RPM Sports, the same company that brought the hugely successful Powerball® gyroscopic exercise device to the UK, is responsible for creating Powerspin®. The mechanism of this new exercise device is a rubber over-molded steel ball that runs smoothly around inside a circular tube. The momentum of the ball works the muscles with very little effort.

SKV is implementing a dedicated consumer PR strategy targeting national, consumer and fitness media outlets. It will also be developing an engagement strategy for Powerspin® online with the blogging community in addition to managing its Facebook activity and Twitter feed.

David Bloomberg at Powerspin® said, “We were impressed by SKV’s enthusiasm for our product. We loved the ideas that were presented to us by the team at SKV and we are looking forward to seeing the results.  It’s an exercise product that can be used at home by anyone of any age and it’s been snapped up by Argos, Tesco Direct and Amazon already. ”

Director Geraldine Vesey said, “We have developed a comprehensive multi platform communications strategy for Powerspin® to ensure it gets talked about by the wide target market that it will appeal to.”

L-R Kirsty Fife, Geraldine Vesey, Hayley Brown with Mairead Rodden (back)

-ENDS-

For more information please contact Geraldine Vesey, Mairead Rodden or Kirsty Fife at SKV Communications on 0161 838 7770 or email firstname.surname@skvcommunicatons.co.uk

SKV Communications – Award winning PR agency Manchester – 0161 838 7770

Samaritans helped over 193 000 callers over the Christmas period alone and tended to 2,316,949 contacts made by phone last year alone from people who are suffering with problems around emotional health.  The Surrey-headquartered charity has offices on Oxford Road in Manchester city centre which are manned 24 hours.

On 3^rd February Samaritans is undertaking The Feelgood Friday event across the country to raise awareness of the vital work that the charity does year round.  SKV is creating an online Facebook competition for buskers to  upload their best feel good performances to be in with the chance of becoming the ‘Feel Good’ champion.

They are also calling upon prominent business people in the region to put their weight behind the campaign.  Apprentice star Ruth Badger, who is based in Salford Quays was one of the first to lend her support.

With extensive experience in the charity and third sector world, SKV has worked for Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital charity alongside others within the Central Manchester University Trust  and understands the impact the current climate has on fundraising.  SKV Director Geraldine Vesey says, “Having worked on communications around campaigns aimed at both the B2B and B2C markets we know that there are challenges around getting your voice heard.  The Feel Good Friday campaign is designed to bring some joy to people at a particularly tough time of year and we are looking forward to promoting it as far and wide as possible.”

Claire Duncan of Samaritans said, “The creativity demonstrated by SKV in its pitch really stood out and we loved their unique approach to our communications. With SKV’s expertise we feel we can maximise awareness of our cause within the North West.”

-ENDS-

For more information please contact Geraldine Vesey, Mairead Rodden or Alyssa Harrison at SKV Communications on 0161 838 7770 or email firstname.surname@skvcommunications.co.uk

SKV Communications – Award winning PR agency Manchester – 0161 838 7770

A new partnership between the University of Salford and the India Green Building Council (IGBC), endorsed by the Indian Government, has been signed ahead of the University’s second conference on energy conservation in construction, Retrofit 2012.

The agreement, which will include the development of a joint Masters programme in green and sustainable management, was signed at the India Green Building Congress, the country’s flagship event on green building which brought together an international gathering of influential industrialists and academics.

In his keynote address, Professor Mike Kagioglou, Head of the University’s School of the Built Environment,

said: “Our current relationship with the Indian Green Building Council puts us in a unique position to act as a hub for collaboration between Indian and British companies in green construction and energy.  This new partnership means that in addition to establishing close research and development working in this hugely important field, we shall be able to benefit a wide range of manufacturers and service providers working in green construction and renewable energy.”

The plans will gather significant momentum at Retrofit 2012, to be held in January, when international academics, businesses and policy-makers in energy, construction and the environment will gather to hear the findings of vital research into energy use and reduction undertaken in the University’s unique Energy House.

