Feb 25, 2020
Communications agency Liz Lean PR has won strategic PR and marketing briefs in the construction, sporting and leisure sectors, demonstrating the firm’s continuing growth within multiple sectors.
Rund Partnership is a specialist construction consultancy with offices in London, Eastleigh and Birmingham, working across a wide variety of sectors including arts, education, healthcare, leisure and residential. Liz Lean PR will be working on a full-service communications strategy for Rund Partnership, including PR and marketing, internal communications and social media strategy, calling on the team’s skills in the property and construction sector to help springboard the client to even greater success.
Founded in 2011, Dorset Polo Club provides sociable and competitive polo for all abilities, with two full size grounds and a brand-new arena, priding itself on its relaxed and welcoming setting. The brief includes marketing, PR and sponsorship sales for the popular Dorset Polo Festival, a one-day event offering attendees from across Dorset and beyond the opportunity to watch exhilarating polo matches and take part in a variety of enjoyable family-friendly activities.
Daish’s Holidays is a family owned and operated holiday company with nine hotels in England and Wales in some of the UKs most popular tourist destinations. Having supported the business through a crisis last year, Liz Lean PR will be continuing to bolster Daish’s marketing department by providing full PR services to boost sales in key geographic areas including Kent, Yorkshire and the Midlands.
Commenting on the agency’s recent successes, Liz Willingham, Managing Director of Liz Lean PR, said: “We’ve started 2020 on a real high with three exciting new business wins. As a non-sector specific agency, demonstrated by the latest additions to our client portfolio, the variety of clients we work with is vast and the work we deliver is always bespoke to the individual client needs. However, it is the purpose, ethos and commitment behind each brand that we share as a collective.
“It is an exciting time for the agency as teams get started on their new challenges and we’re looking forward to showcasing the breadth of our expertise and skill to this dynamic and mixed group of new client wins.”
Dorset-based communications and PR agency Liz Lean PR is now in its 22nd year of operation and since its formation has worked with clients in a variety of industry sectors on a national and regional scale, successfully supporting more than 180 firms with public relations, public affairs, strategic planning, marketing, crisis management, social media, corporate social responsibility projects and event management.
Jan 22, 2020
Now in my last year of college, I was excited to have the opportunity to do a week’s work experience with Liz Lean PR.
I came in wanting to expand my knowledge of my future career options, gain insight on what PR is and how a PR agency works.
Throughout my week at Liz Lean PR I was set tasks that were all completely different. I have developed so many skills and understood the important factors influencing day-to-day working life in PR.
Everyone at Liz Lean PR made me feel a part of the team and I was very lucky with the tasks that I was given, as these allowed me to get involved and hands on with real work. During my week’s work experience, I scheduled social media posts for clients, researched and got in contact with hotels for an event, sat in team meetings, planned a floor plan for an event, handled RSVP’s and managed a guest list – these are not even half of the tasks that I was lucky enough to undertake. It makes me very happy to know that the work that I have done is helping the team and that it will be used within the company.
The office was a great environment to work in too, with laughter, teamwork and loads of cups of teas every day! Each member of the team was kind enough to sit and have a one-to-one with me, so that I could understand their job roles in more detail. They also took the time to give me some really helpful advice on my next steps. The Liz Lean PR team was extremely welcoming and kind from the minute I stepped in the door.
I cannot express how thankful I am for my week with the company, they have really helped me with improving my confidence, my understanding of the working world and also the different career paths that I can take. I am really happy that this opportunity was available for me as now, I can see myself working in a PR agency.
Thank you to every member of the team, you have made my experience at Liz Lean PR one that I will never forget.
By Gaby Manning-Sinclair
Dec 12, 2019
Dorset-based PR agency Liz Lean PR has expanded its senior team, making three new senior appointments and formally expanding its planning and stakeholder engagement offers.
The agency has worked with clients on planning and stakeholder engagement throughout its 20-year history but is now bolstering these clients with a series of new hires.
Through their experience as journalists, editors, and political advisors, the three new hires will significantly diversify and enhance the agency’s offering and will set Liz Lean PR apart from other south coast PR agencies.
Ian Murray, former Editor of the Southampton Daily Echo, has been working with LLPR on select projects for several months and has now been appointed as a Senior Advisor with a focus on media in Dorset, Hampshire and nationwide. Ian left the Southern Daily Echo, based in Southampton, in 2017 after 19 years at the paper, during which time he was also Editor-in-Chief for a variety of Hampshire-based Newsquest titles. He is currently the Executive Director of the Society of Editors and is Vice Chair of the UK’s Defence and Security Media Advisor Committee as well as being a board member of the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors.
Andy Martin, former Editor and News Editor of The Bournemouth Echo, has been appointed as a Senior Advisor on media and stakeholder engagement, working outside Dorset and Hampshire. After 31 years at the Echo, Andy stepped down in June, and will be working on current clients and new opportunities with Liz Lean PR. Andy is also involved in training journalists for Newsquest and the National Council for the Training of Journalists, is a lecturer at Bournemouth University, and a councillor on Highcliffe and Walkford Neighbourhood Council.
Emma Coakley has joined the agency in the newly created post of Head of Engagement. She builds on her time working with Liz Lean PR on several planning and development projects and has been appointed to expand the agency’s work in this area and on wider political stakeholder engagement. Bringing with her over 5 years of agency experience in London, she has also spent time as a Special Advisor to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and has worked on several local political and General Election campaigns. She will be working with clients to devise and execute effective strategies for both planning projects and community and reputation management.
All three will be providing advice and support to existing clients whilst also working to expand the agency across Dorset, Hampshire, and nationally.
