News
A nice little first for VANBAR associates today when the story about our appointment to advise Tony's Marine Service became the most popular news item on the Ilkley Gazette website.
And here's the proof.
It's good to talk and, at this early stage in our development, it's very good to be talked about.
It is the source of professional pride for communications firms to get others into the news, rather than themselves.
But sometimes it's nice to self-indulge.
Thank you to the Wharfedale Observer and the Ilkley Gazette for their support.
Excellent news for God's Own County today with the announcement of the route for the inaugural Tour de Yorkshire.
Starting in Bridlington on Friday 1 May, the three-day event will see 16 eight-rider teams visit some of Yorkshire's finest landmarks and tackle many of its toughest climbs before reaching the finish line in Roundhay Park in Leeds on the Sunday afternoon.
The new venture allows Welcome to Yorkshire and Tour de France promoter Amaury Sport Organisation to renew their hugely successful partnership of last year. This delivered the most memorable Grand Départ in Tour de France history, gracing the streets of Leeds, Harrogate, York, Sheffield and many points in between over a July weekend which shall never be forgotten in these parts.
And alongside the feelgood factor felt by the millions of people who lined the route, tangible benefits were reaped with organisers estimating that an additional £102 million was generated for the Yorkshire economy.
Needless to say, Welcome to Yorkshire Chief Executive "Sir" Gary Verity (pictured below with the specially-commissioned race leader's jersey) is rightly and characteristically enthused.
“Before the Grand Départ had even finished people all across Yorkshire were asking when we can have more cycling!" said Yorkshire's unofficial First Citizen. "The Tour de Yorkshire will bring back many of the world’s top cycling teams and there will be an opportunity for ordinary people to ride the same roads on the same day in the sportive. And this is a free event to watch so there is an opportunity for everyone in the county to be part of Tour de Yorkshire in one way or another.”
So, another hugely exciting sporting event to look forward to in what is already shaping up to be a classic sporting year. And it's happening right here.
Another (well-deserved) slap in the mouth for the banks today, this time courtesy of independent regulator the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
In a report published earlier, the FCA made clear its view that competition in the £700 billion cash savings market did not work in the best interests of consumers.
Most notably, the regulator found that around £160 billion of funds held in easy access savings accounts earned an interest rate equal to or lower than the Bank of England base rate of 0.5% in 2013, with consumers finding it difficult to know what rate they are on, or putting off switching by the anticipated inconvenience. So much so that 80% of easy access accounts in the UK have not been switched in the last three years.
According to MoneySuperMarket.com, Ulster Bank – part of the RBS Group – came top of the interest rate league of shame, offering their loyal customers an eye-wateringly meagre 0.01% return on their Easy Access Savings accounts.
Indefensible? It would certainly seem that way. But stand by for the ritual justifications from the banks in the hours and days ahead.
And whilst you wait for those, have a think about shopping around for the best rates.
As General Election fever continues to grow (sort of) and UK politics gets even more bizarre, news reaches us of an exciting new candidate whose name will be on the ballot paper on 7 May.
You may be aware that UKIP Leader Nigel Farage has chosen South Thanet in Kent as the seat he believes he has his best chance of becoming an MP.
It is currently represented by a Conservative, Laura Sandys, who has chosen to stand down at the end of the current Parliament - no doubt part of Mr Farage's calculation.
But this afternoon it has emerged that he will face a very different challenge very much from right field.
Yes, believe it not Al Murray - The Pub Landlord himself - has agreed to put himself forward in South Thanet in a direct challenge to that other self-proclaimed man of the people.
He'll be standing for the Free United Kingdom Party - or FUKP.
You see, politics CAN be fun!
UPDATE: You can now watch the Pub Landlord's campaign launch video by clicking HERE. And it really is worth a look...
“Leeds! Leeds! Leeds!” is a familiar chant to any self-respecting football fan, particularly those living in and around the city itself.
Lifted from the final line of Leeds United’s famous anthem “Marching on Together,” it is the wont of every member of the Elland Road faithful to stand up and sing the words proudly when the song is played before kick-off and the start of the second half at every home game.
But whilst the football club has had its “troubles” over recent years (a polite understatement), the city itself has been absolutely on the up and up.
And nowhere more so than the city centre where hugely impressive buildings have been regularly bursting out of the ground with more on the way.
Clarkson on Twitter
So much so that arch-cynic himself Jeremy Clarkson (pictured) has taken to Twitter in praise of Yorkshire’s unofficial capital.
Passing through Leeds railway station yesterday, the Top Gear big gob tweeted: “What’s happened to Leeds? It looks like New York.”
That observation - shared with his 4.26 million followers - has since been retweeted more than 1,300 times.
I've never concurred with that tired old adage that "there's no such thing as bad publicity.”