The Energy House, built in the same Coronation Street-style as 4.5m UK homes and unveiled at last year’s conference, is a pre-1920s terraced house, furnished and fitted as a typical working home with fully functioning water, gas and electricity supplies – all built inside a three-storey, sealed testing chamber.

This unique approach is a response to the sustainability challenge presented by the UK’s ageing housing stock. 70% of the country’s existing residential property will still be inhabited in 2050* and 91% of all UK homes would benefit substantially from improvements in energy efficiency.*

The country’s least efficient properties were predominantly constructed prior to 1920. These currently make up 15% of UK homes but actually account for 23% of total notional C02 emissions*. Of these dwellings, more than 2m, are the two-up, two-down terraced-style the University will be studying.

With the imminent launch of the government’s Green Deal, both business and the public will be interested in quantitative findings about the energy and cost outputs of various behaviours, approaches and equipment in a domestic setting.

The conference will hear that already the Energy House is testing insulation and efficiency technologies from more than 50 businesses ranging from large multi-national leading brands through to regional micro business looking to enter the fast growing retrofit market.  The team is also working with housing associations and local authorities to deliver cost-effective energy-saving combinations.  These bring together construction techniques and ways of persuading and helping people to adopt more energy-efficient habits in their daily lives.

In total the Energy House has now attracted more than £3.5m of investment and has been nominated for several prestigious awards including a Times Higher Award for Outstanding Contribution to Innovation and Technology along with a Green Gown Award, celebrating environmental activity in UK universities.

Professor Nigel Mellors, Energy Theme Lead said: “The reduction of energy demand from the existing stock of homes had been identified as a core part of UK and EU energy policy. As a high-level question of research, policy and economics it brings together many disciplines in addressing a real world problem.

“The interest from India shows that even though a Salford terrace and homes in India, and their ambient climates, may differ dramatically, the same issues of energy reduction are at the top of the agenda.

“Whether the housing type is terraced house or a clay structure, the findings of the research we are doing here are needed as much in Mumbai as they are in Manchester.

“Too often, excellent work that would impact upon an integrated understanding of successful retrofit programmes is lost in translation, history and within disciplines.  Time is running out in the battle against high energy practices and lifestyles, and the conference is designed to ensure such valuable knowledge is not wasted.”

Retrofit Salford 2011 was the UK’s first conference addressing the challenge of the sustainable retrofit of existing housing stock. It attracted numerous experts and organisations and included a visit by Greg Barker, Minister for Climate Change.

January’s event brings together a wide range of researchers, policy makers and industry professionals to discuss energy efficiency. Retrofit 2012 will take a multi-disciplinary approach in identifying how domestic retrofit for energy efficiency may be best addressed, as well as to debate the three main issues for UK energy policy – carbon emissions, fuel poverty and energy security.

For more details and to register for the conference, please go to:

http://www.energy.salford.ac.uk/retrofit-salford-2012

* Statistics from the Communities and Local Government English House Condition Survey 2007 Annual Report.

More information from Andrew Spinoza, Linda Isted and Max Howard at SKV Communications

(0161) 838 7770

According to what is believed to be the UK’s biggest ever survey* of young drivers, commissioned by leading insurance broker Swinton, 73% of young drivers under the age of 25 say their social lives are being blighted due to high insurance costs.

The poll, which questioned 2,900 young people on their attitudes towards motoring, revealed that those who can’t afford insurance, over a quarter (27.10%) admit they have committed the offence of driving their parents’ car without their own insurance, or know someone who does this.

Over 70% (73.26%) of youths questioned believe that owning a car is a key step to becoming an adult, and a huge number – nearly 90% – believe a car enables them to be independent. But a majority (50.50%) believe motoring costs are a ‘rip off’.

Insurance costs for 17-25 year olds have hit new highs with recent reports that average premiums often top £4,000 per year for young men and £2,000 for young women[1].

94.73% of the sample says that high insurance costs are having a negative impact on their social lives. Large numbers of this frustrated generation say that choosing to run their car means they have cut back on buying clothes (27.29%) or holidays (16.93%) and are prevented from going on nights out (27%).

