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Limitless Public Relations

Nick Park CBE, Academy Award® winning creator of Wallace & Gromit, opens £45m+ Animate entertainment and leisure destination in Preston 

Posted on by Claire Stephenson

Nick Park CBE, four-time Academy Award®-winner and Preston-born creator of Wallace & Gromit, officially opened the city’s £45m+ Animate entertainment and leisure destination in February 2025. 

The Honorary Freeman of Preston and multi-award-winning filmmaker, unveiled a four-foot-high bronze statue of Feathers McGraw, the villainous penguin character in the Wallace & Gromit animated films, to mark the opening. 

Joining Nick at the unveiling were the Mayor of Preston, Councillor Philip Crowe, Chris Butler and Chris Jones, owners and directors of Castle Fine Arts Foundry, which created the statue, and Merlin Crossingham, Bafta@ award-winning creative co-director of Wallace & Gromit at Aardman Animations. 

Nick and Merlin are executive directors and creative directors, respectively, at Bristol-based independent studio Aardman, makers of the Wallace & Gromit films and other beloved brands, including Shaun the Sheep, Creature Comforts, Chicken Run, and Morph. 

Nick Park CBE said: “As a proud Prestonian, I couldn’t be more egg-cited to see our infamous Feathers McGraw joining Wallace and Gromit in my hometown. 

“I’m not sure how happy Wallace and Gromit will be, though, to have their arch nemesis clutching the limelight.” 

Councillor Matthew Brown, leader of Preston City Council, said: “To have Nick Park officially open our flagship regeneration scheme, Animate, is a genuine honour and landmark moment for the Council and the city. In addition, the new Feathers McGraw statue is a fantastic complement to the Wallace and Gromit bench, which has drawn so many visitors to Preston – its popularity has blown us away.  

“It heralds a new era for Preston, providing an unrivalled multi-tenanted entertainment and leisure complex for residents and visitors from the wider region in the ownership of our city.” 

Chris Jones, director at Castle Fine Arts Foundry, added: “It was such an honour for us all at the Foundry to be given the opportunity to depict the deliciously malign Feathers McGraw in bronze, having enjoyed creating Wallace & Gromit a couple of years ago.  

“We had felt Feathers’ ‘wee beady eyes’ upon us in the workshop for a good few months since we completed him, so it was both a relief and a joy to put him where he truly belongs, alongside his arch-nemeses in Preston.” 

Animate features The Arc Cinema with eight screens, 16-lane Hollywood Bowl bowling alley with gaming zone, public realm, a socialising unit and 164-space basement car park, alongside leading family restaurant brands Ask Italian, Cosmo, Taco Bell, Argento Lounge and a variety of street food outlets and a cocktail bar in Mad Giant Food Hall, Northern Lights Group. 

The scheme was delivered by Maple Grove Developments (MGD), part of the Preston-based contractor, Eric Wright Group, on behalf of Preston City Council. Commercial property agents Sanderson Weatherall are the estate managers. 

Built on the former indoor market and car park site, Animate is fully owned by Preston City Council and is one of six major projects in Preston’s Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme, a £200m programme including £20.9m of funding by the UK Government to support several regeneration projects.  

The leisure scheme supports the Council’s commitment to Community Wealth Building – a fair, inclusive and ethical approach to fostering sustainable economic development and prosperity for all in Preston – via measures including using locally based businesses and the creation of approximately 300 full and part-time jobs when fully open and 105 apprenticeship weeks worked throughout the construction period to date. 

The communications experts at Limitless Public Relations – Michael Gregory, Claire Stephenson, and Justin Strong (along with Jen Peacock on launch day) have provided strategic communications and public relations support to Preston City Council throughout the successful delivery of this landmark project over the past two years.

The power of clear communication: building trust in any business

Posted on by Claire Stephenson

Whether you’re running a large organisation, or a small business of just one person, clear, authentic communication is more crucial than ever. Building trust is the foundation of every relationship, and without it, even the best strategies can fall flat. 

