our core specialisms of PR, Event Management, AV Production, Design and Digital Communications, we service an impressive client list that spans the private and public sectors throughout the island of Ireland and the UK.  Our commitment to excellence has been confirmed by being recognised as CIPR ‘Consultancy Team of the Year’ on three separate occasions in recent years.

To Apply follow the link to NIJobs and upload your CV. To illustrate your creativity, in 200 words or less, also explain why you deserve to be on our ‘must see’ list.

Closing date: Friday 20th June 2014. 

Portia earns her PR spurs at Morrow Communications

Back in September we were contacted by the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) about the possibility of getting involved in a new Internship Programme that it planned to launch.

After meeting with DEL we signed up and took the opportunity to meet the candidates.  Portia-Ellis Woods joined Morrow Communications in October.  With her eight week placement now complete, we were keen to find out how she had gotten on.

"When I heard about the DEL Internship programme I jumped at the chance to be a part of it.  I completed my application form and waited.  Thankfully I was selected by DEL and was delighted to be placed with Morrow Communications", explains Portia.

"My eight week internship with the company has involved a varied range of activities, tasks and projects. Starting in October I was included in the team from day one and have had the chance to work in every area of the event, production and PR teams."

Portia took the opportunity to not only develop her public relation skills, but to also get actively involved with the Morrow's Events and AV teams.

In terms of highlights, Portia has a lot to choose from!  "I never thought when I started the programme that I would be talking about meeting the world famous Basil Brush, but that's exactly what happened when I helped to launch the Dale Farm sponsored Panto 'Cinderella'.  It was great to be a part of this, as well as a host of other client photo calls.  I learnt the level of preparation needed before the shoot, organisation at the location and then the process of selecting the best pictures."

Portia also had the chance to work on client projects for companies like Asda, Dale Farm, Flahavan's, NYSE Euronext and Moy Park - which helped her gain an insight to the many different elements the team manage on a daily basis.

"It was great to get introduced to such a wide spectrum of clients and to have the opportunity to get involved in many aspects of account management.  The team really looked after me and took the time to include me and to explain what we were doing and why.  I have learnt so much from them. It has definitely been a very busy eight week period. Arranging photo calls, researching, helping at events, liaising with journalists as well as writing press releases and advertorial copy are just some of the activities that I have undertaken.

"It has been a valuable experience working for such a successful company and a pleasure to work alongside a talented, hardworking team of people. I feel very privileged to have been part of the team at Morrows and will take with me all the skills and attributes I have learnt during my internship."

Making his Mark in the Design and Production Team

 A fresh new talent has joined the Design and Production team at Morrow Communications. University of Ulster Graduate, Mark Robinson took up the post of Trainee Editor and Graphic Designer in September 2012, and due to hectic timetables has had to hit the ground running.

Mark is the first male addition to the all-female Production team, but is taking it all in his stride- thanks, he says, to his part-time student job in a Bingo Hall!

As a student, Mark’s work won him recognition and a number of awards, including the Creative Skillset Undergraduate Award for his dissertation. He has already brought his impressive editing skills to the productions of a number of our clients including Invest NI, IntertradeIreland and Asda.

Mark’s addition to the team brings a fresh youthful perspective to our work and allows us to keep more of our production work in house- thus offering even better value to our clients.

There's nothing like a Dame !

As part of our 'Morrows Masterclass' Series we were delighted to welcome Dame Mary Peters to our offices to speak to us about her journey of success. The masterclasses are designed to motivate, inspire, engage and challenge our thinking on how we do business - and Dame Mary certainly achieved that.

Dame Mary, or 'Mary P' to her friends, recounted her fascinating story from her early childhood through to her role in the recent London Olympics and peppered it with interesting insights into her experience of competing, winning, teamwork and personal development.

As Lord Lieutenant of Belfast and the official representative of the Queen, you can see why she makes the perfect Ambassador for Northern Ireland, for sport generally and for wider humanity. Despite her amazing success and profile she remains very humble and grounded and impressively left the room full of infectious positive energy.

Perhaps not surprisingly, her focus and determination to succeed are as strong as ever, now channelling her energy into her charity, the excellent Mary Peters Trust. They are supporting the next generation of sporting stars from Northern Ireland and helping them to achieve excellence in their chosen sport. We have had the pleasure of working with Mary through a number of our clients including Dale Farm and Asda and can vouch for the great work that she and the Trust does. With her help, there is no doubt we will have more local champions to cheer on in the sporting arenas around the world.

Getting to know… Karen Hoey, Events Manager

What is your career background?
I studied BA Hons in Hospitality and Tourism Management in Edinburgh. During my course placement I worked within Rocco Forte’s flagship Balmoral Hotel learning the ropes and following graduation I stayed at the hotel for a further 3 years working within group reservations and events.

I then moved to Glasgow and worked for the G1 Group, a leisure company with over 40 venues as Sales & Events Manager. I absolutely loved this job and some of my favorite events included organising Armani’s first fashion show outside London in 10 years, numerous events for the (then) Bank of Scotland Premier League as well as film premiers and corporate events. I then moved back to Belfast and joined Morrows events team in 2007!

