Industry News

17th June 2011

Burson-Marsteller publishes report into UK transport trends

Burson-Marsteller UK and its sister agency, Penn, Schoen and Berland, have launched a new transport study which identifies the electric car as not only key to future transport challenges, but also that a Pay-As-You-Drive implementation is the popular choice for 64 percent of the UK general public.

The report, which is based on a survey that questioned both consumers and transport experts also found 71 percent of consumers favour vehicles that cause more pollution paying more to use the roads.

For more information, or for a copy of the report, please contact tamara.jackson@bm.com

11th April 2011

VMA Group launches public affairs sector survey results

VMA Group, the specialist public affairs recruiter, has joined with pollster ComRes and PublicAffairs News, to publish results of a survey looking at how the public affairs industry views itself, how it is perceived by others and the opportunities and challenges it faces in its dealings with the Coalition Government and the parties of Opposition.

When asked how important public affairs is to their organisation nearly half (49%) described it as a 'crucial' function and only ten per cent see it as a merely 'nice to have'. Over a third of those surveyed (38%) reported that the change of government had had a greater impact on how they deliver public affairs for their organisationin comparison to the economic downturn (29%). Only seven per cent felt there had been no impact at all.

Commenting on the survey results Victoria Fawcett, consultant in the VMA PA practice, said: "We were really keen to see how people feel about public affairs now and those who took part in the survey were very candid in their views. It seems that the new government is presenting a number of new opportunities and while it may not all be plain sailing it seems people are very energised by the chances ahead."

The survey results can be downloaded here

5th April 2011

April Edition of Zetter's Political Companion Available Now & PubAffairs Member Discount Offer

ZETTER’S PARLIAMENTARY COMPANION (ZPC)

The April 2011 issue of ZPC is now published. PubAffairs Members can receive a 10% discount.

This edition is bigger and better than ever. It has an extra 12 pages, and all data has been updated and checked against original sources.

Despite its increased size, ZPC is still just £20 for a single copy, or £65 for an annual subscription (four issues).

The main chapters in the book cover:

Government
Political Parties
Whitehall
House of Commons
House of Lords
Scottish Parliament
National Assembly for Wales
Northern Ireland Assembly
Greater London Authority
European Union

Unique features in the book include:

All-Party Country Groups
All-Party Subject Groups
Greater London Authority
Backbench Committees from the three main political parties

You can order ZPC by post, email or telephone. We can invoice you, or take payment through a secure PayPal account. PubAffairs Members quote 'PubAffairs discount offer' to receive a 10% discount.

Zetter’s Parliamentary Companion, 6 Radcliffe Road, London, N21 2SE. Email: info@zetterspolitical.com Telephone : 020 8364 0009

You can also now order ZPC through Amazon

4th March 2011

Calling all (touch) rugby players!

Westminster Lobbyists touch rugby team (The Lobsters) are fielding teams for this Spring's Regents Park touch rugby league. Having played in the league for 5 years, The Lobsters have been steadily improving their skills, "finesse" and standing, and we're keen for new players (experienced & beginners, male & female) to join us. We'll be fielding two teams (mixed and mens) on Monday evenings this year, kicking off in April. All welcome! For further information, please contact Ryan Gawn

1st March 2011

ASIA RISING: Winning Through Strategic Communications and Corporate Affairs – March 31, 2011

A one-day conference for senior communications and PA professionals – The Institute of Directors, London

PublicAffairsAsia is pleased to offer a special discount for PubAffairs subscribers to attend “Asia Rising: Winning Through Strategic Communications and Corporate Affairs”.

Operated in conjunction with APCO, The Global Alliance, Ellwood & Atfield, the CIPR and the China Britain Business Council, this interactive full day forum will examine the practice, policy and protocol issues confronting Western corporate affairs and communications professionals as their business focus shifts to the rapidly emerging Asian markets.

Speakers include:

Mark Runacres, India adviser, the CBI and former deputy high commissioner to India.
Professor David Greenaway, Vice-Chancellor of The University of Nottingham and Editor of The World Economy.
Quinton Quayle, Honorary Chairman, ThaiBev and former British Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand.
Peter Budd, Director of Arup and Partners Ltd and board member of the China Britain Business Council.
Miles Celic, Director of Group Public Affairs and Policy Development, Prudential.
APCO Worldwide's Brad Staples and Sukanti Ghosh.
Liam Benham, Executive Director of Governmental Affairs with the Ford Motor Company.

The forum takes place from 9.00am to 5.30pm at the Institute of Directors in London on Thursday, March 31, 2011 – group discounts available.

Visit www.publicaffairsasiaevents.com/asiarising_March.pdf

Numbers restricted - email events@publicaffairsasia.com quoting AsiaRising_PubAff to reserve your place or for more information.

PublicAffairsAsia is offering recipients of the PubAffairs newsletter the special PAA subscriber rate of GBP425+VAT (plus buy three receive one free corporate group rates)

19th January 2011

New Defra Comms Director Kim Worts to take up post end Jan

Kim Worts will take up her new post as Director of Communications at the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra) on 31 January 2011. She takes over from Andrew Whyte, who moved across to become Director of Communications at the Foreign Office last autumn.

Kim is currently Head of Corporate Communications at the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC). She was previously Head of Strategic Communications at the Department for Innovation, Universities, and Skills (DIUS), and Deputy Director of the Strategic Consultancy Unit at COI. Prior to joining the Civil Service in 2001 her career spanned research, book publishing, web marketing and charity management, providing her with a wide range of multi-sector communications experience.