In their 2024 Trust in Business Survey report, PwC found that:

  • 61% of consumers have recommended a company they trust to friends or family. 
  • Consumers also spend more at companies they trust — 46% purchased more, and 28% paid a premium. 
  • Four in 10 customers no longer purchase from a company due to lack of trust.

With public trust in institutions declining, improving and maintaining trust in business is at a premium.

Here are three essential ways to elevate your communication and build lasting trust with your audiences:

1. Be transparent  

Honesty always wins. When you’re upfront with your audiences, they feel more connected and secure in their relationship with you. Keeping communication open, even when the message is tough, shows your authenticity. It’s about telling the real story, no spin! Transparency invites trust by showing you’re willing to share the full picture, like the old Ronseal strapline: does exactly what it says on the tin.

 2. Practice active listening  

Great communication isn’t just about talking; it’s about listening. Responding thoughtfully to concerns or feedback demonstrates that you genuinely care about your audience’s needs. Listening and acknowledging others’ perspectives not only improves your relationship with them, but also builds long-term loyalty.

 3. Stay consistent  

Consistency is critical to building reliability. When your messaging is clear, cohesive, and steady across all channels, people know they can count on you. This reliability forms the backbone of trust, as your audience starts to see you as dependable, no matter the circumstances.

Building trust takes time and effort, but the payoff is definitely worth it. Need more advice on how to improve your strategic communications? We’re here to help! Drop us a message via the contact form or call 0845 625 0820.

Roundhouse completes first phase of latest £10m Momentum site in Blackburn

Posted on by Claire Stephenson

Roundhouse has completed the first phase of its latest Momentum site in Blackburn and has only two available to purchase or let. 

Phase one saw 14 units being built, of which ten were 1,000 sq ft and four were 850 sq ft. When the site has been completed, it will see 68 new commercial units providing 24,000 sq ft of commercial space on a 1.56-hectare site.

The site lies adjacent to Guide Reservoir and opposite Shadsworth Business Park. It will be accessed off Haslingden Road close to Junction 5 of the M65 and includes provision for 193 parking spaces, motorcycle parking and cycle storage.

The Shadsworth site will be the fourth Momentum project and follows previous developments in Preston and Buckshaw Village, near Chorley. 

Managing director of Roundhouse Properties, Jeremy Lefton, said: “Despite the economic uncertainty over the past year, we have seen a healthy demand for units at our Blackburn site, and we’re now focussing on starting phase two that will see 20 units constructed by the end of May 2025.

“With the UK economy looking like it’s back on track, we expect that demand for phase two to be better than phase one, and once we have most of those units tenanted or sold, we’ll then look to develop the final phase of the site by 2026.

“We developed the Momentum concept to provide growing businesses with affordable and flexible space, and it’s an idea that has gone down very well with SMEs across the region.”

Danny Pinkus at Pinkus & Co. and Neil Weaver of Taylor Weaver are joint agents for the scheme.

Bespoke named Best Place to Work by The Sunday Times

Posted on by Claire Stephenson

Lancashire-based digital marketing agency Bespoke has been named by the Sunday Times as one of the Best Places to Work in the UK for 2024.

The nationwide workplace survey, published by The Sunday Times on Sunday 12th May, honours and celebrates Britain’s top employers – which number over 500 organisations across industries and sizes – and acknowledges the best workplaces for women, LGBTQIA+ community, disabled employees, ethnic minorities, younger and older workers, and wellbeing.

In compiling the list, The Sunday Times partnered with employee-experience platform WorkL to deliver fresh insights into what makes the Best Place to Work.

The Sunday Times Best Places to Work awards survey uses 26 questions from WorkL’s employee engagement survey, developed by behavioural scientists, data analysts, psychologists, business leaders, academics and other independent parties to most accurately monitor employee engagement, wellbeing and discretionary effort in the workplace.

To achieve a high overall engagement score, an organisation must score well across WorkL’s six-step framework encompassing: Reward and Recognition; Instilling Pride; Information Sharing; Empowerment; Wellbeing; Job Satisfaction.

Bespoke, which has offices at Strawberry Fields in Chorley, was recognised in the survey’s Small Organisation category.

