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DTW listed in 2023 PR Week tables

The annual PR Week ‘Top 150 consultancy tables’ have been published for 2023.

DTW has been ranked as the fourth largest corporate and financial PR agency outside London and in the top 40 specialists in the UK.

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Roaa takes the prize as DTW sponsors Teesside University awards 

Celebrating and encouraging talented communicators of the future is incredibly rewarding. 

My colleagues Kate, Katie and I had a great evening celebrating the success of the latest crop of Teesside University students at their 2023 Journalism Awards

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Membership awards nominations success for DTW and the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing

The Memcom Spring Party – held at the stunning Barbican Conservatory last Wednesday evening (10th May 2023) – didn’t disappoint, and we’re delighted all three awards we entered for the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing have been shortlisted for the prestigious Memcom Membership Excellence Awards.

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DTW MD invited to join judging panel for global strategic comms awards

DTW Managing Director Chris Taylor has joined the judging panel for the 2023 Polaris Awards.

The Polaris Awards is a global competition celebrating exceptional work in political and public sector communication.

It seeks to identify the best use of strategic communication and technology in election campaigns, public affairs, and issue advocacy around the world.

The awards are presented as part of the annual Polaris Leadership Summit, which will be held in London in June. The theme for the summit this year is Rebuilding Trust.

Chris said: “Building and maintaining trust with stakeholders – whoever they may be – is a key issue for organisations everywhere in 2023. That comes down to effective leadership, a clear vision and building a culture that nurtures trust and encourages engagement.

He added: “Effective communications is the golden thread that joins those three elements together, and I’m looking forward to judging this year’s awards to see how the global communications profession is rising to meet that challenge.”

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What do our clients think about DTW? Three little words that mean so much….

No, I’m not talking about those three little words, but I am talking about something that means an awful lot to us here at #TeamDTW.

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DTW listed as approved supplier on major national UK government framework

DTW has been appointed as an approved supplier on the UK government’s Crown Commercial Service’s (CCS) Marketing and Communications framework.

We have been listed as a specialist supplier in Lot 1 Communications Marketplace – ref. RM6124. It is a marketplace for marketing and communications services to help UK government and public sector bodies run public service campaigns.

The framework is open to all UK government or public sector organisations and lasts through to May 2025.

So as a potential client who might want to commission support, you can choose DTW to work on a standalone basis or to support an integrated campaign.

If it suits you (and we wouldn’t object) you can just appoint us through CCS – or you can see how we match up against other providers on their approved shortlist – that’s fine too.

DTW Director Lorna McAteer-Bingham said: “You quite rightly have to jump through a lot of hoops to get listed as an approved supplier on a framework like this, but we think it is worth it as it demonstrates our expertise and professionalism to clients. We’re delighted to be listed and look forward to the exciting new opportunities it will help us access.”

About the CCS Communications Marketplace:

The Communications Marketplace covers a whole range of marketing, PR and communications services – just about everything you can think of – and you can read more about it on our website or dive into the How to buy section on the CCS webpage on .gov.uk

Crown Commercial Service supports the public sector to achieve maximum commercial value when procuring common goods and services.

In 2019/20, CCS helped the public sector to achieve commercial benefits worth over £1bn – supporting world-class public services that offer best value for taxpayers.

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DTW marks ten years of PRCA CMS accreditation

This week we passed our latest annual Public Relations Communications Association (PRCA) Communications Management Standard (CMS) assessment.

So what is the PRCA CMS and why is it important to DTW?

The PRCA describes the CMS as ‘the hallmark of PR excellence’. It combines elements of ‘ISO9001’ and ‘Investors in People’ with criteria specific to a PR and communications consultancy.

We took up the PRCA CMS challenge ten years ago (having done similar non-PR/marketing specific accreditations previously) because we think it is important to have an external perspective that looks at our systems and processes and tells us if we’re doing a good job and challenges us if we aren’t.

It gives our clients, management and staff peace of mind and proof that DTW is a well-run business with the appropriate professional management standards in place.

The nine core areas consultancies are scored on are:

  • Leadership & Communication
  • Business Planning
  • Business Improvement
  • Financial Management & Systems
  • Campaign Management
  • Client Satisfaction
  • New Business
  • People Management
  • Diversity

Having a clear framework that is specific to our profession that we benchmark and test ourselves against annually is great. Yes, it’s paperwork. Yes, it’s time out from client work. No, no-one pays you to do it (we pay the PRCA!) But it’s important and valuable.

