RA EBBC Corporate Public Relations

Eastbourne Borough Council invites tenders for its Corporate Public Relations Services. The appointed agency will become the de facto press office for Eastbourne Borough Council (EBC) and Eastbourne Homes Limited (EHL). This will be duplicated for Lewes District Council (LDC) at times of specific need and as directed by LDC. The brief will focus on corporate PR and mirror all the traditional roles and responsibilities of an in-house PR team. The contract is for a period of 5 years commencing on 1st April 2016 and is capable of extension at the Council’s option for 2 years. Alternative contract structures will only be considered where these are submitted as an additional alternative to a proposal for the above term.

The Council is also looking for an agency that will grow the Council’s reputation and profile beyond its local boundary, particularly in regard to projects and initiatives that are attracting a regional and national interest.

With this in mind we are looking for an agency that will offer us a strategic public relations role and one that will:

- Work in partnership with us to protect and enhance our reputations, build goodwill and promote all three authorities in a positive light - Proactively seek opportunities to enhance our reputational standing as community leading organisations - Effectively promote major corporate priorities through innovative and outcome driven communication campaigns - Widen the scope of community awareness - Take a proactive approach in identifying opportunities to raise awareness of the day to day key activities of EHL and EBC, to include effective management of media messages and public relations during major incidents and at times of crisis/issue management - Be willing to broaden the scope of this agreement as future opportunities and requirements become more apparent

Currently the responsibility for Eastbourne Borough Council’s (EBC) Corporate Public Relations sits within the Corporate Development and Governance Services, specifically within the remit of the Council’s Senior Head of Corporate Development and Governance. The responsibility for Eastbourne Homes Limited (EHL) and its subsidiary company, Corporate Public Relations sits within the Managing Directors office and specifically within the remit of EHL’s Governance and Compliance Manager. Operational delivery of this service is wholly outsourced separately by both authorities; current provider for both is Cobb PR, based in Eastbourne.

Distinct from corporate public relations is EBC’s tourism marketing and promotion which remains in-house and delivered from within the Tourism and Enterprise Services provision.

Lewes District Council (LDC) provides its corporate public relations in-house. However, at times of specific need and in order to build in flexibility and add resilience to their in-house team, LDC buys in additional communications and PR support from Cobb PR. Th...

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