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North West Client Win for Marketing Projects

Marketing Projects, the Chester & London based PR and marketing consultancy is celebrating a new contract win from North West based Private Sector Partners North West Ltd (PSP). PSP is a group which encompasses all the significant private sector membership organisations in the North West, including the Federation of Small Business, Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, the CBI and the Law Society. The contract is for public relations services but will also involve aspects of marketing.

Jane Harrad-Roberts, consultant director at Marketing Projects commented: “We are delighted to win such a brilliant opportunity to help Private Sector Partners raise its profile in the North West. It is an exciting organisation with great ideas and plans for the future. The contract win combines our skills and experience in the business sector, with clients like the Institute of Directors.”

She added; “Information about PSP is already on our web site at www.marketingprojects.co.uk which is really appreciated by editors, journalists and analysts who can download press releases and digital images immediately after we load them there. Clients, particularly in the financial, business and IT sectors find this a useful advantage.”

Ends – 190 words Photos (300dpi plus) of Jane Harrad-Roberts of Marketing Projects available from http://www.marketingprojects.co.uk/ournews/ and Terry Cook of Private Sector Partners available from http://www.marketingprojects.co.uk/clientpo/news.asp?id=34

Marketing Projects ‘fired-up’ in May 1995. In 1997, the business was named ‘Chester New Business of the Year” for “its growth, reputation and use of new technology”. In 1999 it won an award for its use of technology and its e-commerce web site from part of the DTI. In February 2000, Marketing Projects opened a London office in St George’s Street, Mayfair in London, a convenient meeting point for clients, editors and journalists. The Chester office moved to larger premises in August 2000 and doubled office space in 2002.

Marketing Projects is ranked one of the top 15 PR agencies for 2005 by EN Magazine, for entrepreneurs. www.marketingprojects.co.uk for more information on Marketing Projects, key client press offices and downloadable PHOTOS available at 300dpi plus.

Private Sector Partners NW Ltd. (PSP) was formed in March 2002 to give the private sector in the North West a voice on issues of concern to businesses in the North West and an easier way for the public sector to communicate with business and industry within the region. Today the PSP represents the views of 140,000 businesses, involving 1.2 million employees. This is over a third of all businesses in the region and a third of all employees.

The following 20 organisations are members of the PSP:

-Association of Chartered Certified Accountants 4,500 individuals -British Printing Industries’ Federation 350 businesses -Chartered Institute of Building 4,500 individuals -Chartered Institute of Marketing 3,100 individuals -Confederation of British Industry 2,000 businesses -Engineering Employers’ Federation, North West 800 businesses -Environmental Industries Commission 150 businesses -Federation of Small Businesses 18,000 businesses -Forum of Private Business 2,600 businesses -House Builders’ Federation 90 businesses -Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales 10,500 individuals -Institute of Directors 2,700 individuals -Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment 800 individuals -Institute of Financial Accountants 460 individuals -Institution of Electrical Engineers 8000 individuals -Law Society 8,000 individuals -National Farmers’ Union 10,000 businesses -Road Haulage Association 1,400 businesses -Royal Institute of British Architects 1,800 individuals -Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors 9,000 individuals

There is no intention whatsoever to limit the independence of members who wish to pursue their particular interests separately from any association with the PSP.

The PSP has focused its efforts on:

-Helping the Northwest Development Agency (NWDA) to develop its strategy and communications with the private sector. -Offering contact with senior people from the private sector to publicly-funded bodies -Securing the influence of businesses during the Government’s proposals for changes to legislation on planning. -Strengthening the modernisation of local government. -Creating the private sector’s exchange – a series of events for members and invited guests. -Submitting responses to proposals from Government. -Exploration of the private sector’s place in governance of regions -A regional conference for smaller firms -Review of socially responsible investment and corporate social responsibility -Inclusion of professions in the processes for making decisions. -A survey of businesses.

Bryan Gray, chairman of the NWDA led the first PSP Exchange in September. Marc Sussman, a former commercial counsellor in the administrations of Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, conducted a masterclass in October on doing business with America. Stephen Timms MP, Minister of State for e-commerce, was the principal speaker at a meeting sponsored by BT in November. Gary Titley MEP (and leader of Britain’s Group of Labour MEPs) considered in February opportunities for businesses in the expanded European Union, and Ivan Lewis MP, minister for skills and vocational education, presented a workshop during May. Frequent consultations on the needs of small firms in the Region have started with the Alliance for Skills and Productivity and the Small Business Service. PSP has co-operated with initiatives by the Learning and Skills Council, Lancashire and has signed an agreement with Jobcentre Plus. It has had discussions on the agenda for reform of planning with the Department for Transport, Government Office for the North West and NWDA. PSP has two places on the Programme Monitoring Committee, European Social Fund and one member on each of the Northwest Marketing Forum, Barrow Task Force and Cumbria Vision. Terry Cook is the PSP’s Chairman and also the Regional Manager of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. He was formerly Regional Director of the Institute of Directors and took over the role of chairman from PSP founder, Len Collinson.

Jane Harrad-Roberts Consultant Director, Marketing Projects Email: jane@marketingprojects.co.uk Mobile: +44 7785 395705 Tel: +44 1244 330000 Press hotline: +44 1244 330101

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