Feedback from our PRCA assessor said: “DTW provided evidence on business development, diversity and people management. Evidence across business development and people management was excellent. On diversity, tracking of gender is in place and modifications have not been required as no issues were identified (the balance is strong and equal.)  DTW clearly deserve their ten-year CMS Gold Award.”

Big thanks to Lorna and Jan from the whole team for picking the lions share of the work and engaging with the PRCA team.

Thanks for reading
Chris

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Planning success is great news for DTW client Quantafuel

Permission granted: Pictured at Port of Sunderland on the Quantafuel site is, from left, Port of Sunderland Director Matthew Hunt, Quantafuel Sunderland Managing Director Bill Elliott, Quantafuel Sunderland Director Winifred Patricia Johansen, and Sunderland City Council Leader Cllr Graeme Miller

Our favourite Norwegian plastic recycling company is a big step closer to starting its operations in the UK after receiving planning permission from Sunderland City Council for a major new plant at the city’s Port.

We have been working with Quantafuel ASA over the past two years to provide communications and community and political engagement support to its teams both in the UK and Norway as it looked to expand operations into the UK.

That has included developing key messages and themes for all activity, planning and running community consultation events, creating information materials and web content, and undertaking media and political relations support with stakeholders in Sunderland and the wider North East region.

Now that planning permission has been granted it means 100 new permanent jobs will be created, along with supporting 200 jobs during construction, and countless others in the supply chain.

And, crucially, it means that around 100,000 tonnes of plastic waste a year that is not generally recycled in the UK, and which otherwise would have been incinerated or disposed of in landfill, will be recycled using pyrolysis technology.

The oils produced in the process will be used again in the manufacture of new, high-grade plastic, helping the UK to reduce its CO2 emissions and achieve its Net Zero targets. 

Winifred Patricia Johansen, Director of Quantafuel UK, said: “It has been an absolute delight to work with Karen and the DTW team during the last couple of years. We are delighted to have planning permission to build our first UK plant in Sunderland, thanks in part to the incredible support of the DTW team.

“They have been a professional partner throughout the entire process, engaging with people in a caring and listening manner.

“We believe their proactive approach to open dialogue made all the difference during the planning process and it will be the foundation upon which we build a good working relationship with our neighbours, stakeholders, and the local community in the future.

“As we move forward with other projects across the UK, we are excited to continue to work with DTW and their collaborative and strategic approach.”

Karen Westcott, Head of PR, Community Engagement and Public Affairs at DTW, said: “It’s great to work with the Quantafuel team. They are passionate about reducing C02 emissions and improving the circular economy, but they are also totally committed to community engagement and two-way communication with their stakeholders.

“Their openness and willingness to meet with the community, listen to feedback, and share information has been key to success. They’re a great example of an organisation that puts communication and engagement at the heart of the business.”

Read more about our work for Quantafuel.

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Membership Excellence 2022

Earlier this week DTW Director Hayley Stewart and I attended the Memberwise Membership Excellence 2022 conference as exhibitors. Our two top takeaways?

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DTW grows consultancy team with new appointment

DTW has capped a successful period of growth with the appointment of a new member of its consultancy team.

The agency has welcomed Kate Robertson as a Junior Account Manager specialising in public relations and public affairs. 

The new appointment marks a busy period for DTW, which has also restructured its internal public relations, marketing and digital teams into a single overall consultancy team.

The agency develops and delivers communications solutions for clients across the UK. Its specialisms include professional associations and regulatory bodies, infrastructure and regeneration projects, within energy and the environment and across local government and the public sector.

Kate brings with her nine years of marketing and public relations experience from within DTW’s core sectors having graduated from Teesside University in 2013 with a degree in Multimedia Journalism.

Managing Director Chris Taylor welcomed Kate to the team. 

“We are delighted to have someone of Kate’s experience join the team and her appointment coincides with an exciting period for DTW, both in terms of our growth as an agency and our position as a leading agency within the sectors we operate within.” 

DTW Director and Head of the newly created Consultancy team Hayley Stewart said of the appointment.

“Our move to a single, unified consultancy team reflects the way that clients in our core sectors, including membership organisations and infrastructure projects, are increasingly working to deliver their communications.

“Kate’s experience in working across both marketing and public relations is indicative of this and is already adding value to the work we’re delivering for our clients.”