Industry News June 2008
Posted in News on June 9th, 2008Reed Exhibitions sells its defence portfolio
Reed Exhibitions has sold all three of its major events in the defence and security sector to rival organiser Clarion Events for an undisclosed fee.
These include the biennial show Defence Systems and Equipment International (DSEi), annual training and simulation exhibition ITC, and biennial event Latin American Aero and Defence (LAAD).
Clarion Events chief executive Simon Kimble said: “The events we have acquired in the defence and security sector are a valuable and profitable addition to our portfolio and fit perfectly with our strategy for international expansion.”
“The defence and security sector is an exciting one to be moving into and we look forward to applying the same very high standard, rigour, experience and skill to organising events in this sector,” said Kimble.
The sale signifies the completion of Reed’s withdrawal from the defence exhibitions sector announced in June 2007 (Event, July 2007), after opposition from academics writing for Reed’s scientific titles.
Birmingham fashion students gear up for gala show
Fashion graduates from the Birmingham Institute of Art and Design (BIAD), will showcase their splendid creations on June 18 as a part of New Generation Arts Festival. More than 22 promising designers will be displaying their collection at Millennium Point.
The students are gearing up for the grand event as prominent personalities from the fashion world will come to grace the occasion. Instant fame which the upcoming designers get, is eagerly awaited, as renowned designers, select them on the spot to work as apprentice. The college has so far given trainees to Stella McCartney, Giles Deacon and Vivienne Westwood.
The students are not bound by any theme for the opulent show. This gives them umpteen opportunity to showcase their creativity with no restrictions of any sorts. As a result, the spectators can expect many surprises, right from sophisticated and stylish garments to wild and outrageous outfits.
BIAD, which is a part of the university and includes the School of Jewellery, is the largest centre for art, design, and media education in the UK outside London. The institute boosts of having students who have made their mark on international level.
AEO celebrates Industry’s finest
More than 1,200 guests attended this year’s AEO Excellence Awards 2008 held at Earls Court 2 on Wednesday 4 June.
The venue was transformed into a stylish bar and dining room with Leith’s providing the catering, while the day’s host was comic Rob Brydon.
The event also helped raise £12,000 for the association’s adopted charity, The Lord Taverners.
Winners at this year’s awards included CMPi, Clarion Events and Stanco Exhibitions.
NCH’s rebrand causes conflict
The UK’s largest children’s charity NCH is changing its name to Action For Children, but the move has been met with opposition from a smaller charity with a similar name.
National disability charity Action For Kids will use Ethos Public Relations to demonstrate the ’negative impact’ the change could have on its work.
NCH is relaunching in September to ensure it is seen as an organisation that acts independently from Government in a bid to increase its voluntary income. Currently 88 per cent of the charity’s income is from statutory sources.
While the charity is well-known among professionals in the children’s sector, it only has a one per cent unprompted awareness among the general public.
The charity is keen to get children talking to the media. ’Most charities talk on behalf of people. We want to give children the opportunity to speak up for themselves’, said media relations manager Anna Macmillan.
National disability charity Action For Kids has contacted its solicitors over NCH’s name change. CEO Mike Hayes told PRWeek: ’We are going to be opposing the change of name as we have evidence that the public are confused by the similarity of the name to our own.’
But NCH say it has a long association with the name from the 1990s and that it is confident the new brand will not impact Action For Kids’ position.
McDonald’s picks new public affairs agency
McDonald’s has turned to Portland PR to handle its public affairs business, following a keenly-fought pitch process.
Portland, headed by former Downing Street deputy comms director Tim Allan, takes over from Bell Pottinger Public Affairs.
McDonald’s initially long-listed 30 public affairs agencies, before finally whittling it down to a final four: Portland, Blue Rubicon, Ledbury Group and Bell Pottinger.
The pitch was overseen by McDonald’s V-P of communications Nick Hindle.
PRWeek previously reported that McDonald’s wanted an agency to provide high-level counsel to senior figures, as well as dealing with McDonald’s opponents outside of Westminster.
A request for information (RFI) sent to agencies and seen by PRWeek stated: ’McDonald’s is looking for an agency that can provide a full suite of public affairs advice, including monitoring and intelligence, strategic counsel at public affairs team level and at CEO level.
It added: ’There is significant emphasis on engagement work with non-political stakeholders or those beyond Westminster and Whitehall who shape the environment in which McDonald’s operates.’
