Ellesmere College
PR campaign to boost college profile
Service: PR for business
Sector: Education
The brief
Ellesmere College came to J&PR after reviewing their strategic marketing plan and identifying ‘next best steps’. They wanted J&PR to help and support them to increase the profile of the college and continue to gain editorial coverage in both local and regional print but also specialist educational magazines. The college’s Marketing Officer works closely with J&PR on their press relations work, tapping into their excellent links with local publishers and the specific relationships built up with sector publications since the working relationship began. This allows the Marketing Officer to focus on other important aspects of the role including internal comms, open days, events, website content, design, features and social media.
Images by Ellesmere College
The solution
We started by meeting the External Relations team at the College and gaining an understanding of important key messages, language and what their priorities are in press coverage. We began to suggest news story ideas and be fed stories from the team at the College. Regular exceptional work by students and cocurricular activities are recognised but also the out of the ordinary - events, charity commitments, community engagement, outstanding pupil success, visits by recognisable figures or scholarships introduced. J&PR works closely with the College, interviewing key stakeholders in each story to tell as many people as possible about the great things happening at this prestigious school.
The impact
Ellesmere College now regularly features in both local publications in print and online nationwide, maximising the press coverage possible in every story. The College is also heavily featured in both specialist educational magazines and UK wide publications. We ensure Ellesmere College features promptly with their press releases including exam results stories and all sporting successes are on both the front and back pages as often as possible. In each story we continue to highlight their commitment to the key messages of the College, both raising the profile of and maintaining the perception of the College as a leading day and boarding school with an individual pupil centred approach.