Commenting on these hires, MD and founder Liz Willingham, said:
“With the media landscape ever changing, and as PR reshapes and evolves into new areas within our clients’ businesses, Andy, Ian and Emma bring an enviable amount of experience to the agency, allowing us to harness the change and push forward with our plans to grow.
“I am delighted that we have secured such strong talent around and am excited to see the significant value they are going to add to our client’s businesses across the country.”
Please email emma.coakley@lizleanpr.co.uk if you would like to discuss how Liz Lean PR could assist your business, or to arrange a meeting with Andy, Ian or Emma.
Nov 7, 2019
low energy production process achieves up to 75% reduction in CO2
Leading British casual and outdoor clothing brand Weird Fish has announced the widespread introduction of grass paper carrier bags throughout its retail network – a major step forward in the company’s ‘The Only Way Is Ethics’ sustainable policy
The grass paper bags will replace traditional single-use plastic carrier bags in Weird Fish stores and will be provided free of charge to shoppers. Weird Fish is the first UK retailer to implement grass paper bags throughout its entire retail network – with the products offering significant ecological benefits over standard paper bags.
What is grass paper?
Grass paper is a pulp-based product consisting of at least 30% grass fibres. No chemicals are used in the production of grass pulp, and the production process is much more water and energy efficient, using just two litres of water / 136 kWh per tonne of hay in comparison to 6,000 litres / 5,000 kWh per tonne of wood pulp. In total, the raw material production uses up to 75% less CO2 emissions compared to wood pulp.
The Only Way Is Ethics
John Stockton, Managing Director of Weird Fish, explained: “We’re delighted to announce the introduction of grass paper bags to stores as the latest step in our sustainable policy, ‘The Only Way Is Ethics’; we are proud to be the first UK retailers to introduce this bag alternative. While we appreciate that we still have a long way to go as a company to be able to say we are a completely sustainable brand, by continuing to take these relatively small but important steps, we become ever closer to reaching our goals.”
The Weird Fish sustainable policy, which was introduced earlier this year, has already seen several initiatives implemented into standard practice, including:
• Introduction of sustainable fabrics within the clothing range, including Tencel, bamboo and linen
• A partnership with Newlife, a charity for disabled children, to reduce the amount of unsold stock going to landfill
• Provision of fabric offcuts, old trims and spare parts to fashion university departments to recycle into garments
• Trialing plastic-free alternatives for web packaging
• Working with new and more sustainable green factories
The grass paper bags, which are fully recyclable and compostable, will be used through the entire network of Weird Fish branded stores, including pop-up shops. Customers are also able to purchase 100% organic cotton reusable tote bags in-store, which are made with no bleaching, dying or printing chemicals, if they wish to opt for a longer-lasting alternative.
Weird Fish boasts 17 branded stores nationally. Weird Fish is also available online at www.weirdfish.co.uk.
Oct 11, 2019
Hall & Woodhouse team members from across the south have collectively raised over £6,000 for local Air Ambulance charities in September by taking part in an abseil down Spinnaker Tower and the Thames Path Challenge, in support of National Air Ambulance Week.
30 team members from 10 different Hall & Woodhouse pubs took part in the nerve-racking 170 metre descent of the Spinnaker Tower, with The Lulworth Cove Inn, The Crown Hotel in Blandford and The Old Granary in Wareham all participating in the challenge.
In additional a group of six team and family members took on the Thames Path Challenge, a 100km trek from Putney Bridge to Henley. Two of the team bravely completed the full 100km challenge and between them raising £1,200 for the local Air Ambulance charities.
Lucinda Gray, Next Generation Family Director and Company Relationship Manager at Hall & Woodhouse, said: “I am so proud of the team spirit and camaraderie that I have seen throughout both these challenges. We had team members overcoming their fear of heights and overcoming fatigue and blisters all in order to raise as much money as possible for our chosen charity partner, which is truly inspiring. When it costs £3,000 for each Air Ambulance mission, every penny really does count.”
Eight Air Ambulance charities were voted by Hall & Woodhouse’s team members at the start of 2018 as the company’s official charity partner until 2020, including Devon, Dorset and Somerset, Great Western, Hampshire and Isle of Wight, Kent Surrey Sussex, London, Thames Valley and Wiltshire. The family owned company has now raised over £200,000 to date, with less than £50,000 remaining to reach its ultimate target of £250,000 over its two-year partnership.
Tracy Bartram, Communications Manager at Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, added: “Working with Hall & Woodhouse throughout this two-year partnership has been nothing but a fantastic experience. The fundraising that the team undertake is multi-varied and constant. They are enthusiastic and an absolute pleasure for all our eight charities to work with. So many Hall & Woodhouse representatives have taken part in the Spinnaker Tower abseil, which shows how dedicated they all are”.
“I would like to express our sincere thanks to everyone who is supporting our eight air ambulance charities, not only during National Air Ambulance Week, but throughout the whole year. No matter the amount, every penny raised really does make a huge difference to the patients who need us.”
Hall & Woodhouse has raised more than £800,000 for charity over the past seven years through its different initiatives. The company is committed to supporting the local communities across the south of England and is continually looking for new ways to give back to its guests.
Please visit www.hall-woodhouse.co.uk for more information.
Oct 9, 2019
Twelve team members from Haskins
Garden Centre in Ferndown conquered the Bournemouth Marathon Festival Supernova
5K on Saturday October 6.
The team from Haskins ran in aid
of Faithworks Wessex, the centre’s chosen charity of the year for 2019.
Faithworks Wessex is a local independent Christian charity that helps people
get out of crisis and isolation, finding practical solutions around food,
finance and shelter.
All twelve team members completed the challenge that encouraged participants to dress in fluorescent clothing and bring along glow sticks. The route took the runners down Bournemouth Pier and back to the Lower Gardens to complete the 5k course. For more information visit www.haskins.co.uk .
