Giving something back to Dunfermline High School

15th Dec will be an exciting day for me as I am venturing into my old school, Dunfermline High, to talk to the fifth and sixth year Media Studies students about my business; time in the industry etc and to potentially advise them about obtaining a career in PR and the media generally. Its a while now since a Scotvec in Media Studies first got me interested and there are so many great options for study nowadays. I know they also want to ask me about my degree course at Stirling University in Film and Media Studies. This is still an excellent course, it was one of the first to be launched in Scotland when I attended in 1987. I am also donating a yearly prize to the High School for Excellence In Media Studies so that is really rewarding for me to be doing and I hope it will be the start of a long relationship in this field.

New client on board - and its palacial!

I am delighted to announce that I have been appointed by the Atholl Palace Hotel in Pitlochry to implement a PR campaign for them. It's a gorgeous hotel with so much scope and potential PR wise and I am absolutely thrilled that they have put their faith in me. They have already had coverage - on their recent Gold Award for Green Tourism - very well done on that - and on their hosting of a free dinner and stay for S Team Challenge - a group of visually impaired climbers who stayed at the hotel recently. Press trips are already lined up too - and the Press Pack has not even been issued yet - with The Scotsman, Business 7 and N01 magazine all lined up.

NEW WHISKY WEBSITE FROM DORNOCH CASTLE HOTEL

My clients at Dornoch Castle Hotel are tapping into the market for rare and prestige malt whiskies with the launch of their new website www.whiskymaltshop.com. Colin's two sons Philip and Simon are already really knowledgeable about their whiskies and have decided to take that one step further by now building up collections of rare malts and selling them to collectors online - or just someone looking for a very special gift for a loved one, maybe to start off a collection or try a whisky thye have never tried before. They have great contacts with lots of the local distilleries near Dornoch and I think they have spotted a real gap in the market. I am sure they will do very well with it and it is very much in keeping with the whole quality experience of Dornoch Castle.

A TASTE OF MEDIEVAL LIFE WITH SCARBOROUGH MUIR

My own two girls were grabbed a few weekends ago when my client Scarborough Muir was hosting a photoshoot at Rosyth Castle - the Castle was opening its doors to the public as part of Fife's Council's Doors Open Day and there was the chance for local children to dress up in medieval costumes. Scarborough Muir has donated a huge wooden banqueting table and has assisted the Rosyth Garden City Association, who look after the Castle, with a host of things including security and promotional leaflets. I needn't have worried though as the event was very well attended with lots of local chuldren willing to don costumes and pose for pics. My children were persuaded into costumes too.

We then checked out the doo'cot which was really fascinating too.

As a local Fife person with grandparents (and a father) from Rosyth I definitely want to see all of these important landmarks preserved.

HARDIES HIT TAYSIDE!

My clients Hardies Property & Construction Consultants have announced they are taking a controlling interest in Dundee based Chartered Surveyors W J R Christie - Christies who are well known in Dundee will retain their name. Managed to get the story a mention in the Scotsman Business Section as well as some good local coverage. It's Hardies ninth office in Scotland as they spread from outwith the Central belt to other areas. They also have an office in Galashiels now too as they take on the Borders!

DEER PARK MASTERS AND GO WILD DAY

Another one from me today as I am a bit behind on posting all the news from over the summer. I just wanted to officially welcome John Douglas, the new General Manager at Deer Park Golf and Country Club in Livingston. John and his team did a great job at the recent Deer Park Masters Golf Tournament held last month. This year we also had a Junior Masters event for the first time which seemed to go down very well (and we got some dry weather) - I hear it is going to be held again next year which is good news.


More belated summer news, Highland Safaris raised £1000 for Help for Heroes and The Black Watch as a result of their Go Wild Day in August - well done to them. This is another annual event which is a calendar highlight for many in the area. Watch out for them this Sunday (19th Sept) in the Sunday Post Family Matters feature!

Green Tourism Award for Dornoch Castle Hotel

Congratulations to Dornoch Castle Hotel who have secured the Gold Award in a top Green Tourism Scheme, becoming one of only a handful of businesses to be recognised at this level in the Highlands!

Owner Colin Thompson and his family have worked very hard recently installing a state of the art Biomass Heating System and Hot Water Scheme, one of a number of green initiatives.

I love their new luxury water too with their own label!

Watch this space as their new whisky website will be coming soon!

Macmillan Coffee Mornings

Just wanted to highlight two of my clients who are taking part in the World's Biggest Coffee Morning Event coming up at the end of this month - weekend of 25th and 26th September. Muir Homes is holding a Coffee Morning Open Weekend at five of its developments in Fife, Angus, Perthshire and Aberdeenshire and my clients at Mains of Taymouth at Kenmore are involving the whole village in their fund raising which will take place on the Sunday 26th in The Courtyard Restaurant - special guests the Blair Atholl Pipe Band. They are actually doing two events as their Coffee Morning will be followed by a Grand Prize Draw event on 30th October, also in The Courtyard. They have been collecting the most fabulous prizes to raffle including a number of great holidays. Edinburgh band The Vespa's will also perform at this end of season event.

Can I also thank Cocoa Black my clients for donating the truffle making course for Muir Homes event - they too will have a Prize Draw.

Let's hope both events are very well attended and raise lots of funds for Macmillan.

Good news from my clients

Just wanted to say well done to a couple of clients. Danni Menzies the daughter of Robin and Irena Menzies at Mains of Taymouth, Kenmore is doing really well with her modelling career. I did a really nice story for her on her involvement in a charity fashion show a few weeks ago and achieved some great coverage for her. Meanwhile Robin has his planning for the next phase of The Gallops buy to let holiday homes which is good news.

Ruth Hinks at Cocoa Black as been selected to represent the UK at the prestigious Chocolate Masters competition so good luck to her - the new Cocoa Black patisserie shop is also now open in Peebles Town Centre.

And at Highland Safaris they are building their new cycle skills area which will be a super addition to the estate at the Lodge.

exciting times for my clients

Congrats to Cocoa Black who are about to open a new patisserie cafe in Peebles town centre - Ruth is also thinking of entering the prestigious Chocolate Masters Competition where she will have to create an Aztec God out of chocolate!

Highland Safaris have opened their new cafe at the Safari Lodge - looks great - and they are planning to create a cycle skills area too , best wishes to them with that.
I will be trying for coverage on all these new things!

Cocoa Black on STV's 'The Hour'

Ruth Hinks from Cocoa Black Chocolate School in Peebles has recently appeared on STV's The Hour instructing the two presenters how to make chocolate Easter Eggs. Great fun was had by all and I think Ruth did very well indeed on live TV - her products looked amazing and making chocolate eggs together came across as great fun!

Watch it on STV Player here.

Muir Homes on Radio Borders

Muir Homes recently donated financial and in kind support to Peebles High School in regard to the construction of an innovative Training Centre for Construction Crafts, to be used by the school as well as the wider community - the first of its kind in Scotland. Radio Borders came along to interview both Chairman John Muir on the official launch day as well as several of the pupils from the school who had been involved with the project as a social enterprise venture, initially presenting to the Muir Board, applying for planning permission and overseeing the construction of the building which now sits in the grounds of the school.

You can find out more about media coverage gained for clients on the website.

Shapes on "The Hour"

You can't really put a value on TV coverage for clients. It is great exposure for them. In this link to the primetime STV Show "The Hour" my client Paul Howard, Senior Auctioneer at Shapes in Edinburgh is discussing the forthcoming auction of Sir Harry Lauder memorabilia which Shapes was holding that coming weekend. It's a great 7 minute slot which really brings the human interest element to the fore.

Watch it on STV Player here.