What was your first job and how much were you paid?
When I was 16 I worked as a silver service waitress within the McMaster Restaurant at the Stormont Hotel in Belfast. It was hard work and involved working on Friday and Saturday nights but was great fun as I worked with a brilliant team! I can’t quite remember how much I was paid as it was a “few” years ago but it may have been around £4.00 an hour.

Have you ever had a job you hated?
Actually, no I haven’t. I’ve been very lucky and have always had jobs that I’ve enjoyed!

What was your first success?
I was an avid horse rider when I was young so I think my first success would have been winning my first rosette in a gymkhana at my local riding school when I was about 10. My pony was called Punch and it was a jumping competition!

What business figure(s) do you most admire?
Most people associate Sir Bob Geldof with the Boomtown Rats and Live Aid however he is the founder and non executive director of the hugely successful Ten Alps PLC whose portfolio includes communications, media, vision and publishing.

Bob spoke at the Belfast Media Festival which Morrows managed in 2010 and he was really down to earth, extremely passionate about his business and is hugely supportive of the creative industries in Northern Ireland.

I also take my hat off to Victoria Beckham. Not only has she grown brand Beckham into a global name, she has defied the critics and produced a fashion line that is receiving acclaim from the highest level within the industry. Girl power indeed!

Have you ever made a mistake and if so what did you learn from it?
Mistakes are a learning curve and whether in business or in your personal life it is how you manage them that’s important. Nobody’s perfect and I think it’s essential to be open, honest and to deal with it.

What is the most valuable piece of advice you have ever been given?
If you want to achieve something you have to do it yourself - you have to make it happen.

What one item would you take with you to a desert island and why?
A laptop with a built in dongle and everlasting battery. This would allow me to keep in touch with everyone, listen to all my favorite music while I book a helicopter and await the flight home.

What has been your biggest financial extravagance?
Apart from my house and cars probably holidays.

Do you have a business mantra?
Be open, honest and listen. Also, a firm handshake is a must.

What items do you always carry with you?
I tend to carry a lot as I love large handbags however lip salve and my phone are absolutely essential!

When will you retire?
Unless I win the lottery retirement is a long way off!

Getting to know… Nicola Adamson, Communications Consultant

What is your career background?
I studied a BSc Hons degree in Communication, Advertising and Marketing at the University of Ulster, Jordanstown. During my studies I completed a work placement in the Sports Centre at the University as a PR and Marketing executive. I enjoyed my placement so much that I continued to work there part-time during my final year of study and for another year on completion of my degree. After three months travelling in South East Asia I joined the Morrow Communications team in October 2007.

What was your first job and how much were you paid?
My first job was working as a part time checkout operative in Tesco during my last two years at school. From memory I think I got paid about £5/hr plus time and a half on Sunday – which was a great incentive to work some extra hours!

Have you ever had a job you hated?
I don’t think I’ve ever had a job I really didn’t like, although I did work as a waitress for a short stint in a coffee shop and I must admit having to take plates back to the chef with customer complaints wasn’t one of my favourite tasks!

What was your first success?
My first success is a tough one…as two occasions stand out from my childhood. The first was winning a silver medal for Speech & Drama at the Holywood Festival when I was 7. My Granny and Granda were with me and seeing how proud they were of me when I received my medal was very special! The second was ballet dancing on stage at the Grand Opera House when I was 10…all the butterflies back stage were definitely worth it and my Dad met me at the stage door with a bouquet of flowers.

What business figure(s) do you most admire?
I have to say the late, great and original TV chef Keith Floyd. From cooking skits in the early 80s he evolved into a brand, achieving cult status, producing TV series, DVDs and writing cookery books to global acclaim, while paving the way for the current generation of celebrity chefs.

Have you ever made a mistake and if so what did you learn from it?
Growing up I often heard the old adage, ‘the man that never made a mistake, never made anything!’ I have always taken heart from that phrase and also that as long as you do your best that’s all you can do. I always try my best in both my personal and work life and if I do make a mistake, which I’m sure I have in my 27 years, being open and honest is always best.

What is the most valuable piece of advice you have ever been given?
Treat others as you would like to be treated yourself!

What one item would you take with you to a desert island and why?
I think it would have to be a phone with a never-ending battery and unbroken network coverage. Truthfully I would offer my place on the island to someone else because I would miss my friends and family too much!

What has been your biggest financial extravagance?
It has to be my first car, a sliver Clio – I did have second thoughts about a shopping spree and a dream holiday as I handed over the money!

Do you have a business mantra?
Again I would have to say treat others as you want to be treated yourself…also making a good first impression is crucial in business.

What items do you always carry with you?
BlackBerry and a supply of makeup…just in case!

When will you retire?
Not for a very long time!

Pride in client work at Morrows

Morrow Communications entered two awards in this year's CIPR Northern Ireland PRide Awards and won in both categories. Morrows took the Gold Award in the Corporate Social Responsibility category for its communications of the Asda 'Sporting Chance' initiative, aimed at encouraging activity in young people.



