Bounty – the taste of PRadise: By Greg Simpson, founder of Press for Attention PR
Greg Simpson, founder of Press for Attention PR, recaps some PR magic.
Admit it, we’ve all been there.
The last knockings of the chocolate box over Christmas (anytime in December in my house) are being prodded listlessly as you attempt to “force” down just one more sweet treat.
The Purple one has vanished, the Green Triangle has found its inner Bermuda and disappeared.
Then lo, underneath all the detritus that litters the bottom of the tin, a few stragglers strive to break the surface, their little shiny wrappers glinting in the sunlight as they make a break for it.
It feels tropical, you can almost smell the…oh no…the Coconut! However, what’s this? It appears that for many* hope is kindled…they’ve only gone and BANNED the Bounty one!
This SHOCK omission made headlines for days with global media outlets featuring the story with huge enthusiasm and fun, knowing full well that they were giving invaluable column inches, clicks and airtime to a superbrand with enough marketing budgets to PAY for this.
Why? Simples…engagement.
Let’s recap what happened here.
The maker of Celebrations chocolates let it be known that they would be removing Bounty bars from SOME tubs after finding 40% of people HATE the coconut-flavoured treat.
They confirmed that they will supply a limited run of “No Bounty” tubs which would be available at 40 Tesco stores in the run-up to Christmas.
This isn’t the first time these guys have leveraged the Love/Hate angle either. Last year they announced a Bounty Return Scheme allowing a swap with Maltesers. Genius!
What is even cleverer is that they have caused more outrage by limiting the availability.
People are now annoyed about not being able to access the Bounty-free tins if they don’t live in the chosen areas. The scarcity message is so clever. Fans will flock and even non-fans will have a little look when comparing which choc tubs to buy.
So they are now moaning on Twitter and fuelling the PR fire beautifully.
“Wispa” it…but my money is on the Bounty-free tins being far more widely available due to consumer demand pretty sharpish (EC column deadlines dictate that I cannot say for sure).
That will give them ANOTHER great PR opportunity. Hats off to the team behind this!
Even if they don’t roll this out, Bounty WILL be available to pretty much everyone across the UK (whether they like it or not!).
Meanwhile, Piers Morgan (no stranger to me after I appeared on the same bill as him a year or so ago) labelled it as a “diabolical decision” to his 8 million followers, whilst Lorraine Kelly expressed her indignation to her huge national TV following.
PR GOLD! The secret sauce here is being talked about.
That is basically what PR is. If you are planning something like this, you have to take yourself OUT of the conversation as a marketer and metaphorically stand on the edge of the group.
Ask yourself; “Will this get our audience talking about us?” – in a good way that is.
That is what journalists think all the time too. “Will this story inform, entertain, stir, move, annoy, enlighten” our readers/viewers?
In basic terms, will this raise eyebrows and sell copies and clicks?
Christmas is coming and only time will tell whether there will be a mutiny on the Bounty. Either way, PR celebrations are in order!
*This is the key, not EVERYONE has to agree. In fact, ideally, this is what you want. You want a fight. Or as the media will term it, ‘engagement’.
A former business journalist, Greg Simpson is the author of The Small Business Guide to PR and has been recognised as one of the UK’s top 5 PR consultants, having set up Press for Attention PR in 2008.
He has worked for FTSE 100 firms, charities and start-ups and conducted press conferences with Sir Richard Branson and James Caan. His background ensures a deep understanding of every facet of a successful PR campaign – from a journalist’s, client’s, and consultant’s perspective.
See this article in the December edition of East Midlands Business Link Magazine here.
2023 Business Predictions: Parm Bhangal of Bhangals Construction Consultants
It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead.
It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years.
Here we speak to Parm Bhangal of Bhangals Construction Consultants.
With the interest rates continuing to increase, I expect the construction market will start to slow down in 2023 as people are forced to tighten their belts.
It’s a tricky landscape to navigate currently, especially on top of what has been a testing time for the sector with all the previous challenges of Brexit and the pandemic. We have already been hit with a crippling skills shortage and long, unavoidable materials delays.