But, on balance, the Yorkshire-born writer and presenter's words must surely be a positive development for the city.
Come on, he's not Piers Morgan.
We are pleased to announce that VANBAR associates has been appointed to provide PR advice and boost the business profile of Ireland’s leading marine engine and boat service specialist Tony’s Marine Service (TMS), which this year is celebrating its silver anniversary.
Located in Coleraine on the North Coast of Northern Ireland, TMS was founded in 1990 by local man Tony Hodges who, over the past two and a half decades, has firmly established the business as the trusted name in the marine industry.
TMS offers repairs, servicing, diagnostics, winterisation, boat modification and upgrades, valets and storage to private boat owners and clients across the public and private sectors.
Operating under its own Xtreme Boat Sales brand, TMS also offers a range of boats for purchase and is the sole distributor in Ireland for US-manufactured Glastron sports boats and cruisers.
Tony Hodges, founder and proprietor of Tony's Marine Service
Proprietor Tony Hodges (pictured above) said he believed the recruitment of VANBAR associates would enable TMS to access new markets and compete effectively for new contracts across the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and beyond.
Tony said:
“I am very proud that, 25 years after establishing the business, TMS continues to go from strength to strength with new customers coming onboard on a regular basis.
“But with the economic outlook now looking more positive than for many years, I believe it is the right time to move the business into a new gear with the clear aim of expanding our operations, both geographically and in scale.
“I’ve known Barry for a long time and when he told me that he and Vanessa were setting up VANBAR associates, it was obvious that TMS would benefit from working with them.
"2015 promises to be a very exciting year for both companies.”
Leeds-based VANBAR associates was set up in October 2014 by Vanessa and Barry White. It offers the full range of communications services including media relations, marketing positioning, copy writing and event management to clients in the public, private and charitable sectors.
Barry said:
“We are very much looking forward to working with Tony and TMS, particularly in the firm’s silver anniversary year.
“It is a business with a well-earned and strongly established reputation for excellence and professionalism in everything it does. This is evidenced by the fact that, despite the economic difficulties faced by so many companies since the financial crash of 2008, TMS continues to flourish.
“VANBAR associates is thrilled to be invited to play our part in helping TMS to fulfil its ambitions of further growth and achieving greater market share. Exciting times lie ahead.”
Good morning, and a very Happy New Year to you.
And what a year it promises to be for all sorts of reasons, not least the rapidly approaching UK General Election.
Yes, there are only 121 days of campaigning to go before you can catapult yourself out of bed before sprinting down the road to your local polling station. Lucky old you.
If you're wondering why this campaign already seems to be the longest in British political history, it's because it is.
Previous to this Parliament, a British Prime Minister had the option to pop down to Buckingham Palace and ask the Queen for permission to go to the country at a time of his or her own choosing. But as a result of the Conservative-Lib Dem Coalition Agreement of 2010, the date of 7 May 2015 has long been set in legislative stone. And whilst the three largest parties "formally" launched their respective campaigns yesterday, the truth is that they have effectively been underway for much longer than that.
From a positive viewpoint, this does leave voters and the media with more time than usual to scrutinise the array of policies on offer. More negatively, it does risk the public's current contempt for politicians growing even higher - fed by journalistic lampooning.
To illustrate, you may have seen the images of five Cabinet ministers lining up behind lecterns at yesterday's Conservative launch. It was obviously meant to a serious event - "serious times require serious people" and all that.
But within minutes, the scene was being compared by political hacks to a slimmed-down version of gameshow Fifteen to One and a Kraftwerk concert.
THIS was Newsnight's take on it.
Prepare for much more of the same in the weeks and months ahead (whether you like it or not).
If you're not already on holiday, be assured that you've almost reached that magical moment when it's time to turn your "out of office" response on, gather up your Christmas cards and Secret Santa prize, and head for home.
For some, the stresses and strains of Christmas with the in-laws often outweigh those felt in the workplace. But hopefully you don't fall into that category.
For our part, Vanessa and I would like to offer our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has helped us get VANBAR associates off the ground over the past few weeks.
And as we look forward to 2015, we do so with real confidence, enthusiasm and the expectation of a year to remember.
But we'll give that more thought on Friday 2 January.
In the meantime, I'll leave the last word to Mrs White.
You may have read in your newspapers this morning that Black Friday proved to be a resounding success for the UK retail sector.
Official figures released yesterday showed that sales in November rose 6.4% in comparison with twelve months ago, the fastest annual increase in a decade.
According to the Office for National Statistics, sales of electrical goods were up almost a third on this time last year with department stores increasing their sales by 15%.
This is obviously very good news for all involved, other than those overkeen shoppers who sustained bodily injuries whilst scrapping for a cheap telly.