Those that do own and maintain a car reported being used as a taxi service for friends (63.93%), with nearly half (43.39%) claiming their friends fail to contribute to petrol expenses.

When asked if they would be willing to install technology to a car that monitors driving behaviour including speed and hours of driving, with the aim of rewarding safer drivers with lower insurance premiums – 65.92% said they would install the device if it significantly reduced car insurance costs.

However, more than half of drivers surveyed would not refrain from driving during the hours of 11pm and 6am to reduce insurance premiums, indicating that night-time socialising is still an important factor for young drivers.

Steve Chelton, Insurance Development Manager at Swinton said, “We are all aware of the rising costs of insurance for young drivers, but the impact that this is having on their social lives is often overlooked.

“The results from this survey clearly highlight that young car owners feel they are being exploited. It is costing them a fortune to enjoy the lifestyle that previous generations took for granted.

“Insurance companies need to address this issue so that the UK doesn’t end up with a stranded and frustrated generation of young drivers, some who are breaking the law in order to drive a car.”

-ENDS-

* researched completed by One Poll, October 2011

For more information please contact Andrew Spinoza, Mairead Rodden or Lucy Gordon at SKV Communications on 0161 838 7770 or email firstname.surname@skvcommunications.co.uk

SKV Communications – Award Winning PR Agency Manchester – 0161 838 7770

Swinton surveyed its panel of insurers to find out if they consider the fitment of cold weather tyres to be a modification to the vehicle.

A modification would usually see an increase in the car insurance premium.

All ten of the major insurers on Swinton’s panel which took part, said that they do not see fitting of cold weather tyres as a modification and therefore would not need to increase the premium.

However, all insurers recommended motorists should inform them of any change to tyres, to make entirely sure the new tyres do not fall outside the manufacturers recommended specification and incur a premium rise.

Some of the UK’s largest insurers were surveyed as part of Swinton’s panel including Ageas, Aviva, Axa, Provident, Chaucer and RSA.

Aviva was one of the insurers that encourage the fitment of cold weather tyres as they aid mobility in poor conditions and provide increased performance credentials in temperatures below 7 degrees.

After a series of particularly harsh winters and with another one predicted for this year, cold weather tyres – common in Germany and Eastern Europe – are becoming more popular in the UK.

Once the weather drops below 7°C, the rubber on regular ‘summer’ tyres hardens up, lessening their grip on the road.

Cold weather tyres are manufactured with more natural rubber and silica, which keeps them supple in the colder weather offering greater grip in cold conditions including snow and ice and can offer up to 55% reduction in braking distance*. Not only that, cold weather tyres such as Goodyear’s UltraGrip 8 tyres offer 41% better lateral grip on the snow and 6% better resistance to aquaplaning on curved roads**.

Steve Chelton Insurance Development Manager at Swinton said, “It is great to see that insurers are not penalising motorists for taking extra safety measures like fitting cold weather tyres.”

With our winters apparently getting harsher cold weather tyres are becoming more popular in the UK. Our panel of insurers have clarified that cold weather tyres shouldn’t been seen as a modification when fitted to a vehicle so motorist shouldn’t be worried about increased car insurance premiums.

”However, we would advise always to check with your insurance provider to inform them of the change.”

Michelle Fisher, Brand Manager for Goodyear Tyres said, “More and more motorists are beginning to fit cold weather tyres during colder months. Met Office stats show that we can have up to 156 days between October and March below 7 degrees. It is at these temperatures that cold weather tyres provide optimum performance keeping motorists on track to get from A to B easily.”
-ENDS-

*Compared to a Goodyear summer tyre, measured by TÜV SÜD Automotive in March & April 2011;
Tyre Size: 205/55R16; Test Car: Golf VI; Location: Arctic Falls (Sweden); Report nr: 76245861

**Compared to a Goodyear summer tyre, measured by TÜV SÜD Automotive in April 2011;
Tyre Size: 205/55R16; Test Car: Golf VI; Location: Papenburg (GE); Report nr: 76245861

For more information please contact Andrew Spinoza, Mairead Rodden or Lucy Gordon at SKV Communications on 0161 838 7770 or email firstname.surname@skvcommunications.co.uk

SKV Communications – Award winning Manchester PR Agnecy – 0161 838 7770

Founded in Preston in 1961, BDP – the UK’s largest interdisciplinary design practice – celebrates its 50^th anniversary this year with a Manchester exhibition, events and a specially-commissioned book.