The coming year will be about managing customer expectations, planning ahead and staying up to date with industry trends.
Modern methods of construction and artificial intelligence seem to be slowly infiltrating the sector, and no doubt there is more to come in the coming months.
Although historically, the construction industry has relied upon traditional skilled tradesmen, the workforce is now making room for the introduction of robotics, automation and computerised design to aid development and efficiency.
I believe 2023 will see large developers using more robotic technology and prefabricated off-site building, especially for new house builds with repetitive structures, that can be much more systemised.
But this shouldn’t concern those who provide bespoke, tailored, skilled services, which very much still have their own place.
What is vital for the coming year is strategic planning. Construction firms should be looking 6 months, 12 months and 3 years ahead to forecast how their business might evolve and focus on the training and investment that is needed, ensuring you adapt to stay strong in the market.
“Challenging year” sees pre-tax loss and revenue dip for X-ray business
2022 has been a “challenging year” for Image Scan, according to its chairman, Tim Jackson, balancing lower booking levels with cost increases whilst maintaining research and development investment to lay the foundations for a stronger 2023.
The X-ray screening systems manufacturer has today announced preliminary results for the year ended 30 September 2022, in which the firm has slipped to a pre-tax loss and revenues have dropped.
The Leicestershire-based group generated revenues of £2m, down 31% from £2.9m in the year prior, and produced a loss before tax of £0.35m, decreasing from a profit of £0.19m.
It is said this performance was a result of the slow recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic in certain key markets and Government procurement cycles, coupled with some delays with component sourcing.
Tim Jackson said: “On behalf of the Board and management of Image Scan, I would like to thank all of our colleagues and customers for their contribution to our business during 2022, without whom we would not be in the position we are today.
“The trading performance was below expectations as government procurement continued to be held back following the pandemic challenges that remain in some of our key markets. Our balance sheet provides us with a strong operational and financial platform from which to deliver growth.
“We have made an encouraging start to 2023 and are confident in meeting our expectations for the full year. Whilst there are still macroeconomic uncertainties and challenges and the domestic economic outlook looks weak, the Board of Directors is confident in the group’s prospects in the medium to long term as we continue to seek to capitalise on our extended product range and global sales channels.”
Bill Mawer, the former chairman and CEO, stepped down as CEO in January 2022 and retired from the Board in June 2022.
Image Scan’s Chief Executive, Vince Deery, said: “Following the organisational changes completed during the year, I would like to thank Bill Mawer for his leadership and contribution over the last eight years.
“Furthermore, I would also like to express my appreciation to the new chairman Tim Jackson and the entire Board for their support in this transitional period. Both myself and the Board take this opportunity to commend the staff for their valued contribution during a challenging year. Our goal is to build upon Bill’s legacy while focusing on the expansion of our higher margin portable product line which we believe is our route to returning to profit in 2023.”
Support for more Derbyshire businesses to reduce energy use and cut carbon
More Derbyshire businesses and organisations will be eligible for help to reduce their energy costs and cut carbon emissions as part of Derbyshire County Council’s Green Entrepreneurs Fund programme.
More than £715,000 has already been awarded to businesses and organisations through the grants programme which is being run in collaboration with the University of Derby as part of the council’s drive to help the county reach net zero by 2050 or sooner.
But now changes made to the eligibility criteria for the programme’s Small Grants Fund mean even more businesses and organisations will be able to access funding to help implement green energy plans to reduce their energy costs.
Small grants from £6,000 up to a maximum of £20,000 can be applied for towards projects such as, but not limited to:
- installing solar panels
- replacing old heating systems with air/ground source heat pumps
- retrofitting old boilers to make them more energy efficient
- fitting electric vehicle charging points at their premises
- installing energy efficient LED lighting
- improving the insulation in their premises to help prevent heat escaping
- funding to replace equipment and machinery with energy-saving alternatives
- battery storage for solar generated energy.
