FRESHWATER TECHNOLOGY NEWS
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FWT108
Issue date: 27th April 2009
Freshwater
named largest PR agency outside London
Freshwater UK has been named the top PR agency outside London according to official figures from PR Week, the leading industry trade journal.
The AIM-listed PR and marketing group, whose Technology division is based in Romsey, Hampshire has reached the top of the list for the first time thanks to growth of 44% in 2008.
Freshwater was also placed 30th in the UK, and is expected to come high in the list of consumer agencies when figures are released in the next few weeks.
Chief executive Steve Howell said: "I'm absolutely thrilled we've reached the top of the regional PR Week list. It's testament to the effort everyone at Freshwater has put into making us a success, not only in the last year but over the past decade."
The consultancy was established in South Wales in 1997, and has grown through a mix of organic growth and acquisitions to its current position. It offers a regional network of seven UK offices combined with specialist expertise in key sectors of technology, consumer, public affairs and healthcare. It also offers graphic design, interactive and web design, marketing, events and video production.
Howell continued: "We are now well on our way to establishing the regional network we envisaged when we started out."
Freshwater now works with nearly 400 clients and has 100 members of staff. Major campaigns carried out by Freshwater in the last year include the opening of John Lewis' Liverpool and Leicester stores, a campaign for energy provider E.ON in Sheffield and a Kentucky campaign to promote Wales as the host event for the Ryder Cup in 2010.
Howell continued: "The diversity and range of clients we have is reflection of the work we can do for clients. But the numbers only tell half the story - we have also achieved the Public Relations Consultants' Association's gold standard for the PR industry, the Consultancy Management Standard."
The company is due to announce its interim results on 11 May.
ENDS
Photo: The 6-strong Romsey team which delivers PR campaigns for companies such as Boots Centre for Innovation, Stratophase and Morgan Technical Ceramics. L-R Sarah Clarke, Zelia Ingham, Heather Hughes (Director), Sara Sowah, Sarah Pothecary, Debbie Smith