W Communications on LinkedIn: W added three more awards to its impressive 2024 haul at PR Week’s… (2024)

Last night, some of our team attended a Kite Insights event at The Conduit "Can Business Save Democracy?"With UK election week looming, it was a provoking conversation around how, and even if, businesses should be involved in politics and whether businesses should be influencing democracy. Some of the key discussions and insights included:- That today, businesses are not able to fundamentally achieve what they need to as businesses without becoming involved politically- The difference and impact of lobbying versus advocacy - the former can often be seen as self-serving when done by businesses on an individual level- When it comes to things like climate targets, unless there is a wider movement within the industry, it can be seen as scary or dangerous for a business to make the first move due to potential penalisation (or being branded as greenwashing) - It is important for businesses and their leaders to engage in non-partisan conversation and education with employees - Shifting away from hero leadership to a more diverse and distributed leadership within businesses - We must uphold a free press - Businesses and their leaders must be transparent and share clarity on purpose - Whether it is the responsibility of businesses to enable conditions for democracyThanks to Sophie Lambin and the panellists for a great event!#UKelection #UKBusiness

6

1 Comment

So brilliant to see The Independent partnership with Pride in London and Outernet London go live!This incredible free exhibition draws attention to Pride in London’s#WeAreEverywhere campaign and showcases iconic photography from The Independent archive library of LGBTQ+ changemakers – including many captivating never-been-seen and rarely shared images dating back to 1986.CelebratingLondon's LGBTQ+ community and its power to create change simply by living authentically and unapologetically,this unique exhibition is built around a timeline that captures pivotal moments in LGBTQ+ activism – from the campaign to lower the age of consent to the gay pride demonstrations of the 1990s.Paying tribute to how far we've come, it also dares us all to dream of how much more can be achieved if we keep up the fight for equality.The exhibition runs until the end of June, so it’s worth checking out if you are in London Pride in London is also hosting its annual Pride March on 29th June!Outernet London, Charing Cross Road,WC2H 8LH

12

W has been excited to amplify the announcement that pioneering start-up and The Earthshot Prize nominee Spiralis Energy Ltd plans to seek permits to test a tidal energy generator in the waters off Alderney.With a mission to harness the ocean for a better tomorrow, Spiralis Energy's breakthrough sustainable technology has the potential to deliver clean, predictable tidal energy for a sustainable future.Its extraordinary rotational screw-like devices are each about the size of a cricket pitch and would be mounted to a floating platform to harness the predictable power of Tidal energy. The global tidal energy market is poised for explosive growth, reaching $8 billion by 2035. If successful, this trial could lead to economic opportunities and an additional source of renewable energy for the second biggest Channel island of Alderney.W secured press includingITVandBBC– highlighting the potential of this incredible technology. We’re looking forward to seeing this revolutionary tech being put to the test this winter.

11

Interesting insights from the BBC on UK podcast consumption! Podcast listening hours have surged 139% from 2018-2023, with 40% of UK residents over 15 having tuned in. The biggest growth is among 25-34 year-olds, with 27% listening weekly, while there's a notable decline in weekly reach for 15-24 year-olds post-pandemic.

15

Transforming linear businesses into circular models is essential for a sustainable future.🌍 🔄 At global forums like the World Economic Forum in Davos, and even within local interest groups, “sustainable” and “collaboration” are key buzzwords. But achieving real change requires more than talk—it demands action and inclusive strategies.Read to find out how we can transition into a more effective stream of action.

12

Some very interesting pre-Bank Holiday reading here in Press Gazette, about a resurgence in print news demand 🗞️In 2023, newspaper delivery service Newsteam swung to a pre-tax profit of £1.1m, marking a significant turnaround from the previous year's loss. Even more impressive? A post-tax profit nearly hitting £2m.Despite market challenges, Newsteam witnessed a 15% increase in total turnover to £58.7m, showcasing resilience and adaptability in a changing landscape.And despite acknowledging market declines in print media, Newsteam remain optimistic. Their proactive approach to meeting debts through accelerated loan repayments, coupled with market positioning, hints at a potential resurgence.Could this success story herald a new dawn for print media? Only time will tell, but Newsteam's journey certainly offers inspiration and optimism for the future 📈https://lnkd.in/e-jkvc82

13

We're super proud of our University of Brighton WX participants, who worked on a challenging brief for blood cancer chairty Anthony Nolan and came through with some incredible work! 💫WX is our social mobility initiative, aimed at getting the next generation of PR pros from disadvantaged backgrounds an early foot in the door. W reps Paige Hartley and Josie Stevens worked with the students on a brief to analyse the current online consumer journey for registering onto the Anthony Nolan donor list, identify any barriers specific to Gen Z and propose strategies to overcome them.The Anthony Nolan team were thrilled to get involved and were blown away by the quality of the responses and have already initiated some of the quick wins the students suggested.It's fantastic to see the future of the industry so engaged in such important work, allowing them to get a different perspective on PR. Well done to everyone who took part!

25

In our collective efforts to foster social mobility, it's crucial to always assess our strategies. A recent study by researchers from the University of Exeter sheds light on the limitations of certain mobility programs and highlights the need for a more holistic approach💡 The key takeaways are:·A need to shift away from "helicopter" policies that offer short-term solutions·Focus on enhancing local education and employment opportunities to address structural inequalities·While mobility programs offer immediate benefits, they often lead to a "wholesale escape" from communities·Participants demonstrate remarkable adaptability, building networks and acquiring valuable skills, but their newfound positions don't directly impact structural inequalities in their home communitiesThis study underscores the importance of sustainable, community-focused initiatives in promoting social mobility. It's an good reminder that social mobility is not just a catch all, and requires a lot of thought to implement 🧠https://lnkd.in/e6fr-RKF

15

We scooped two awards last night at the PRWeek Globals last night! A brilliant reflection of the amazing hard work we've done over the past twelve months. For Global Event Activation, our work with Grow to Know in Unearthing the Green Gap was recognised. Community gardening project Grow to Know was born in the aftermath of the tragic Grenfell Tower fire, and Unearthing the Green Gap raised awareness of the disparity of access to green spaces in Kensington and Chelsea. Also awarded was the world's first WhatsApp drama, The Chat, for Breast Cancer Now. The Chat, which featured acting luminaries like Indira Varma and Kate Ashfield, was a poignant look at how a group of female friends coped when one of them is diagnosed with breast cancer. It was a great night which we thoroughly enjoyed, and hopefully we'll be lucky enough to attend next year's too!

38

2 Comments