New Northampton logistics hub creating 7,500 jobs reaches key milestones
The development of a new state-of-the-art multi-modal logistics hub in the Midlands, which is expected to create around 7,500 new jobs, has achieved a number of key milestones this year and remains on schedule.
Main contractor Winvic Construction Ltd commenced construction work at SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton, a five million square feet modern, warehousing and logistics hub alongside a dedicated 35-acre Strategic Rail Freight Interchange, in early 2020.
This year, work has completed on the intermodal and HGV slabs, along with the terminal buildings at the 450-acre site, which is located adjacent to Junction 15 on the M1, four miles outside Northampton. The final slab on the rail terminal has been poured, meaning the programme for the rail terminal is on schedule.
The strategic rail freight interchange will connect to the West Coast Mainline via the Northampton loop line and will encourage the increase of sustainable movement of freight by rail. On-site rail works will continue through the winter period and Network Rail will be working on-site to connect the Northampton loop to the mainline. The rail terminal is planned to be fully operational by Easter 2024.
As part of SEGRO’s commitment to investing over £200 million into local infrastructure, improvement works have now been completed to the M1 Junction 15 upgrade, the A508 and the A45, which have improved access and traffic flow. The overall infrastructure scheme, being delivered in partnership with National Highways, Network Rail and local authorities, is anticipated to be fully complete at the beginning of 2024.
The development comprises seven large warehouse units, ranging in size from 530,000 square feet to 1.2 million square feet. Over 50% of the development plateaus have been prepared this year and the remaining plateaus will be available by the end of 2023.
The site will include over 80 acres of parkland and amenity grassland, 18km of footpaths, 20km of hedgerows and the planting of 60,000 new trees.
Andrew Pilsworth, Managing Director, National Logistics at SEGRO, said: “Developments such as SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton represent critical pieces of national infrastructure in the heart of the UK, playing an invaluable role in storing and transporting goods and services all over the country in an efficient and sustainable way.
“We are making excellent progress and are pleased to be able to continue development at pace despite the current economic uncertainty.”
Rob Cook, head of Civils and Infrastructure at Winvic Construction, said: “This multi-modal logistics hub is crucial for meeting the demands of distribution in a sustainable, future-proofed way. Our one-team approach to the complex programming for earthworks, rail, a covered tunnel structure and significant highways reconfiguration works has enabled us to meet all the key milestones and we look forward to continuing our partnership with SEGRO to a successful handover and beyond.”
SEGRO has been working alongside local council and community partners to deliver an employment and skills programme that provides training and employment opportunities for members of the local community. This forms part of SEGRO’s newly launched Community Investment Plan for the Northampton area.
Last month, a community environmental project completed at The Racehorse Park, which involved reinvigorating outdoor community space and enhancing biodiversity and wellbeing.
People with bright ideas invited to create their own businesses with expert support and £75k prize fund
People with ideas for change are being invited to turn them into exciting new businesses, with the help of university experts.
Budding entrepreneurs can submit their ideas to the Ingenuity Programme, a business creation competition, where they will be supported to develop and progress their initial idea with the help of experts from the UK’s top universities, charities and businesses. This year’s prize fund available to winners totals £75,000.
The Ingenuity Programme, run by Nottingham University Business School, supports start-ups to directly address the UK’s social and environmental challenges to drive change in local communities. By entering the Programme, entrepreneurs will receive one-on-one support from specialist mentors to develop their idea into a business plan and be in with a chance of receiving significant investment and support.
Entrepreneurs will also have access to online learning materials and tutorials from industry and academic experts. The programme brings together a network of 30 partner universities, charities, and businesses across the UK to support ideas that promote sustainable ways of living.
The 2023 programme has been designed alongside Nuffield Health, the programme’s key supporter, with the focus aligned to Nuffield Health’s purpose to build a healthier nation. The programme is looking for ideas that focus on building stronger communities, improve health and address health inequalities, and promote environmental sustainability.