The Manchester Studio’s work is being recognised for the major contribution it has made to the now-worldwide practice as part of its ‘61-11’ celebration.

A major exhibition of BDP’s work in the UK and internationally will feature models and images of award-winning North-West projects: the BDP Manchester Studio building, the Abito apartments in Salford, and the RIBA Stirling Prize-nominated Liverpool  1 shopping centre.

The exhibition will be staged at CUBE at Portland Street from October 10th to November 4^th. BDP-hosted events include educational events and one for the members of pro.manchester.

BDP Manchester chairman Gavin Elliott says: “It is both a pleasure and a privilege to bring the BDP 61-11 Exhibition to Manchester and to share our story and our projects with the widest audience possible. In the last 50 years the practice has grown from its modest beginnings in Preston to become a major force in architecture and design both nationally and internationally. It’s therefore particularly satisfying to reinforce our connections to the North West of England by displaying our work at CUBE.”

BDP Chairman Tony McGuirk says: “This year BDP is celebrating its 50th year as the UK’s leading interdisciplinary design practice. Founded in Preston by George Grenfell Baines in 1961, BDP’s collective ethos has flourished into a firm of over a thousand talented people in studios across the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, India, China and Abu Dhabi. BDP proudly continues to follow the approach of ‘Creating Sustainable Places for People’ which spans all sectors of human activity.”

The exhibition will be staged at the Cube Gallery, Manchester from October . The practice has published a book entitled ‘BDP 61\11 Continuous Collective’ written by Sunday Times architecture critic and RIBA Journal editor Hugh Pearman.

It gives an insight into the work, ethos and culture of BDP, tracing the work of the practice from its founding in 1961 as part of the emerging cultural change of the North West of England to the present day international design firm.

The book features the BDP buildings and projects regarded as catalyst projects throughout those 50 years together with some of the buildings they spawned.

61/11 Continuous Collective is available for sale at the RIBA London bookshop at the cost £28.00.

Exhibition details

BDP 61-11

October 11 – November 4

Opening hours:

Mon-Fri 12-5:30pm
Saturdays 12-5pm
Sundays closed

CUBE

113 – 115 Portland Street
Manchester
M1 6DW

For more information, contact Andrew Spinoza or Anna Goulding at SKV Communications on 0161 838 7770, firstname.lastname@skvcommunications.co.uk

SKV Communications – Award winning PR agency Manchester – 0161 838 7770

Hollywood-style movie by innovative property developer

FROM the streets of New York and the restaurants of Shanghai…to the key worker estates of  Salford.

Affordable housing specialist FreshStart Living has commissioned a glossy cinematic Internet film to woo property buyers in China and the US.

Being made available on FreshStart Living YouTube, Video News Agency and other online channels, the 2 minute film reflects the popularity among Chinese investors of the Salford-based firm’s UK portfolio.

Filmed on location in New York, London and Manchester, it’s a humorous take on the once-unlikely trend for Chinese investors to buy homes in Manchester, Liverpool and Salford as student rental investments. The Hollywood-style dialogue sees the English lines sub-titled in Mandarin, and vice versa.

In March this year, FreshStart became the only UK partner for Sou Fun, the $2bn NYSE-listed Chinese internet portal, and the 39^th most-used website in China with 20 million registered users. It has since signed a similar deal with Malaysian portal King Group and is exploring a partnership in Singapore.

