2022: Fresh Faced and Creating Value
What a year it has been for GRM! We’re taking a moment to reflect on the projects and achievements of this whirlwind of a year.
Here are some of our greatest highlights of 2022…
Kicking off with a new client, GRM was engaged by Mossend International Railfreight Park (MIRP) who we worked with on last year’s COP26 project, Low Carbon Logistics. Managing MIRP’s social media, public relations activities and website, we’ve been instrumental in building their profile digitally and sectorally. Commencing in May, we have represented MIRP’s communications in their joint bid for a Clyde Green Freeport in Glasgow.
Working with the wider communications group, GRM is responsible for communicating, delegating and delivering awareness of the bid, as well as engaging the Herald to run a media campaign, managing Clyde Green Freeport’s social media and sharing newsworthy press assets. The Clyde Green Freeport bid, if successful, is hugely important to the West of Scotland - it will change the region’s social and physical landscape, generate thousands of jobs, encourage growth and draw investment, as well as assist the UK and Scottish governments’ net zero goals. This will provide a large economic boost and competitive upper hand for the two chosen Green Freeports in Scotland.
Another extensive project involved the successful development and management of the four-week long Our Isles and Oceans (OIAO) sailing training programme in April and May this year. The programme was created to give disenfranchised youth the (fully funded) opportunity to learn to sail the 68-foot Clipper yacht and achieve their RYA Start Yachting Qualification. This is the first step to joining the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, of which OIAO is a 2023-24 Team Partner and currently the only British entry. This programme took place between Oban and the Isle of Mull with 39 young people, aged 18 to 35, learning to sail from Clipper Race offshore racing professionals. GRM was responsible for managing the entire event as well as the communications of the programme. This also included venturing out into the ocean in difficult conditions to capture photos and video footage, in addition to obtaining sponsorship for the programme.
GRM also gained some excellent fresh faces this year. Georgia Tiernan joined the team in March as our new Communications Executive, working on all things public relations and social media across our clients and our own marketing. Taicla Giles is our newest addition, having recently joined in November as our Marketing and Events Executive. Eager to learn the ropes of event management and further her marketing experience, Taicla has a passion for photography and enjoys all aspects of the industry, with a particular love of feature and content writing.
In May, GRM was engaged by Halifax-based creative engineering firm, Enginuity Inc. Enginuity primarily specialises in solutions, from mechanical engineering to product design. GRM has continued their partnership with Enginuity throughout the year and helped Enginuity expand their solutions services into the UK. Gordon Ritchie, GRM’s Managing Director, visited Halifx in June, where he witnessed several of their latest designs and projects underway. GRM also worked with Snap Innovations, Enginuity’s sub-brand, which was a significant partner of the OIAO programme.
GRM commenced work with Fife Cultural Trust, OnFife, in September to perform sponsorship consultancy over the next 12 months. OnFife manages over 40 venues and related events around the region. GRM will continue to work with OnFife to increase their sponsorship activity by producing a sponsorship framework for the company that produces reciprocal advantages for OnFife and partners.
Lastly, during the month of November, GRM attended the Yacht Racing Forum in Malta as a tier two sponsor of the event. Over 250 delegates from 23 different nations attended the event, where GRM was one of several exhibitors over the two days. Gordon Ritchie, GRM’s Managing Director, was a panellist on day one, discussing the topic “increasing participation in a declining market and encouraging the younger generation to join”. Gordon was joined on the panel by Clare Harrington from the New York Yacht Club, Jonquil Hackenberg from the Magenta Project, Charlotte Kirk Elkjaer from the City of Aarhus and Alastair Fox from World Sailing. GRM’s stand featured partners at Tunnocks, Snap Innovations and the Novara One Planet Project, along with a business card raffle. Clare Harrington, the Rear Commodore from the New York Yacht Club, was the winner of our raffle prize - a 23-year-old Glenfiddich Grand Cru whisky. Laura Hampton, GRM andsOur Isle’s Offshore Trainee, sponsored by the Royal Dee Yacht Club, presented Clare with the whisky. GRM connected with many new companies and faces that have some exciting plans in the pipeline for 2023.
