AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS, EXPLODING SCIENCE SHOWS AND AWARD-WINNING JOURNALISM: ALL IN THE CAUSE OF SUSTAINABILITY...
During the past thirty-five years, Green Spark's team has been privileged to work with all sorts of inspiring, cutting edge, challenging, fun, serious and generally uplifting projects helping to make our society greener and fairer. Most of all, we’ve loved the people we’ve worked with: passionate communities, far-sighted entrepreneurs, laterally-thinking business people, leading NGOs, talented journalists and green-minded politicians. These inspirational people remind us that there is hope for the planet and, in turn, this fires the PR work we do for them.
Here are some of the ways we've delivered results for our fantastic clients:
During the past thirty-five years, Green Spark's team has been privileged to work with all sorts of inspiring, cutting edge, challenging, fun, serious and generally uplifting projects helping to make our society greener and fairer. Most of all, we’ve loved the people we’ve worked with: passionate communities, far-sighted entrepreneurs, laterally-thinking business people, leading NGOs, talented journalists and green-minded politicians. These inspirational people remind us that there is hope for the planet and, in turn, this fires the PR work we do for them.
Here are some of the ways we've delivered results for our fantastic clients:
Building a sustainability leader
Stroud Brewery was the first UK brewery to be certified as both organic and a B Corporation. How it has embedded sustainability throughout the whole business, and the positive relationship it has built with the local community are truly inspiring, yet no-one knew about all this. During the past couple of years, our PR and comms sttrategy has helped the company gain recognition as a sustainability leader within the brewing industry.
The brewery's MD is now a regular columnist in the sector’s top daily publication, a speaker at key conferences, regularly interviewed by the press and a guest on podcasts. One of its flagship beers received glowing praise when taste-tested on BBC1's Saturday Kitchen Live and its news stories now appear in national, regional and brewing sector media. It has won nine regional & national awards in the past two years including Sustainable Pub of the Year in the Great British Pub Awards and Best Sustainable Business in the SIBA Business Awards - both prestigious awards for brewing and publicans. The brewery’s beer is stocked nationwide by Nicholson’s Pub Company, regional sales are increasing and its flagship beer, Budding, was even featured on the Strangers' Bar in the Houses of Parliament.
Stroud Brewery was the first UK brewery to be certified as both organic and a B Corporation. How it has embedded sustainability throughout the whole business, and the positive relationship it has built with the local community are truly inspiring, yet no-one knew about all this. During the past couple of years, our PR and comms sttrategy has helped the company gain recognition as a sustainability leader within the brewing industry.
The brewery's MD is now a regular columnist in the sector’s top daily publication, a speaker at key conferences, regularly interviewed by the press and a guest on podcasts. One of its flagship beers received glowing praise when taste-tested on BBC1's Saturday Kitchen Live and its news stories now appear in national, regional and brewing sector media. It has won nine regional & national awards in the past two years including Sustainable Pub of the Year in the Great British Pub Awards and Best Sustainable Business in the SIBA Business Awards - both prestigious awards for brewing and publicans. The brewery’s beer is stocked nationwide by Nicholson’s Pub Company, regional sales are increasing and its flagship beer, Budding, was even featured on the Strangers' Bar in the Houses of Parliament.
Delivering a climate message to world leaders
Bold, ambitious and 4,826 miles (7, 767km) long: the Running Out of Time Relay mobilised over 10,000 volunteers running or cycling 10km stages from Glasgow, the home of COP26, to Sharm El Sheik in Egypt arriving in time for the start of COP27. The aim? To draw attention to escalating climate change, highlight the innovative and practical solutions already being implemented by grassroot community projects, and deliver a climate message from young people to world leaders.
Working on behalf of Carbon Copy, a national environmental storytelling charity and a major partner of the relay, we organised the participation of 27 community projects along the UK section, as shining examples to inspire other communities to copy them. Our media campaign secured extensive coverage for all the projects, achieving 30+ million views across print, broadcast, and online platforms.
Bold, ambitious and 4,826 miles (7, 767km) long: the Running Out of Time Relay mobilised over 10,000 volunteers running or cycling 10km stages from Glasgow, the home of COP26, to Sharm El Sheik in Egypt arriving in time for the start of COP27. The aim? To draw attention to escalating climate change, highlight the innovative and practical solutions already being implemented by grassroot community projects, and deliver a climate message from young people to world leaders.
