PLMR Group Media Snapshot: January 2025

Unlike our mammal counterparts, January certainly hasn’t been a month of hibernating in the UK. From sporting successes to new announcements, the first month of the year has been a busy one….

In the world of sports Luke Littler, aged just 17, became the youngest World Darts Champion, whilst boxing legend, Tyson Fury announced his retirement. In other news, the biggest dinosaur fossil trackway ever found in the UK was also discovered in a quarry in Oxfordshire and the city of Bradford began its tenure as the UK City of Culture for 2025.

Not to be outdone, the PLMR Group also welcomed in 2025 with a bang, from supporting and attending the Progressive Britain Political Weekend to hosting an ‘Introduction to Public Relations’ webinar and our CEO, Kevin Craig, speaking with Iain Dale on LBC and BBC News.

We have also continued to secure a fantastic array of media coverage for our clients, helping to achieve their strategic goals from the outset. Read on to find out about some of our top media highlights from January 2025!

BBC: Survivors of Auschwitz deliver warning from history as memories die out

Client: International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance

Sector: Culture

The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) is an intergovernmental organisation focused on addressing contemporary challenges related to the Holocaust and genocide of the Roma. The IHRA fosters education, remembrance, and research about what happened in the past, to build a world without genocide in the future.

Throughout January, PLMR has been collaborating closely with the IHRA as they looked to engage the public for International Holocaust Remembrance Day on the 27th January. This year’s International Holocaust Remembrance Day marked 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz.

PLMR supported the IHRA to secure national coverage in BBC News, with an expert comment by IHRA Chair, Lord Eric Pickles, which was included in an article that reflected on the ceremony for International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Poland. Throughout International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the piece was the lead article on the BBC News website and app.

BBC 5 Live: Wake up to money

Client: Independent Freight Solutions

Sector: Logistics

PLMR Advent’s client, Independent Freight Solutions (IFS), was in the national spotlight this month, with MD, Jenny Hooper, joining BBC 5Live’s Wake Up To Money as its business guest, alongside a host of other industry experts covering some of January’s biggest business stories.

The team secured the opportunity and joined a briefing call to run through key storylines affecting businesses in the UK and beyond. Jenny then provided logistics industry insight and small business expertise on a range of issues from UK growth and airport expansions to Donald Trump, AI and the Deloitte Football Money League. The appearance put IFS on the radar of early morning listeners up and down the country as well as those listening back on catch up.

Property Week: Muse appoints managing director of national partnerships

Client: Muse

Sector: Built Environment

Muse delivers ambitious regeneration at scale, leading complex, mixed-use projects. To kickstart the year, we supported the Muse team in publicising the appointment of a new Managing Director.

Firstly, we wanted to make sure we effectively highlighted the newly created role in which the hire was joining in – Managing Director of National Partnerships – and how this aligned with the businesses’ strategy and built on its impressive track record. Secondly, we also wanted to highlight the high level of expertise and experience she would be bringing to the senior leadership team and her new role at Muse.

We achieved a range of coverage across the sector, including in Property Week, The Construction Index, Egi, BE News and Green Street News.

Essex Live: Building work begins for new Harlow gym and spa with pools, saunas and more than 100 stations of exercise

Client: David Lloyd Clubs

Sector: Events, Leisure & Tourism

clubs in Essex and Kent later this year.

In January, we issued a press release announcing the work starting on the Clubs in Harlow and Herne Bay. The story provided an overview of the facilities that will be available and provided an update on the development, building the clubs’ profiles and excitement in the region for the openings.

Both stories achieved strong coverage in key regional titles including Essex Live and Kent Messenger.

South Wales Argus: Newport students win award for dementia patients project

Client: CREST Awards, British Science Association

Sector: Education

PLMR worked with client, British Science Association, to promote the CREST Awards which challenges students to explore STEM subjects through exciting hands-on activities.

Recognising the potential of using case studies to highlight the impact, PLMR worked with the team to draft a press release to celebrate the innovative example of Welsh students designing AI-powered glasses which aim to help dementia patients increase their independence.

Utilising local media connections, PLMR pitched out the article and secured coverage in South Wales Argus, promoting the awards to key regional audiences for the client, furthering their visibility and increasing sign-ups.

In other news...

From The Frontline: Local Government, Data Sharing and the Future of Healthcare Prevention

Client: PLMR HealthComms

Sector: Healthcare

This month, Matthew sat down with Councillor Thomas Robinson, Executive Member for Healthy Manchester and Adult Social Care at Manchester City Council, to discuss the role of local authorities in supporting the Government’s Prevention First agenda for the NHS.

The conversation touched on the role of data sharing between local authority and the NHS, and the role of place-based solutions in providing targeted support for local residents with long term, chronic conditions.

You can listen to the full episode on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

White text on blue background with decorative white plus shapes representing health communications. "From the Frontline a podcast by PLMR Healthcomms"

We’ll be back next month with PLMR Group’s latest media hits, but in the meantime you can read more about PLMR’s award-winning PR services over on our case studies page.

Postponed local elections: what it means for businesses in the East of England

PLMR’s Kevin Craig on GB News discussing the grooming gangs inquiry

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