Which reminds me, tonight is Black Eye Friday (formerly known as Mad Friday) when revellers all over the country spill out of their workplaces and into bars for a pre-Christmas cocktail of good cheer laced with occasional extreme violence.
Be safe people.
A new and certainly very interesting experience for me last night when I attended a Rugby Business Network event in Leeds addressed by none other than England rugby union head coach Stuart Lancaster.
The Rugby Business Network is a not-for-profit organisation, set up in 2010 by digital entrepreneur and ex-rugby pro Colm Hannon, with the mission of "encouraging and celebrating the application of rugby’s values to business." It now welcomes upwards of 25,000 members to its regular events held in more than 50 cities around the world.
Yesterday evening's event featured a particularly impressive 45-minute multimedia presentation from Coach Lancaster about his approach to drilling's England's finest. He then took questions from the floor. If you're a fan of singing Swing Low Sweet Chariot at an annoying volume level, you'll be thrilled to learn that Stuart is confident of building an England team capable of winning next year's Rugby World Cup, and much else besides. An an Ireland rugby fan, I am equally confident that we have a better group of players than he has. But that's all part of the fun.
You can find out more about the Rugby Business Network, including details of upcoming events, by logging onto www.therugbybusinessnetwork.com
I might even see you at a future gathering.
An eyebrow-raising piece in the business pages of today’s Yorkshire Post which revealed that there are more than 400 “hidden” vacancies in the Leeds digital sector, costing an estimated £15million in lost benefit to the local economy.
A piece of sharp analysis from technology recruitment firm Herd found that there were 426 digital vacancies in Leeds in October, with some posts being left vacant for six months.
“Cities are complex and understanding the digital economy has always been a challenge,” Herd founder Amy De-Balsi told the paper.
“People are constantly arguing about what constitutes a digital company, whether a digital sector exists because most businesses use technology and before those arguments are even settled, the digital world has moved on. Leeds is no exception.”
And whilst the city has worked hard to grow its reputation in digital industries, not a single UK or multinational technology big player is headquartered here.
But never one to stand on the sidelines, Amy – who I was proud to work with at Yorkshire Forward – is doing her bit by bringing digital leaders together to work for a solution.
The Herd website promotes vacancies across a growing number of digital companies including Epiphany, The Test People, Web Anywhere and Immedia Solutions.
You can see what’s currently available by visiting www.leedsherd.co.uk
“There is huge support for Leeds to be put on the map,” said Amy. And she’s right.
A report published today has recommended that rogue firms behind unwanted sales calls are fined up to £500,000 for being pains in the you know what.
The Nuisance Calls Task Force (I wonder if they have to wear a uniform) also argued that company directors should be held personally responsible for the estimated one billion nuisance calls received by long-suffering members of the British public each year.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4, Task Force chairman Richard Lloyd made clear that many firms were acting illegally by contacting people who had "opted out" of receiving calls through the Telephone Preference Service. And he called for the law to be more rigorously enforced.
I have to admit to being slightly at odds with myself over this issue.
On the one hand, it is outrageous that so many businesses think it is acceptable for them to thumb their nose at legislation which expressly prohibits such activities.
But on the other, when I'm having a bad day, I find it slightly liberating to have the opportunity for a rant at some poor soul who has phoned up to sell me cheap windows.
On balance though, it is clear that the law should be toughened and adhered to. And while they're at it, maybe something can also be done about chuggers.
We at VANBAR associates are committed to the maintenance of non-party political approach to our work. But with a General Election just five months away, I'm sure you'll permit us the occasional indulgence of highlighting instances when one of our esteemed political masters goes off piste.
Step forward UKIP Leader Nigel Farage.
During his regular LBC radio phone-in earlier today, the former stockbroker turned self-proclaimed man of the people was asked for his views about an incident at Claridge's in London when a woman was requested to cover up with a napkin while breastfeeding her baby daughter.
Super Nigel's view? That some people were uncomfortable with "ostentatious" breastfeeding, and it was perfectly acceptable for a venue to expect a mum to "sit in a corner, or whatever it might be."
Hmmmm.
Finding himself in the eye of a swiftly gathering media storm, Mr Farage decided to issue a statement claiming that he had not in fact said that mothers should be forced to breastfeed out of sight.
"I personally have no problem with mothers breastfeeding wherever they want," the statement read. "I remarked that perhaps they might ask women to sit in a corner. Did I say I believe they should have to? No. Did I say I personally endorse this concept? No."
Hmmmm (again).
Let's hope he feels a bit of a tit.
The first ever VANBAR associates Christmas e-card is all done and ready to go, which we're very pleased about.
And you'll hopefully be relieved to learn that it's a little more relaxed in style than Tony and Cherie Blair's official card which is now doing the rounds.