Working on behalf of Carbon Copy, a national environmental storytelling charity and a major partner of the relay, we organised the participation of 27 community projects along the UK section, as shining examples to inspire other communities to copy them. Our media campaign secured extensive coverage for all the projects, achieving 30+ million views across print, broadcast, and online platforms.
Boosting solar power's positive reputation
When the renewable energy sector denounced the abolition of the UK Government’s financial support for new clean energy schemes as a potential death knell, solar power company, Mypower, wanted to highlight the opposite - that it could actually be advantageous for commercial-scale solar. This form of energy is two-thirds cheaper for businesses than 'conventional' energy from the National Grid, even without payments from the Government's feed-in tariff scheme (FiTS).
Green Spark's media campaign achieved extensive regional coverage within the company's target geographical area, including regional lunchtime & evening TV news, radio, regional newspapers, plus leading business and trade press. We also produced accompanying promotional literature to help sales staff get the message across. Mypower has had a full order book ever since.
When the renewable energy sector denounced the abolition of the UK Government’s financial support for new clean energy schemes as a potential death knell, solar power company, Mypower, wanted to highlight the opposite - that it could actually be advantageous for commercial-scale solar. This form of energy is two-thirds cheaper for businesses than 'conventional' energy from the National Grid, even without payments from the Government's feed-in tariff scheme (FiTS).
Green Spark's media campaign achieved extensive regional coverage within the company's target geographical area, including regional lunchtime & evening TV news, radio, regional newspapers, plus leading business and trade press. We also produced accompanying promotional literature to help sales staff get the message across. Mypower has had a full order book ever since.
Rob Hopkins in inspirational mood
Planning the future
An evening’s celebration with Rob Hopkins, co-founder of the global Transition movement and leading environmentalist, as keynote speaker was the culmination of four months of work with volunteer-led organisation, Transition Stroud.
Our work increased regular financial donations from members by 100%. We worked with the directors and members to review the organisation's past and present achievements and channlled this work into creating a new marketing strategy. The ‘Transition Stroud: 10 years and beyond’ event we organised as part of this review enabled deeper relations to be forged with supporters, inspiring them with past achievements and harnessing their revived enthusiasm to plan the organisation’s next 10 years.
An evening’s celebration with Rob Hopkins, co-founder of the global Transition movement and leading environmentalist, as keynote speaker was the culmination of four months of work with volunteer-led organisation, Transition Stroud.
Our work increased regular financial donations from members by 100%. We worked with the directors and members to review the organisation's past and present achievements and channlled this work into creating a new marketing strategy. The ‘Transition Stroud: 10 years and beyond’ event we organised as part of this review enabled deeper relations to be forged with supporters, inspiring them with past achievements and harnessing their revived enthusiasm to plan the organisation’s next 10 years.
Delegates discovering the latest in tracking and monitoring technology
Email marketing for an international conference
When training and research company, ERT Conservation, organised the world’s first spatial ecology and conservation conference at the University of Birmingham, it decided a trade fair was needed to help the 250+ delegates source the most up-to-date technology and equipment necessary for their work.
Our effective PR approach of no-waffle cold calling and a carefully crafted email marketing campaign led to a successful trade fair which we were asked to repeat the following year. Ecologists from more than 20 countries around the world were able to discover the latest state-of-the-art software and equipment to help them discover and monitor wildlife populations more effectively. The money paid by exhibitors to attend the trade fair funded the travelling costs of conference delegates from poorer countries.
When training and research company, ERT Conservation, organised the world’s first spatial ecology and conservation conference at the University of Birmingham, it decided a trade fair was needed to help the 250+ delegates source the most up-to-date technology and equipment necessary for their work.
Our effective PR approach of no-waffle cold calling and a carefully crafted email marketing campaign led to a successful trade fair which we were asked to repeat the following year. Ecologists from more than 20 countries around the world were able to discover the latest state-of-the-art software and equipment to help them discover and monitor wildlife populations more effectively. The money paid by exhibitors to attend the trade fair funded the travelling costs of conference delegates from poorer countries.