The team also picked up the Silver award for the Irwin's Bakery 'Great Veda Debate' campaign, which drove sales of the popular local loaf by asking the public to join the all important 'sliced or unsliced' discussion.

The awards bring Morrows' collection to a total of 18 Gold and 15 Silver within the past three years.

PR Powerbook

Kieran Donnelly, Morrow Communications Director, has been included in PR Week’s 2011 Power Book of the most influential PR people across the UK.

One of only five from Northern Ireland featured, this is the third year that Kieran has been named in the guide, which is known as the definitive ‘who’s who’ in the PR industry.

Out 'n' About

The team at Morrows have been pitting their wits and pushing their fitness to the limits – all in the name of team spirit!

NI Hospice

This spring, Morrows managed to donate a whopping £300 worth of household items and clothing to the NI Hospice as part of its ongoing efforts to support the local charity. Staff brought in mountains of items which have been sold through the Hospice shops to raise money for adults and children around NI who need it most. Last summer, the team also helped out with some gardening at the Childrens’ Hospice in North Belfast.

Born to run!Morrows entered two teams in this year’s Belfast City Marathon. Sarah, Kelly, Nicola, Gareth, Anna, Karen, Kate and Lauren donned their running shoes and, along with additional team support managed to raise vital funds for two very important causes – Macmillan Cancer and Aaron House, a care home based in Belfast.

JCI Quiz Success – “From Holywood to Dollywood” Morrow Communications scooped top prize at the JCI Belfast charity pub quiz recently. The dream team of brainiacs included Lauren, Kieran, Anne, Karen, Kelly and Gareth. In a nail-biting finish Kieran led the team to victory with the closest answer to the tie-breaker question – ‘The Pacific Ocean covers what percentage of the earth’s surface?’ Answers on a postcard..!

Talking the Talk

We have recently been sharing our collective communications wisdom at a few high profile events.

Crisis Communications Seminar – Preparing for the Worst
We played a key role at the Agenda NI Crisis Communications seminar at Belfast’s Grand Opera House recently, which brought together key representatives from a wide range of sectors to examine and explore the importance of crisis management.

As one of the six key speakers at the event, Peter Morrow spoke about the various types of crisis an organisation should plan for and the associated impact, as well as outlining the role of planned, strategic communications in managing reputation and minimising damage.


Digital Futures Event
We also delivered a Workshop on Online Reputation Management at the recent Digital Future 2011 Event organised by Ion.

The event considered digital channel integration strategies and was attended by over 150 people from both the public and private sectors. Director Kieran Donnelly delivered a workshop on the importance of online reputation management and the importance of its integration into overall communication strategies.

Getting to know… Kate Finn, Audio Visual Production & Design Manager

What is your career background? I studied BA Hons in Combined Studies in Visual Communications and Lens Based Fine Art at UU Art College in Belfast. Following my graduation I worked as an in house Graphic Designer for Dekko and then South Eastern Regional Colleges. I then worked as a Freelance Graphic Designer and Video Producer before joining Morrow Communications AV production team in January 2011.

What was your first job and how much were you paid? When I was at University I worked as a part-time sales Advisor at local furniture retail store, Dekko and I think I was paid about £4/hr.

Have you ever had a job you hated? I once worked in a call centre for half a day in Australia and it was horrendous, we basically had to work our way through the Yellow Pages and nobody understood my accent. It wasn’t for me and I called it a day. I decided that there was more to Australia than a call centre!

What was your first success? This one is a bit of a head scratcher. I guess success is always relative - I was fortunate to be involved in swimming when I was growing up. I had a number of successes and was lucky enough to compete for Ulster and Ireland, so I guess that would have been my first taste of success and personal achievement.

What business figure(s) do you most admire? Aaron Sorkin – the Godfather of fast moving American drama. Screenwriter, producer and playwright, his works include The West Wing, Sports Night, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and The Social Network.

Have you ever made a mistake and if so what did you learn from it? Mistakes are an important part of learning and growing and along the way you get better at dealing with them. I think it’s really important to communicate with all parties at all times and be honest, nobody is perfect so it’s best to own up as soon as you realise your mistake.

What is the most valuable piece of advice you have ever been given? Do one thing every day that scares you.

What one item would you take with you to a desert island and why? A phone (with everlasting battery)… It’s good to talk!

What has been your biggest financial extravagance? Probably getting married and honeymoon. It was well worth it though, I loved every minute!

Do you have a business mantra? Treat everyone equally!

What items do you always carry with you? Asthma Inhaler, Touche Eclat, little tube of Aloe Vera and my iPhone.

When will you retire? I’m far too young to be thinking about that just yet!

Kelly McKee joins CIPR Committee

Morrows Communications Consultant Kelly McKee was elected to the committee of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations for Northern Ireland in January this year.

CIPR NI has around 250 members from every sector of the PR industry – ranging from students and junior professionals to the most senior practitioners – and is the advocate and voice of the public relations profession in Northern Ireland.

Representing Morrow’s on the committee, Kelly is working with the New & Social Media sub-committee as well as assisting in the organisation of key events such as the recent Coca-Cola CIPR NI Media Awards and the much anticipated PRide Awards.