Kim said “I am delighted to be joining Defra, a department with a major part to play in making this the greenest government ever. This is an exciting time to be delivering government communications as the coalition redefines the role of the state and questions the value and purpose of departmental work at every level” continuing that “Across Whitehall, communications are under the microscope. So we need to be sure that what we offer reflects the needs of the new government and explores new ways of working.”

17th January 2011

MHP Communications: The class of 2010: new MPs to watch in 2011

MHP Communications has identified the top ten MPs from 2010’s new parliamentary intake who will make it to the frontbenches and be the loudest and most listened to in 2011. Based on their performance since the General Election in making their voice heard in the House of Commons, securing early promotion to party position and achieving media coverage with their campaigns, MHP predicts that these MPs from the ‘Class of 2010’ will be the ones who will most impress in the coming year. Click here to download your free digital copy.

6th December 2010

Unique iPhone App launched: “EUssentials” - the EU in the palm of your hand

For the first time, one simple touch of a button will give you access to all the key EU institutional information you need. In order to save time trawling through countless websites and other sources, a brand new and unique application, suitably named EUssentials, has been developed by Cambre Associates for iPhone and iPad users.

If you are trying to find a Commissioner’s biography, the Chairman of a Committee, when the next Parliament plenary is taking place or just need directions to get to an EU building, EUssentials brings you the key information that you need for your work in Brussels. Whether you are a public relations or public affairs practitioner, journalist, lobbyist, MEP, fonctionnaire or political assistant, this app has been designed with you in mind. Access what you need to know on the go and have the EU in the palm of your hand.

The application contains the following information:

European Parliament Calendar, list of Committees and contact information for their Chairs and Vice-Chairs;
List of upcoming Council Presidencies, and related websites, until the year 2020;
Contact details for all EU Commissioners as well as their Cabinets;
Map of all the EU Institution buildings in Brussels with their exact addresses.

Click here to download it from the official Apple Store.

EUssentials was developed by Cambre Associates, an award-winning, independent Brussels-based public affairs and public relations consultancy. With a track record of successful, innovative and creative pan-European and international campaigns, our hallmark is practical action, based on analysis, strategic advice and flexibility. Cambre was recently named Consultancy of the Year at the 2010 European Public Affairs Awards.

2nd December 2010

First MPs' Expenses Claims Published under New Regime

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) has made publicly available details of the first MP expense claims made and paid under the new independent expenses regime introduced after the General Election. The publication includes 20,000 expense claims totalling £3.1m made by 576 MPs between 7 May and 31 August. IPSA will not be publishing receipts, arguing that the cost of preparing tens of thousands of receipts for publication would be more than £1 million a year and would not provide value for taxpayers’ money. Over the same time period a further 1,356 claims with a collective value of £100,000 were validated by IPSA but not approved for payment.

26th November 2010

Brands2Life hires Phil Murphy as its new Director of Public Affairs

Brands2Life has hired Phil Murphy as its new Director of Public Affairs. Phil has been appointed to develop the agency’s public affairs practice, and joins from PubAffairs - the premier network and leading resource for the public affairs, policy & communications industry - which he will continue to run.

Phil’s experience includes 12 years’ UK and EU public affairs campaigning in a number of sectors, including e-commerce, data protection, broadcasting, advertising, employment affairs and health and safety. Alongside founding the PubAffairs network, Phil has held Westminster-based senior roles with the Construction Confederation, Advertising Association and the Advertising Information Group, and commenced his career at the European Advertising Standards Alliance in Brussels.

Giles Fraser, Co Founder of Brands2Life, said:

“We are delighted Phil Murphy is joining Brands2Life as its new Director of Public Affairs. Phil brings great campaigning and networking experience to the role.

“Since the public affairs practice was set up in 2007, it has worked on some great client campaigns, including the Business Software Alliance, GS1 UK, Micro Focus, Nuance Communications, and Sharp Electronics, to name a few. We’re now looking forward to Phil taking the practice to the next level and playing a key role in further developing our integrated strategic communications offer in the months ahead.”

Phil Murphy, Brands2Life’s new Director of Public Affairs, said:

“It’s great to be joining a company with such an enviable reputation as Brands2Life, which is renowned for offering a wide variety of communication services and delivering excellent work for great clients.

“I’m really looking forward to working with the team here to ensure Brands2Life both continues to provide a strong integrated public affairs offering, as well as grow the practice into new areas and services. It’s certainly an exciting time to be teaming up with Brands2Life.”

Phil Murphy will become Brands2Life’s Director of Public Affairs week commencing 17 January 2011, and remains Director of the PubAffairs network. He replaces Darren Caplan, Brands2Life’s Director of Public Affairs for the last four years, who leaves to become CEO of the Airport Operators Association, also in mid January 2011.

About Brands2Life: Giles Fraser and Sarah Scales founded Brands2Life in April 2000. Brands2Life helps companies of all sizes to build and communicate their brands to sell more and gain leadership and profile with businesses and consumers alike. Clients include: Business Software Alliance, Cisco Europe, Easynet Connect, Flight Centre, Google, Logitech, Micro Focus, NetJets Europe, Nikon, NTT Europe Online, StepStone, Symbian, T-Mobile, WebEx and Unisys.

Brands2Life co-owns the Oriella PR Network with the Horn Group, an alliance of 15 communications agencies in 20 countries around the world.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63