Fran Scott (right), resident scientist on BBC's children's channel, CBBC, involves an audience member in lively experiments!
Adding fun to a festival
The Festomane Festival of Manufacturing and Engineering had the modest (?!) ambition of reversing the public's impression that 'manufacturing is oily, smelly and dirty'. The aim was to give young people a taste of the exciting career choices on offer. It was organised by a partnership of companies (both international and local), tertiary educational establishments, professional bodies and the local MP.
Our fresh approach to its PR and publicity re-vamped the day-long public expo and included celebrity scientists performing their entertaining shows - with explosions, of course! Along with exhibitors offering plenty of hands-on experiments and showcasing the latest innovations such as waterless cleaning and poo-powered vehicles (yes, really).
Extensive media coverage and distribution of publicity material through civic networks saw visitor numbers increase six-fold. “It was better than going to the Science Museum” one satisfied mum told us. A newspaper editor commented "Thanks for doing such a good job with the PR, it’s been great for us".
The Festomane Festival of Manufacturing and Engineering had the modest (?!) ambition of reversing the public's impression that 'manufacturing is oily, smelly and dirty'. The aim was to give young people a taste of the exciting career choices on offer. It was organised by a partnership of companies (both international and local), tertiary educational establishments, professional bodies and the local MP.
Our fresh approach to its PR and publicity re-vamped the day-long public expo and included celebrity scientists performing their entertaining shows - with explosions, of course! Along with exhibitors offering plenty of hands-on experiments and showcasing the latest innovations such as waterless cleaning and poo-powered vehicles (yes, really).
Extensive media coverage and distribution of publicity material through civic networks saw visitor numbers increase six-fold. “It was better than going to the Science Museum” one satisfied mum told us. A newspaper editor commented "Thanks for doing such a good job with the PR, it’s been great for us".
Some of the many Pondwatch tools used to publicise the plight of ponds in the UK
Alerting a nation
Ponds are oases of wildlife within the denuded British countryside. When research revealed 75% of ponds in the UK’s countryside had disappeared or become degraded, the national awareness-raising campaign, Pondwatch, was developed for The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust. Target audiences were families, gardeners, farmers, schools, businesses, and communities. Prof Chris Baines, creator of the modern wildlife gardening movement, was campaign figurehead.
A mix of PR, media coverage, events, partnerships, networking and educational materials resulted in a database of 53,000 people pledging to protect our ponds and their wildlife.
Two parallel PR threads covered the national and local levels simultaneously. Campaign work included the UK’s first nationwide pond survey and competition to find the best ponds for wildlife; a national pond conference opened by the then Environment Minister; eye-catching information packs given away for free; fun, family-orientated events held at The Trust’s 8 visitor centres; partnership working with other conservation organisations; and articles appearing in a wide range of specialist magazines.
Media coverage included: breakfast TV; BBC’s Blue Peter & Gardeners' World; BBC Radio 2; BBC Radio 4’s flagship news programme; national newspapers e.g. The Times, The Guardian, Daily Mail & The Daily Telegraph; national magazines including Country Life, Woman, Woman’s Realm, Birdwatching and Garden News; plus extensive coverage in regional media.
Ponds are oases of wildlife within the denuded British countryside. When research revealed 75% of ponds in the UK’s countryside had disappeared or become degraded, the national awareness-raising campaign, Pondwatch, was developed for The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust. Target audiences were families, gardeners, farmers, schools, businesses, and communities. Prof Chris Baines, creator of the modern wildlife gardening movement, was campaign figurehead.
A mix of PR, media coverage, events, partnerships, networking and educational materials resulted in a database of 53,000 people pledging to protect our ponds and their wildlife.
Two parallel PR threads covered the national and local levels simultaneously. Campaign work included the UK’s first nationwide pond survey and competition to find the best ponds for wildlife; a national pond conference opened by the then Environment Minister; eye-catching information packs given away for free; fun, family-orientated events held at The Trust’s 8 visitor centres; partnership working with other conservation organisations; and articles appearing in a wide range of specialist magazines.
Media coverage included: breakfast TV; BBC’s Blue Peter & Gardeners' World; BBC Radio 2; BBC Radio 4’s flagship news programme; national newspapers e.g. The Times, The Guardian, Daily Mail & The Daily Telegraph; national magazines including Country Life, Woman, Woman’s Realm, Birdwatching and Garden News; plus extensive coverage in regional media.
