LONDON — Alton Towers Resort has appointed Smoking Gun on a long-term project to deliver integrated marketing communications around the launch of new attractions at the theme park. The programme aims to maintain engagement and relationships with a range of stakeholders and visitors during the redevelopment of some key attractions, followed by relaunch campaigns across owned and earned channels, including for the Nemesis rollercoaster (pictured).

LONDON — Email signature management leader Exclaimer has appointed Clarity to lead UK communications and content. Through media relations, thought leadership, content strategy and creation, Clarity is tasked with establishing a strong voice for Exclaimer and cementing its position among marketers and IT teams as a tool that enables email signatures to act as a marketing channel. Exclaimer is used by more than 50,000 businesses worldwide, including Sony, BBC and the Bank of America.

LONDON — Also at Clarity, Pearn Kandola, a business psychology consultancy specialising in assessment, development and diversity, has appointed the agency to support its communications efforts. Based in Oxford, Pearn Kandola’s clients include private, public and voluntary sector organisations in the UK and globally, including BT, HSBC and Cisco. The agency is tasked with raising the organisation’s profile and boosting awareness of its diversity and inclusion services and digital solutions.

LONDON — MatchFit and Bloomsbury Football have formed a strategic partnership which will see the sports PR and sponsorship agency offer its expertise to the grassroots football charity as its seeks to improve the lives of thousands of young people in London through tackling social division, helping to improve mental and physical health, building stronger communities and teaching valuable life skills. Bloomsbury Football ensures that 18-month to 18-year-olds across eight London boroughs can experience and benefit from football thanks to a unique financial assistance model. MatchFit will make Bloomsbury Football its official charity partner and provide strategic communications and campaign activation support, as well as offering work experience and internship opportunities to provide a pathway for diverse talent to enter the sports PR and sponsorship industry.

LONDON — More than half (56%) of PR agencies across the world will increase client fees in the next six months, according to the latest PRCA and ICCO quarterly Confidence Tracker research. CEOs, directors and department heads who responded to the survey, which assesses market confidence in public relations around the world, said that of those increasing fees, 46% expect to increase fees by up to 10%, while 8% plan to increase fees by as much as 20% in the next six months. The study – conducted by Question & Retain – also reveals declining levels of confidence among PR and communications leaders: 77% are ‘very confident’ or ‘quite confident’ about the future of their organisation, a six percentage point decrease since the June 2022 study.

LONDON — Independent agency Cognito, which has offices in London, Amsterdam, New York, Los Angeles, Singapore, Hong Kong and Sydney and works with clients in the finance, technology and professional services sectors, has launched a new brand identity to reflect its growth and expansion across service lines, sectors and geographies, and to reflect its approach to solving business challenges and commitment to innovation. Cognito has also recently launched a sustainability practice to help clients with the climate transition.

JOHANNESBURG — CMC Networks has selected B2B agency Ilex Content Strategies to accelerate the growth of its carrier and enterprise services in Africa, the Middle East and globally. Ilex will develop CMC Networks’ messaging and brand narrative through PR, content creation, inbound marketing and sales enablement. CMC Networks has been supporting digital transformation across Africa and the Middle East for 30 years through AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity, edge computing, Software Defined Networking, virtualisation and advanced connectivity.

MANCHESTER — Corporate, B2B and technology communications agency Duo Consulting has won two new clients: following a competitive pitch, the agency is supporting leading bird charity RSPB with executive communications for CEO Beccy Speight and her senior team. Duo has also been appointed on a retained basis by consumer insights business Vypr, to build the scale-up’s profile and reputation following recent investment.