The report accompanying the listing said: “This Chorley digital agency puts a development programme in place for staff, with a three-year plan for those seeking a role in the company. Plans are reviewed annually and extended once colleagues have been with the agency for two years. The 12 employees work a 50-50 hybrid week – with a budget provided to kit out home offices – while the whole team has lunch together twice a week.”

Bespoke Co-founder & CEO Steve Brennan said: “I couldn’t be prouder of the team, or more overjoyed for us all, to have been listed on The Sunday Times Best Places to Work list.

“It’s such an incredible accolade for the culture we have built here over the years. We fully recognise that it’s our people who make us what we are, and we are dedicated to providing them with the happiest working environment, which is something that everybody pitches in with, so the entire team can rightfully be extremely proud to have their efforts be recognised in this way.”

Chris Longcroft, EVP Publisher, The Times and The Sunday Times, said: “All organisations are only as good as the people they employ and retain. The Sunday Times Best Places to Work awards recognise companies that are innovating to create an engaged and fulfilling working environment for all and in so doing they are creating the best possible platform for business success. To be named on The Sunday Times Best Places to Work list is a true recognition of excellence and I congratulate those organisations who made the grade this year.”

Lord Mark Price, Founder of WorkL, said: “I’m absolutely delighted for this year’s winners of the Sunday Times Best Places to Work, powered by WorkL. Many Congratulations to you all. We’ve been absolutely blown away by just how many brilliant companies entered the awards in the hopes of being recognised, so it’s a real achievement to have made the list. WorkL are proud to power these awards and support organisations in retaining and recruiting the very best employees.” 

Zoe Thomas, editor of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work, said: “It is my pleasure to introduce the Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2024. These include a huge range of businesses and not-for-profits, from innovative start-ups with a handful of employees to big multinational corporations staffed by thousands. The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2024 spans all industry sectors and are located throughout the UK. Uniting them is the commitment to make their organisation a better place to work for everyone, and there is no limit to the creative lengths they go to to engage employees. Why have a job just anywhere when you could be carving out a career at a Sunday Times Best Place to Work?”

For more information go to www.bespokedigital.agency or www.thetimes.co.uk/static/best-places-to-work-2024. 

How to improve your creative thinking in communications

Posted on by Claire Stephenson

Claire Stephenson takes a look at creativity and the crucial role it plays in effective communication and public relations campaigns.

Creativity is pretty much an essential skill in communications and public relations. You need it to create a buzz around a brand, structure a newsworthy story, connect strategy with actions, stakeholder management, turn bland content into something that has a spark, and social messaging that is both effective and garners interest…the list is long and wide.

What is creativity?

The Cambridge Dictionary defines creativity as the ability to produce or use original and unusual ideas. A brilliant book on the subject if you’re looking for inspiration – The Art of Creative Thinking by Rod Judkins – explores various strategies and techniques to enhance creativity. Through anecdotes, exercises, and examples from the lives of famous creatives, Judkins encourages readers to break free from conventional thinking patterns and embrace innovation. The book emphasises the importance of curiosity, risk-taking, and embracing doubt and failure as essential components of the creative process.

“Doubt is a key to unlocking new ideas. Einstein doubted Newton. Picasso doubted Michelangelo. Beethoven doubted Mozart.
That’s why they moved things forward.” 

Rod Judkins

Advertising great, John Hegarty – a founding partner of Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH) – talks about the environment in which creativity can flourish. He reflects on chaos versus process and the need to find the right balance for the individual. Hegarty at BBH came up with the glorious poster ad and strapline for a Levi Strauss black denim jeans campaign: “When the world zigs, zag.” The line aimed to reinforce the angle of standing out from the crowd, not being one of the flock.

The 1985 poster kick-started the TV ads (and the career of the late model and musician, Nick Kamen) and the infamous launderette scene where Kamen made the Levi 501s into a coveted item, boosting sales by 800%.

Levi’s – A Stitch In Time by BBH

But how do you ‘get creative’?

Several methods can help you shift your mindset towards a more creative slant. Here are three tried and tested methods (by us!) to improve your creative thinking.