Using PR to meet commercial targets
A thriving local economy is a cornerstone to a sustainable society and credit unions play an important part in building such foundations. They also seem to be a well-kept secret and Stroud Valleys Credit Union's volume of customers wasn't matching its capacity for providing financial support. Hence the PR brief was to double the volume of loans given out.
We harnessed current affairs, domestic events, and the company's 20th birthday to generate a string of press stories generating plenty of media coverage as well as content for the credit union's social media platforms. A new suite of professional yet friendly marketing materials was designed to re-inforce the message that the credit union is an ethical and safe alternative to the normal high street financial institutions. Within the first few months of this work, the number of news members had increased each month by 100% and the number of applications for loans had increased by 300%.
A thriving local economy is a cornerstone to a sustainable society and credit unions play an important part in building such foundations. They also seem to be a well-kept secret and Stroud Valleys Credit Union's volume of customers wasn't matching its capacity for providing financial support. Hence the PR brief was to double the volume of loans given out.
We harnessed current affairs, domestic events, and the company's 20th birthday to generate a string of press stories generating plenty of media coverage as well as content for the credit union's social media platforms. A new suite of professional yet friendly marketing materials was designed to re-inforce the message that the credit union is an ethical and safe alternative to the normal high street financial institutions. Within the first few months of this work, the number of news members had increased each month by 100% and the number of applications for loans had increased by 300%.
Wildlife postcards distributed monthly at the local supermarket let everyone get involved in recording Cam's wildlife
Building partnerships for action
Faced with increasing development pressures on the parish, Cam Parish Council was concerned important wildlife sites would be destroyed simply because no-one knew they were there. They wanted help to protect them and to create a thriving rural environment. The task of the awareness-raising campaign was to mobilise residents to discover the wildlife that existed in the parish to provide the information the council needed, and inspire residents to learn about it and take stewardship of it.
Partnership-building brought together all sorts of groups - neighbourhood associations, churches, schools, specialist interest groups, business groups, farmers and civic networks as well as residents. Techniques used to inspire involvement were many and varied: community theatre companies and artists, community consultation at the supermarket and parish events, an attitudinal survey focusing on use of greenspaces, the Cam Domesday Book of Wildlife, illustrated wildlife postcards distributed through the local supermarket, fun family days, talks and walks, a parish map, and lots more.
The result was the discovery of an overlooked rare wildlife habitat, restoration of an 150-year old orchard, thriving hedgerows, nature areas in school grounds, farmers dedicating land for wildlife, special footpath routes, and many garden ponds bursting with life. All this generated continuous media coverage, topped off with Cam FM - a community radio station run by a group of enthusiastic residents with training and support provided by ourselves.
Faced with increasing development pressures on the parish, Cam Parish Council was concerned important wildlife sites would be destroyed simply because no-one knew they were there. They wanted help to protect them and to create a thriving rural environment. The task of the awareness-raising campaign was to mobilise residents to discover the wildlife that existed in the parish to provide the information the council needed, and inspire residents to learn about it and take stewardship of it.
Partnership-building brought together all sorts of groups - neighbourhood associations, churches, schools, specialist interest groups, business groups, farmers and civic networks as well as residents. Techniques used to inspire involvement were many and varied: community theatre companies and artists, community consultation at the supermarket and parish events, an attitudinal survey focusing on use of greenspaces, the Cam Domesday Book of Wildlife, illustrated wildlife postcards distributed through the local supermarket, fun family days, talks and walks, a parish map, and lots more.
The result was the discovery of an overlooked rare wildlife habitat, restoration of an 150-year old orchard, thriving hedgerows, nature areas in school grounds, farmers dedicating land for wildlife, special footpath routes, and many garden ponds bursting with life. All this generated continuous media coverage, topped off with Cam FM - a community radio station run by a group of enthusiastic residents with training and support provided by ourselves.
Interested to know more? Contact us to arrange a free, 30-minute call (zoom or phone) to explore the potential of your stories and see if we can help you. Simply book a time to talk to our Creative Director, Caroline Aistrop.