“At Ingenuity, we are committed to making the UK’s start-up landscape more inclusive, diverse and accessible. You don’t need any prior business experience to take part, and we will provide you with all the support you need to turn your ideas into a reality,” said Elizabeth Smith, director of the Ingenuity Programme at the Haydn Green Institute at Nottingham University Business School.
Elizabeth continued: “Being able to collaborate and design the programme with charities like Nuffield Health has allowed us to support more people than ever before. We are proud to have delivered more than £750,000 of social benefit through last year’s programme, and look forward to working with the next generation of changemakers this year to tackle issues such as the cost of living crisis, climate change and widening health inequalities.”
“We are really excited for the launch of Ingenuity 2023. The themes this year continue to align closely with our purpose to build a healthier nation – not only through health and wellbeing, but by shining a light on protecting our environment and sustainable living,” said Brendan Street, head of Charity at Nuffield Health.
Brendan continued: “We are also proud to have the opportunity to work with, and support, people from under-served groups to help bring their ideas to life and make meaningful impact in the communities in which they live. It’s inspiring to see the impact the winners from last year have already made within their communities, and I look forward to seeing this year’s innovative programmes building more sustainable and healthier communities.”
Keasha Kellam was awarded the 2022 Impact Entrepreneur of the Year title. Powered by her own lived experience, Keasha Kellam founded ‘Honour Thy Woman’, a community support group that helps domestic abuse survivors in the local area.
After recognising a gap in the support available to domestic abuse survivors, she formed the idea and began assembling a group of volunteers. Keasha later joined the Ingenuity Programme and was supported to turn the volunteer-led group into a financially sustainable social enterprise with a business model and a five-year business plan.
During the programme, Keasha was also able to further develop another idea for providing safe accommodation for women and incorporate this into her business plan. Keasha benefited from the help of a host of academic and business experts, who provided advice on Intellectual Property, developing a Unique Selling Point for the business, pricing structure, and pitching to investors.
The funding Keasha received after winning the national prize has enabled her to employ a Research and Developer to build a programme so that the business can work with international partners.
Keasha Kellam said: “I’m a domestic abuse survivor, but my whole team has experienced domestic abuse so it’s by the community, for the community.
“The Programme did even more for me than I imagined and I was delighted to win the national award. Since winning, so many more opportunities have opened up to me as a result. The authenticity of winning an award has helped me to network with potential collaborators and investors, and I have been able to successfully attract more funding.”
The programme’s learning platform, accessible to all entrants, includes a step-by-step process to help entrepreneurs to think through the finance, marketing, impact measurement, copyright, and organisational development of their solution.
By the end of the programme, each start-up will submit their finished business plans to be assessed by industry experts. The most scalable and impactful ideas from each region will be announced as Regional Finalists. From there, winners will be chosen.
The Ingenuity Programme supports social mobility by providing seed grants and mentorship to innovators looking to start new enterprises, aiming to engage innovators from under-represented and underserved groups across the UK.
To date, Ingenuity has supported more than 3,000 innovators and delivered over £1million in seed funding, including to The Anxiety Map Programme, which created a network of venues trained in anxiety accessibility for people living with anxiety or mental ill health. IMA Architects unveil ‘UK first’ technology
IMA Architects (IMA) has unveiled a successful test prototype of a new technology that will create an exact digital replica of a building. Known as ‘The Digital Twin’, the technology will help companies gain more data about a building’s performance in real time, helping them to save money by monitoring and reducing a building’s energy use.