It has long been common for public figures - particularly from the political world - to produce "portrait" style cards, often featuring their children as unwilling appendages. I used to see a lot of them when I worked in Parliament and some were certainly more memorable than others.
But what you can see above is without question one of the most bizarre I've encountered. Cold, stiff and arguably on the wrong side of madness. (And I dread to think what Cherie's doing with her missing arm). Yes, that's the Blairs for you.
Still, it is (almost) Christmas so "Season's Greetings" to them too.
I'm not a big fan of killjoys but I am a big fan of sport.
I was therefore not especially impressed by a report published today by the hitherto unknown (to me at least) What Works Network which claimed that major sporting and cultural events return no measurable economic benefit.
Shuttlecocks, I say.
Having in recent weeks shelled out hard-earned cash for 2015 Rugby World Cup tickets - for games in Leeds and Cardiff - and flight tickets so I can attend next year's North West 200 motorcycle races in Northern Ireland, I must question where these academics think my additional spend will go.
I'll be in Cardiff for at least one night, requiring the need for a hotel. And I'll have to eat and drink (watching rugby tends to be thirsty work). Similarly in Northern Ireland, where I will be "put up" but will also be out and about - requiring regular refuelling - for four solid days. And I have little doubt that my kids will be expecting presents brought back.
Around 80,000 people will fill the seats at Elland Road over the two days when Leeds hosts its Rugby World Cup games. The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff holds 72,000 spectators and will be home to several high-profile games over the duration of the six-week tournament. And, with fair weather, the North West 200 can be expected to attract around 200,000 race fans around the famous 8.9 mile circuit.
So no benefit for the respective local economies? I suspect many business owners would say something very different.
I've been fortunate in my working life to have met quite a number of famous people, some more impressive than others.
Former England cricket captain Lord Cowdrey, now deceased, who I encountered twice in very different circumstances, will probably always top my personal "impressed by" list. Actress Sue Johnson, formerly of Brookside and The Royle Family and more latterly of Downton Abbey, currently heads the other.
Meanwhile, I've never met David Mellor but I used to work with someone who knows him well. And my friend always had a reasonably positive view of him.
His words, which are prominent in today's media, therefore woke me with a start when I heard them on the radio early this morning.
If you haven't heard, the former Government minister turned talking head has been caught on tape describing a taxi driver as "sweaty, stupid little s**t" during an argument about the route the cab was taking.
Mr Mellor, who also told the driver to "f*** off," went on to add: "You’ve been driving a cab for 10 years, I’ve been in the Cabinet, I’m an award-winning broadcaster, I’m a Queen’s Counsel. You think that your experiences are anything compared to mine?"
Whilst one might fairly wonder why the cabbie had a tape recorder running in the first place, I'm personally glad that he did - if only because of the tweet it provoked from fellow Marmite man Piers Morgan.
And I quote: “This tape is outrageous. David Mellor, you’re a loathsome snob. I hope London’s black cab drivers now boycott David Mellor. Looks like he could do with a few walks anyway.”
Pot calling the kettle black? Most likely. But certainly close to the mark.
Good news for Christmas shoppers today after the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that prices are falling faster than at any time since 2002.
In-store prices are now 1.5% lower than 12 months ago, one explanation for why sales rose by 4.3% in comparison with last October and 0.8% since last month. This followed an unexpected drop in September caused, according to the experts, by the mild weather and a dearth of winter coat purchases. (They are probably right as I only bought mine last week).
Also, the increasing power of Aldi and Lidl have forced the established supermarkets to reduce their prices to compete, whilst online retailers have in turn compelled high street stores to up their game.
But whilst prices are falling in the shops, retailers’ margins are still expected to be supported because of falling costs including production costs which are benefitting from cheaper oil prices.
With Black Friday and Mega Monday on the horizon – and falling on the same weekend for the first time in six years – and promotions aplenty being planned, the climate suggests a much merrier Christmas for many this year than for some time.
Let’s hope so.
The quest for good PR certainly does know bounds - including common sense and decency - as the owners of a Blackpool hotel have found out.
Tony and Jan Jenkinson from Whitehaven in Cumbria recently spent the night at the Broadway Hotel in Blackpool and weren't impressed by what they got in return for their £36.
So they did what is the way of things these days and posted a less than warm review on TripAdvisor.
The hotel's response? They charged an extra £100 on the couple's credit card after an apparent breach of the booking form fine print which warned of a penalty fee for leaving negative comments. Mr Jenkinson later claimed that his wife hadn't been wearing her glasses when she signed on the dotted line.
It emerged today that Blackpool Trading Standards have now spoken to management at the Broadway Hotel who have promised to refrain from fining future guests for expressing derogatory views.
That's if they are fortunate enough to attract any future guests.