In September, FreshStart Living appointed advisers Holland Bendelow Consulting Group for a potential flotation on the AIM (Alternative Investment Market), the London Stock Exchange’s stock market for growing companies.

FreshStart, based in Swinton, Greater Manchester, started trading in February 2009 in response to the virtual standstill of residential development following the downturn of 2008 and the growing need for affordable homes. The business specialises in transforming empty or underperforming buildings into affordable homes for tenants and sells at below market prices or ‘real prices’ to investor landlords.

FreshStart is on target to sell 3,000 units in the financial year 2011-12 and has built a £40m asset base in the North of England. It has residential and student accommodation schemes in key locations such as Manchester, Liverpool, Salford, Bradford, Nottingham and Greenock, Scotland.

FreshStart Living employed just five staff in January 2011, but now has more than 40 employees at its head office in Swinton, Greater Manchester. Its business model has proved to be not only recession-proof but one which has thrived because of falling property values and stalled residential housing schemes.

FreshStart acquires sites at below market value – often bankrupt or distressed stock – and develops them efficiently and cost-effectively allowing savings to be passed onto the final purchasers.

Unlike much unrealistic pricing for property which was developed and funded during the credit boom, FreshStart’s low selling prices offer future appreciation in value for investors.

The low prices also allow the business to let properties to tenants at competitive rents in what is a buoyant rental market.

The video was made by Video News Agency, which is making high-definition broadcast-quality downloads available to the media on www.videonewsagency.com

For more info. contact Andrew Spinoza/Justin Strong/Lucy Gordon at SKV Communications on 0161 838 7770 or e-mail at firstname.surname@skvcommunications.co.uk

www.freshstartliving.com

Leading flotation consultants Holland Bendelow Consulting Group have been appointed by affordable housing specialist FreshStart Living to advise on its flotation on the AIM (Alternative Investment Market), the London Stock Exchange’s stock market for growing companies.

FreshStart, based in Swinton, Greater Manchester, started trading in February 2009 in response to the virtual standstill of residential development following the downturn of 2008 and the growing need for affordable homes. The business specialises in transforming empty or underperforming buildings into affordable homes for tenants and sells at ‘real prices’ to investor landlords.

FreshStart is on target to sell 3,000 units in the financial year 2011-12 and has built a £40m asset base in the North of England. It has residential and student accommodation schemes in key locations such as Manchester, Liverpool, Salford, Bradford and Greenock, Scotland.

Holland Bendelow’s Managing Director John Holland said: “Holland Bendelow confirms that we are currently engaged in advising FreshStart Living on a future AIM flotation.

“With the average price of homes in England and Wales reaching £175,000, this is beyond the reach of many first time buyers, therefore the need for affordable housing and student accommodation has never been greater.

“FreshStart Living’s model of transforming empty or under-utilised buildings into affordable modern private sector homes and student accommodation makes a lot of sense. The company’s growth in the sector over a relatively short period of time is striking and FreshStart Living’s pipeline of new projects is equally impressive’’.

Mr Holland declined to give details of the projected date of any flotation or any estimated valuation of the company, which will report its half-year accounts in October.

FreshStart Living employed just five staff in January 2011, but now has more than 40 employees at its head office in Swinton, Greater Manchester. Its business model has proved to be not only recession-proof but one which has thrived because of falling property values and stalled residential housing schemes.

FreshStart acquires sites at below market value – often bankrupt or distressed stock – and develops them efficiently and cost-effectively allowing savings to be passed onto the final purchasers.

Unlike much unrealistic pricing for property which was developed and funded during the credit boom, FreshStart’s low selling prices offer future appreciation in value for investors.

The low prices also allow the business to let properties to tenants at competitive rents in what is a buoyant rental market.

The FreshStart Portfolio Builder product has brought scores of new and returning investors into the property market after a period in which many were disillusioned by the effects of the credit crunch.

Its purchasers range from experienced property buyers to first time investors, and include a range of international players in the property market.