1. Mind Mapping

This was a technique created by the late education consultant and author, Tony Buzan. Mind Mapping is an excellent method of visually organising information. Buzan first became aware of the concept during his studying years, when he noticed that his neat and ordered paragraphs of notes were time-heavy to produce, compared with other students who achieved higher grades but with less tidy notes. Buzan noticed his peers used colour and drawings within their notes. Researching through history, he discovered that notable figures of creativity and academia used drawings and doodles accompanied by words to examine theories, further research and break down concepts into easier-to-remember formats.

Mind Mapping is an excellent method if you’re a visual person and you like to doodle ideas and thoughts on paper. This short video by Tony Buzan on YouTube explains the basic concept behind Mind Mapping.

2. Brainstorm

This is a great technique for idea generation that can be done solo or on a team level. It’s also good for team cohesion and driving a project forward. Even brainstorming can be broken down into different methods. Here are 10 brainstorming techniques to try as an individual or a team. If you’re brainstorming within a group, it’s best to have a structure as the conversation can rapidly digress off-topic and swiftly turn unproductive. An article in Harvard Business Review offered the advice of focusing on asking better questions rather than seeking answers.

Keeping brainstorming fun and fresh is the key – try moving out of your usual environment. Take a brainstorming session on a walk or to the park for lunch, for example! Shaking it up can help produce the best atmosphere for ideas generation.

3. Exercise

This is one of the most effective idea-generation methods for many people. It can help to free up mental clutter and refocus thoughts, unleashing creative thinking. Steve Jobs was a notable figure who used walking to brainstorm ideas and help formulate strategies. He also carried out meetings with colleagues while he walked.

There is a scientific element to exercise and creativity. The release within the body of endorphin hormones during workouts is known to improve mood and produce the neurobiological ‘runner’s high‘ phenomenon. A study by Steinberg et al in 1997 recorded a 25% improvement in mood following physical exercise, but the results also demonstrated that exercise had a marked improvement in creativity levels. A 2014 study by Oppezzo et al found a positive correlation between exercise and creativity, stating that “walking opens up the free flow of ideas” and creative thinking processes.

These are just three ideas of ways to boost your creativity if you’re not feeling the buzz. But if you’re looking for some extra power to your campaigns, contact us here for a chat to see how we can help you.  

Smiths Hire Expands 21Digital Contract after Sales Surge 

Posted on by Claire Stephenson

Smiths Hire has expanded its contract with 21Digital after the Blackburn agency’s bespoke digital marketing campaign provided a 57% increase in sales of tool and powered access equipment hire from the Blackpool-headquartered firm’s 16 depots across the north of England.

Established in 1970, Smiths Hire has been supplying tools, plant and powered access equipment to trade and DIY customers for more than 50 years. Its hire range includes handheld tools, larger power tools, scaffold towers, access equipment, and specialised plant equipment.

The company also provides full turnkey setup for sites, providing everything from security fencing to accommodation and welfare units.

Smiths Hire chose 21Digital to deliver the SEO campaign based on the award-winning agency’s track record of results within the specialist trade and DIY e-commerce sectors.

The first campaign, which commenced in April 2022, delivered an overall rise in sales through a 139% increase in leads combined with an 85% increase in online sales conversions. 

Smiths Hire Marketing Director David Turner said: “At Smiths Hire, our slogan is Hire Strength You Can Build On, and working with 21Digital has lived up to that, while being an educational and enjoyable experience.

“The whole team have been exceptional and have significantly improved our online presence. With 21Digital’s help, we now compete more effectively against other national hire companies with larger budgets and more hire centres. Their strategic approach to PPC and SEO has provided us with measurable results that have helped drive our business forward.” 

Based at offices on Blackburn’s Trident Park, 21Digital is a multi-award-winning agency specialising in lead generation and e-commerce, providing digital marketing services including web design, web development, SEO, Google Ads, digital consultancy, social media marketing and email marketing.

For more information go to www.21digital.agency or www.smithshire.com. 

World Options expands Northampton office

Posted on by Claire Stephenson

Danielle Waterhouse has joined the team at the Northampton office of World Options as a Sales Executive.