The company has transformed two former shipping containers at its head office in Blaby, Leicestershire into the ‘IMA Digital Pods’. The two structures are now a staff gym and a coffee bar – but with a difference. The pods have been equipped with a wide range of sensors to create a ‘Digital Twin’. Believed to be the first of its kind in the UK, IMA’s ‘Digital Twin’ prototype has been designed – and successfully tested – to accurately represent a physical space within a virtual model. In this instance, the staff gym and coffee area are replicated exactly, digitally. Linked to Building Information Modelling (BIM), sensors in the physical building feed data back to the virtual model, showing how even the slightest change could impact performance in the real world. This grants the building owner or manager access to real-time data with an in-depth analysis of a building’s performance. This is significant as it means that simulations can also be run in the virtual space, allowing users to gain information on important metrics such as energy consumption to carbon emissions, informing decisions that are made in the real world. The IMA Digital Pods use Internet of Things (IoT) sensors to collect real-time data from the relevant spaces and feed it back “through a cloud platform” into a 3D model that has accurate information about the pods’ structure and assets installed within. This data is then analysed and visualised virtually within the Digital Model and can be stored in the cloud for further analysis. Commands can also be sent from the Digital Model to activate or deactivate devices in the Pods as well as monitoring performance. Anthony Day, Managing Director of IMA Architects, says: “The creation of the IMA Digital Pods has enabled us to develop our knowledge within this emerging area. We are putting the theory into practice so that we can implement this technology on our client projects. “We believe that the successful use of BIM and the ‘Digital Twin’ is the future of building design, and having more buildings with this level of information and intelligence will play a huge part in helping the UK meet its Net Zero targets, reducing costs for businesses along the way. “Amongst other things, it has the potential to lower construction costs by 33%, increase delivery speed by 50%, and lower emissions by 50%, the latter of which is incredibly important as the Government continues to set out plans to decarbonise all sectors of the UK economy. And with increasing energy costs, the Digital Twin will be an incredibly valuable cost-saving tool, leading the way to a better, greener, future.” IMA unveiled the Digital Pods at a launch event with staff and clients at its Blaby HQ on Friday 2 December 2022.Construction gets underway on 51,000 sq ft speculative unit at Mercia Park
A new 51,000 sq ft speculative unit is being constructed at IM Properties’ Mercia Park scheme, junction 11, M42, completing Q3, 2023.
Targeting a rich seam of logistics providers and manufacturers in NW Leicestershire, Mercia 51 sits alongside some of the Midlands leading businesses including Jaguar Land Rover and DSV.
The state-of-the-art logistics destination has sustainability at its core. IM Properties has worked in partnership with the main contractor, Winvic Construction Ltd, to achieve Net Zero in Construction on the site overall, including the buildings recently constructed for Jaguar Land Rover.
Mercia 51 will also be Net Zero Ready and target BREEAM Excellent, an EPC A rating and as part of its sustainable transport strategy have 10 active EV charging spaces, with passive infrastructure for another 40 and storage for up to 12 cycles.
Harry Goodman, development director for IM Properties, said creating future-proofed, high specification warehousing was no longer just about the construction but the environment in which it sits.
“Business is becoming more accountable for its commitment towards a sustainable future and the logistics sector is more focussed than ever on transparency around its operations.
“This is driven not only by societal shifts but by businesses, their customers and supply chain who have their own targets and ambitions.
“Mercia Park represents our line in the sand, as the first of our large-scale development schemes to achieve Net Zero in Construction. Mercia 51 raises the bar further to also be Net Zero Ready. This means the building is optimised so the occupier can achieve Net Zero in Operation.”
Goodman added: “Mercia 51 is being created to a level of specification which sits within our Sustainable Future’s framework and aligns with the Green Building Councils (UKGBC)’s recommendations.
“Mercia Park has already contributed to many local grassroots projects through a £350,000 community fund and our contractor, Winvic Construction Ltd, has partnered with us to promote employment and skills, creating an onsite training centre and a Sustainability and Innovation Hub.”
People and employee wellbeing are also part of IM Properties commitment on the scheme. Mercia 51 will sit amidst 12 hectares of woodland and 4k of amenity paths within Mercia Park, giving future occupiers access to green outdoor areas, cycle paths and footways.
Goodman continues: “Mercia 51 offers the full package to modern occupiers. The strength of the location and its connectivity is reflected by the businesses already in operation on the scheme.
“The added layer of sustainability and social responsibility creates a narrative around Mercia Park which is equally attractive for occupiers to buy into.
