Vickery Holman
Having worked with South West property consultants,
Vickery Holman, in the past on marketing and design projects, mpad were approached to raise awareness of the company’s land and planning department.
The company was keen to profile its services for both public and private landowners and developers.
In particular it wanted to reach those who may have been struggling to realise the value of their assets as a result of the credit crunch.
Eager to avoid putting out a standard press release which would struggle to achieve good coverage, mpad created the concept of the Vickery Holman Land and Planning Open Days.
The days, held in each of the company’s offices in Truro, Plymouth and Exeter, aimed to get landowners and developers to come forward to seek face-to-face advice.
With dates set, mpad set about creating the
PR for the campaign and distributed it accordingly to regional media.
As well as coverage in the West Briton, Western Morning News,
Plymouth Herald,
Express & Echo and
Business Cornwall, the company had a high number of appointments from organisations keen to seek its support.
Access to Life
Access to Life approached mpad in Spring 2008 to create a PR campaign around the communication disability aphasia.
Access to Life is a Cornwall-based project funded by national charity Connect. People with aphasia have usually survived stroke or head injury and are left struggling to speak, read, write or use numbers.
The disability is incredibly isolating and can leave people unable to communicate with their friends and family. It is often undiagnosed by the authorities and therefore stroke survivors can leave hospital without the necessary support or even the understanding that they have a specific disability.
In Cornwall there are believed to be 1,200 people to have aphasia - that’s more than the number of people with Multiple Sclerosis.
But the authorities were only aware of 200 people who have been diagnosed. Mpad helped set up a campaign to find the missing 1000 people in Cornwall statistically known to have aphasia.
We created 10 case studies of people who live in different parts of the county, telling their stories of diagnosis and how they deal with their disability.
This was coupled with fantastic photography and distributed to the Cornish media.
Alongside a media relations campaign, volunteers with aphasia went out and about into the community to give presentations to groups and clubs. A challenge indeed for people who struggle to speak and read.
The resulting coverage was astounding - a lead story on ITV Westcountry and a 45-minute broadcast on BBC Radio Cornwall’s Laurence Reed show.
There were 16 pieces in newspaper and magazine coverage including four-page articles in Cornwall Today and Vitality Matters.
As a direct result of the media campaign, 35 people came forward and were diagnosed with aphasia and are now receiving the necessary support to live independently and comfortably.
H20 on the Go
Cascade Springs Water Company changes hands
A Cornish mineral water company has changed hands after its former owner decided it was time to explore new ventures.
After establishing the business 15 years ago, former managing director Dan Carolan has sold Cascade Spring Water Company to South West businessman William Hiley.
Mr Hiley, who has retained all members of staff, is now looking forward to working with them to develop the business.
“I’ve been interested in mineral water for several years and am delighted to have been able to take over Cascade Springs and work with Dan and his team to ensure a smooth handover,” said Mr Hiley, a well-established businessman with various enterprises in the South West.
“Dan has built up an excellent company with a great team and a local and loyal customer base,”
said Mr Hiley.
“They know the business inside out and they’re the best people to help me to take the business forward.”
Former owner Dan Carolan will continue to work with Mr Hiley for the interim period to ensure a smooth handover. Mr Carolan said: “We were anxious to find a buyer who would retain the company’s independence within Cornwall.
" I’m delighted to have found a buyer like William who will keep the business in Cornwall and retain all the existing staff.
“In the past we have had offers for the business from other companies within the water industry but resisted as I knew it would ultimately mean the break up of the business.
“William is coming into this with a totally different perspective and sees the opportunities for growing the business from its Wadebridge base.”
Mr Carolan was advised in the sale by accountants Winter Rule and Stephens Scown solicitors. John Mitchell, partner who heads up Winter Rule’s Corporate Finance team said: “I am delighted Mr Carolan has completed the successful sale particularly in this difficult market.
“It has been a pleasure to work with him on this deal and I, and my team, would like to wish him and Mr Hiley every success for the future. James Orpin, partner at Stephens Scown, said: “This is the latest in a string of company sales we have handled for clients and I am sure that Mr Hiley will follow Dan’s footsteps in managing this business for many years.”
For more information about
Cascade Spring Water Company
please call 01208 814544 or visit
www.cascadesprings.co.uk