Part of MBE Worldwide, World Options is the largest retail group of franchised shipping services companies in the UK. The World Options shipping portal allows business customers to compare quotes from the leading carriers, and to send and track shipments, with customer service provided by a dedicated account manager.

Northampton businessman Matt Patten launched a World Options franchise in May 2022, and is seeking to grow the business further, servicing businesses across the UK.

Welcoming Danielle to the company, he said: “We are very pleased to welcome Danielle aboard.  She joins us at a great time. With the global economy becoming more connected and with the boom in e-commerce, the courier industry is a growing market so it’s a great sector to build a career in.

“When shipping parcels worldwide, businesses can be confused by the number of options available and can often stick to one courier service, even though that might not be the best option for every package they send.

“World Options offers customers the opportunity to ship domestically and internationally with the likes of DHL, FedEx, UPS, TNT and more. We help businesses choose the right option for every shipment, and our bulk-buying power means customers pay a competitive price for their shipping –  cheaper than they could negotiate for themselves, whether that be for parcels, pallets, freight transport, documents or imports, either nationally or internationally.

On commencing her new role, Danielle said: “I am very excited to be joining the team at World Options. Many businesses find international shipping confusing. We ease the pain by providing one point of contact for the courier options we offer customers, and by providing customers with proactive information on the status of their shipments to prevent minor issues from turning into major problems.

“Matt and I commit to answering all phone calls within three rings, and World Options has extended service level agreements with all the main courier companies, so we can provide our target customers with more support than if they were dealing with shipping on their own. And of course, given the volume of business we are doing across our network – with all couriers, our customers not only receive excellent customer service but competitive pricing as well.”

World Options Holdings Ltd manages three brands in the UK; Mail Boxes Etc., PACK & SEND and World Options, providing e-commerce, fulfilment, shipping, virtual office, marketing and print solutions to SMEs and consumers. Companies within the group now maintain and support over 260 franchisees, generating combined annual revenues of £80m.

World Options Holdings is part of MBE Worldwide, which in 2022 served over one million business customers globally, generating Euro 1.3 billion of system-wide gross revenue through its network of over 3,150 business solution centres in 52 countries, and Euro 22 billion of gross merchandise value traded through its PrestaShop e-commerce solutions.

Topping out ceremony at Preston’s £45m+ Animate leisure complex 

Posted on by Claire Stephenson

A topping-out ceremony has been held to mark the highest point of the build at Preston’s Animate leisure complex, the latest milestone in the £45 million+ scheme, one of six major projects planned under Preston’s Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme. 

Preston was awarded £20.9m from the Government’s national Towns Fund initiative in March 2021, and the Harris Quarter is a unique part of the city centre undergoing a £200m investment programme to transform its historic buildings, sites and public realm into a diverse culture, leisure and employment offering.

Animate is being brought forward by Maple Grove Developments, part of Preston-based contractor Eric Wright Group, in partnership with Preston City Council.

The leisure complex is being built on the site of the former indoor market and car park and is due to open to the public in early 2025.

Almost fully pre-let, Animate will feature an eight-screen cinema, a 16-lane bowling alley with a gaming zone, five family restaurant units, a food hall, a public realm, a competitive socialising unit and a 164-space basement car park, with national leisure brands including Hollywood Bowl, ARC Cinemas, Zizzi, Cosmo, Las Iguanas and Loungers already signed up as tenants.

Those attending the topping out included Cllr Matthew Brown, leader of Preston City Council, Adrian Phillips, chief executive of the City Council, John Chesworth, chair of Preston Towns Fund Strategic Board and Karen Hirst, managing director of Maple Grove Developments.

Councillor Matthew Brown, leader of Preston City Council, added:

“Animate is the flagship project of the Harris Quarter regeneration programme, heralding a new era for Preston and its residents. Owned by the city council to benefit local people, the construction of Animate has involved local contractors and enhanced the skills and learning of young people with essential on-the-job experience.

“Crucially, such development and regeneration forms a key part of the council’s commitment to Community Wealth Building, designed to create a resilient and inclusive economy to benefit the whole area by offering an opportunity for local people to take back control while working with local institutions.”