“We’ve come to see that this no longer as an aspiration but a priority for future viability if we are all to remain relevant in today’s world.”
Gedling Borough Council secures £2.9m to invest in local communities
Gedling Borough Council has secured funding to improve the borough using an allocation of £2.9 million through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund over the next three years.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is the successor to the European Structural Fund and Gedling Borough Council will receive £368,000 in the first year followed by £696,000 in year two and a final instalment of £1.8 million in year three.
The council’s bid included a detailed investment plan that showed how it will spend the money in order to meet the government’s funding criteria and what the benefits to the local community will be. The fund identifies three local priorities; communities and place, support for local businesses and people and skills.
The council will be looking at a range of ideas to spend the money including improving town centres, green spaces, encouraging visitors and improving community engagement programmes. Projects in the first year include plans to refurbish Lambley Lane sports pavilion, expand CCTV in crime hotspots in areas including Calverton, provide community grants to local charities and groups and the council will also use the funding to install new Changing Places public toilets at King George V Playing Fields in Arnold Town Centre.
As part of the submission, the council consulted with local community groups, businesses and partners to establish what they think the money should be used for. The consultation results were included in the plan and helped shape some of the key priorities for the fund. The bid was also formally backed by Nottinghamshire County Council.
Deputy leader of Gedling Borough Council, councillor Michael Payne, said: “This is good news for Gedling. We are very pleased to have secured this much needed funding to help support our local communities across Gedling Borough.
“We put together a robust investment plan and worked with local communities to help identify the best places for this funding to be used. As the funding is over three years, we have a limited allocation in the first year but we will start work on improving sports and recreation in key areas of the borough, specifically a refurbishment of the sports pavilion on Lambley Lane in Gedling and the installation of a new Changing Places toilet in King George V Park in Arnold.
“We now look forward to the Government approving our £50 million Levelling Up Fund bid to further improve our local community.”
Cabinet member for growth and regeneration, councillor Jenny Hollingsworth said: “This money will be used to support communities all across the borough including areas in Gedling, Calverton and Mapperley.
“I am very pleased that the Lambley Lane sports pavilion in Gedling will be one of the first places to benefit from this funding. The refurbished pavilion will ensure grassroots sports are back in the area and help improve the health and wellbeing of local residents and families.”
Green jobs in the East Midlands double in the last 12 months
The second edition of PwC’s Green Jobs Barometer has found that the number of green jobs advertised in the East Midlands has almost doubled in the last year, providing encouragement that the economy is becoming greener.
There were 20,432 green opportunities advertised in the region in 2022, compared to just 8,752 in 2021. Green jobs accounted for 2.17%% of total overall roles in the region in 2022, compared to just 1% in 2021, with an absolute increase of almost 134%.
The Green Jobs Barometer, which first launched in November 2021, tracks movements in green job creation, job loss, carbon intensity of employment, and worker sentiment across regions and sectors.
In the year to June 2022, every region of the UK saw green jobs accounting for a greater share of the job market, and the number of green jobs at least double in absolute terms.
Green jobs are growing around four times the rate of the overall UK employment market, with 2.2% of all new jobs classed as green. However more than one-third of these roles are now based in London and the South East, with a dominance of professional and scientific roles.
Matthew Hammond, PwC UK Midlands Regional Market Leader & Birmingham Senior Partner, said: “The East Midlands has seen a surge in green jobs in the last 12 months and it is encouraging to see the region becoming greener.
“When we launched the green jobs barometer in November 2021, green jobs in the East Midlands accounted for just over 1% of total opportunities. This has now more than doubled, illustrating how the region is developing to become greener and more sustainable.
“That said, London and the South East continue to dominate with more green professional and scientific roles. Employers in the East Midlands have an opportunity to innovate and consider how their operations can become greener, particularly in the manufacturing sector that represents a high proportion of the East Midlands economy.
“Embracing new, greener technologies and investing in skills will provide benefits for business operations and more employment opportunities in the region, as well as making a difference to the environment.”
