Nottinghamshire business Arch Communications has again won a top award for its public relations work.
The agency, based in East Leake in Rushcliffe, is judged to have devised and delivered the best education campaign in the Midlands over the past two years. The recognition has come in the regional PRide awards run by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations – the professional body for the PR industry.
Arch won for its work on TALK Derby, a Government-funded programme to improve the speech, language and communication abilities of young children in the city. Poor language skills in early life are known to affect employment in adulthood.
Unusually, the 2021 Pride awards have covered a two-year period from June 2019, because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Arch’s TALK Derby brief was to raise awareness of the project, helping people to understand the issues and encouraging professionals and parents to sign up for free training. During 15 months, the agency:
- Achieved high-profile media coverage of the project, including on TV.
- Reached more than 700,000 people through social media channels
- Inspired hundreds to take the TALK Derby Pledge – promising to spend more time talking and listening to the children in their lives
- Secured support from major Derby employers (including Bombardier, East Midlands Trains and Rolls Royce) and other businesses.
- Devised “I like to TALK Derby” boards to photograph people showing their support. These included teachers, business people, parents, professional footballers and cricketers, celebrities such as Baasit Siddiqui from Gogglebox and former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton – and the Derby panto cast in full costume!
Arch Communications Founder and Director Matt Youdale said: “We’re thrilled and very honoured to have been recognised in this way. We really challenged ourselves creatively to help people understand why TALK Derby is such an important project.”
Working with project partner Hempsall’s, the national early years consultancy, Arch also produced films, regular newsletters, case studies and other content.
As a result, more than 300 schools, nurseries, childminders and other settings got involved, and more than 500 people received the free training.
This award is the latest in a series of accolades for Arch Communications. The agency has previously picked up Silver in the PRide Outstanding Small PR Consultancy category, and also won a national honour for its crisis management work in the NHS.
Arch has extensive experience across the public, private and charity sectors, and has won several awards for its work. The agency’s public sector support has covered Government programmes, the NHS, local authorities, academy trusts and universities.
Services include communications strategy, campaigns, publicity, copywriting, social media activity, crisis handling and media training.
