Today, we organised a media day for Bell Helicopter in Bern, Switzerland. Bell’s newest helicopter, the 429, has been in Switzerland on a European customer demonstration tour, and Bell asked us to generate some media interest in this important helicopter market. Working with our German affiliate, we succeeded in attracting a range of trade and news media, who were briefed on the 429 before enjoying a flight in which the helicopter was put through its paces.

We watched the UK emergency Budget unfold on June 22 with great interest, not least because the increase in the rate of insurance premium tax (IPT) was a significant piece of news for one of our clients, FiscalReps. We rapidly drafted the press release and were delighted to secure coverage in some key industry titles, including ‘Post Online’ and ‘Insurance Times’.

We’re actually writing a new brochure for FiscalReps at the moment, for a breakthrough product that will be a huge boon for any insurer, broker or policyholder affected by IPT. We can’t say too much right now, but watch this space…

Yesterday, we attended the Business Travel Market at the ExCeL centre in the Docklands, having arranged for client KDS to speak in an expert panel discussion at the event. Such engagements can create excellent news material, and we took the opportunity to issue a press release which has resulted in some useful coverage in outlets including  ABTN and e-tid. (more…)

We’re working with our colleagues at communications agency WiseTiger on a new corporate brochure for one of our clients, London Executive Aviation (LEA). After a very productive meeting at LEA’s headquarters at Stapleford Airport in Essex, we are cracking on with copywriting. One interesting challenge is to detail LEA’s many industry-leading services and qualities whilst remembering to write a brochure that will have a shelf life over the next several years. In a rapidly-changing industry like business aviation, and with a progressive and innovative company like LEA, you need to make sure nothing you say will be out-of-date soon. Wish us luck.

80:20 Communications was invited to present to a group of Guildford-based SMEs last night, who wanted to learn about public relations. The evening was organised by networking group Raw Business and Marc used the session to explain the main principles of media relations and various techniques that SMEs can use to do their own PR effectively. It was nice to contribute something to the local business community in this way, and has given us the idea of developing some training-based services that smaller firms could afford. More on that to follow.