John Chesworth, Chair of Preston Towns Fund Strategic Board, said:  

“The topping out represents another key moment in the delivery of Animate and in the ongoing renaissance of Preston as we progress our wider plans to create places for people.  

“Having secured high-profile and established national leisure brands, Animate will provide an unrivalled offering of activities to drive footfall and wider economic benefits for Preston and surrounding areas.”

Karen Hirst, managing director of Maple Grove Developments, development partner of Preston City Council, concluded:

“This milestone in the delivery of Animate marks the highest point of the build and the successful culmination of the collaborative efforts of the client, design, and construction teams.

“Animate is an exemplar of what can be achieved when the public and private sectors work together in partnership to great effect for the wider community and economy of Preston.”

New website for leading Scottish tourist attraction

Posted on by Claire Stephenson

Ireland Consulting has launched a new website for Forth Boat Tours following the success of its digital marketing campaign promoting the previous website for the award-winning Scottish visitor attraction.

Forth Boat Tours provides cruise packages along the Firth of Forth and Three Bridges, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and has been voted Best Day Out in Scotland in the Days Out with Kids Awards and Best Hidden Gem in the Remarkable Venue Awards.

Launched in 2022 by a former group account director and head of client services at Fat Media, Kendal-based Ireland Consulting provides marketing consultancy, brand development, website development and digital marketing to clients across the UK.

On launching the new website for Forth Boat Tours, agency head Ian Ireland said: “It has been a real pleasure helping to modernise the digital presence of one of Scotland’s leading tourist attractions.

“Prior to the new launch, our work involved an initial period of technical optimisation to improve search engine visibility – a considerable task given the size and complexity of the website.

“However, within the first three months, we had improved average search positions by more than forty places and increased traffic to the website by more than two hundred percent.

“With the site optimised for search, we have now delivered a major overhaul of the website’s user experience and front-end design, aimed to maximise customer conversion of visitors to the site.

“With the new site up and running, we are now set to launch an extensive digital and social advertising campaign to drive further traffic to Forth Boat Tours various cruise packages.” For further information go to: www.irelandconsulting.co.uk or www.forthtours.com

£10 Million achievement for Blackburn networking group

Posted on by Claire Stephenson

A Blackburn-based BNI chapter is celebrating after its members generated over £2 million in the last year, bringing the total amount of work referred within the group to over £10 million since its launch. 

Launched from a core group of just three members in 2014, BNI Infinity now boasts 21 members, meeting every Friday morning at the Hampton by Hilton, Blackburn.

The group is part of global organisation BNI, the world’s leading business referral organisation. With over 318,000 members in 77 countries, BNI provides weekly networking meetings for groups of businesses, who follow a focused meeting agenda that enables them to use their combined network of contacts to find business opportunities and referrals for one another.

Last year, its members in towns and cities across the UK & Ireland shared over half a billion pounds (£538m) of business between one another. Its chapters in Lancashire generated over £12 million in business for members in the same period.

BNI Infinity chapter president Ben Govier said: “The reason BNI is so successful is because its systems are built around building deep connections between individuals. That leads to the know, like and trust factor that is required to provide referrals into each other’s own valued contacts and connections outside the room.

“What further sets BNI apart is that all referrals are tracked on the app, so that members know exactly how much money they are making from their membership.”

BNI Executive Director for Lancashire Louise Eccles said: “A massive congratulations to what BNI Infinity has achieved, going from strength to strength since its launch.

“While the membership has constantly evolved since 2014, BNI Infinity can proudly say that some of the biggest names on the Lancashire business scene have enjoyed wild success from their membership, whether they joined as start-ups or well-established names already.

“BNI itself has undergone many changes since BNI Infinity launched and we’ve introduced new technologies that mean BNI members are now better connected with peers across the globe than ever before.

“Our message is, if you’ve never tried BNI, come along and see what we’re about. If you haven’t tried it for a while, come along and see what’s changed. Our doors are always open to people who want to prosper and grow through a community-based teamwork approach to building their business.”For more information go to www.bnionline.co.uk