In March, FreshStart became the only UK partner for Sou Fun, the $2bn NYSE-listed Chinese internet portal, and the 39^th most-used website in China with 20 million registered users. It has since signed a similar deal with Malaysian portal King Group and is exploring a partnership in Singapore.

For interviews with John Holland of Holland Bendelow or Stuart Cook of FreshStart Living please contact Andrew Spinoza or Justin Strong SKV Communications on 0161 838 7770 or e-mail at firstname.surname@skvcommunications.co.uk

www.freshstartliving.com

One of the key tasks for the Manchester based agency will be focusing media attention on the opening of the new beauty hall at Exchange Square in the city centre.  In a first for a UK luxury store, Selfridges beauty and accessories hall will be located on the lower ground floor.  Visitors will be greeted by a panoramic 360 degree view of the new area in the remodelled store as they enter via a glass atrium designed by globally renowned retail architects HKHM.

Currently under construction, the beauty and accessories hall will be home to internationally-renowned beauty and accessories brands and will officially launch in October.

As part of the pre launch campaign a mobile Selfridges photographic and make up studio has been created in an Airstream imported from the USA.  Stationed in key locations in the city centre, the Airstream will host a series of makeovers of women who have been selected in a street casting to discover the new faces of Selfridges beauty for an Autumn billboard and taxi promotional campaign.

PR for the Trafford Centre store centres around the new women’s designer wear area as the store takes delivery of a stunning range including Autumn/Winter ’11 collections from Philip Lim 3.1, Amanda Wakeley, Givenchy, Victoria Beckham, Isabel Mourant, Herve Leger and Alexander McQueen. In addition to these international designers, quirky French outerwear brand Moncler launches its upcoming collection exclusively with Selfridges Trafford, featuring must-have pieces to meet the major trends of the season. All brands will be promoted by an extensive product placement and PR programme.

Selfridges has also invested in a dazzling jewellery department at the Trafford Centre store, featuring new and exclusive collections from Thomas Sabo, Swarovski, Carat, Monica Vinader and Georg Jenson in boutique-style bar concepts. SKV will be supporting the investment with product placement and promotional activity.

A full media relations campaign for the Bullring-based Birmingham store will focus on fashion and beauty with the store’s key food offering also being promoted through regional print, broadcast and online media.

Says Geraldine Vesey, “The Selfridges offering is amazing – not a day goes by when there isn’t something new in the stores – whether it’s an exclusive brand, a pop up shop or a personal appearance from a celebrity visitor.  The launch of the new beauty hall is an amazing project to work on and the SKV team are delighted to be involved.”

ENDS

SKV Communications – Award Winning PR Agency Manchester – 0161 838 7770

Householders and business owners who have suffered damages due to the UK riots should be covered by their insurance policies, according to the UK’s leading high street retailer of insurance.

Swinton Insurance is urging householders and business owners whose property has been damaged by the violence, to contact their insurance broker to check if they are covered under their policy, as riots continued to spread through London on Monday, with the violence spreading outside of the capital to Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool, Manchester city centre and Salford.

Shops and businesses have had their windows smashed and their contents looted, whilst homes have been badly damaged.

But according to Swinton Insurance, most home and commercial insurance policies should cover people for looting, fire or other structural damage. Accommodation costs for those unable to stay in their homes could also be provided under some policies.

Steve Chelton, Swinton Group Claims Manager, said: “It is essential that householders and business owners contact their insurance broker for immediate help and to find out what they are covered for. Most insurance providers operate a 24-hour claims line and can help people arrange for emergency repairs and the damage to be inspected as quickly as possible.”

“Most commercial insurance policies should cover businesses for damage to their premises, including interruptions to business caused by the riots and those whose trade is affected by the aftermath. Some policies may even cover businesses which are not damaged, but whose trade has been affected as a result of the violence.

“Here at Swinton we are doing all we can to help people during this very difficult time. With this in mind, we are urging people to contact their local Swinton branch in the first instance, so that we can help them process their claim in the most efficient way.”

Ends.

SKV Communications – Award Winning Manchester PR Agency – 0161 838 7770