MacComms

Tune into ITV Calendar and BBC Look North today to see our Baton Of Hope UK first national conference in action!

We LOVE training entrepreneurs, SMEs and charities in how to smash their own PR.

And to receive positive feedback like this is the icing on the cake!

So long as you have someone who can write in your organisation, Ellie MacDonald can teach the rest so you can secure your own positive media coverage!

You can book a 60 minute 1-2-1 with Ellie on the PR tools and training section of MacComms (Yorkshire) Ltd website (link in comments)

Or get in touch to discuss something more in depth or book Ellie to speak at your event 💖

Not long now!

Join a supportive community that's all about lifting each other up!

Our Netwalks with BT allow you to take some time for self-care, connect with a local entrepreneur network, enjoy fresh air and help you to self-manage your mental health wellness.

At the next Netwalking event in Leeds we will be joined by two exceptional experts, who will share their insights into wellbeing and mental health.

Also a huge thanks also to our brilliant Leeds Netwalk Leader Ellie MacDonald, the founder of MacComms.

🗓️ Date: Wednesday 20th March 2024
⏰ Time: 10:30am - 1:30pm
📍 Meeting Point: Crag House Farm car park, Cookridge, Leeds
🚶 Register: https://bit.ly/3STzvNm

Image description: A vibrant post-Netwalk get together at a cafe with groups of people engaging in conversations. The room is lit with string lights and decorated with hanging paper pom-poms. Attendees are mingling and networking, some seated and others standing, with a few chatting to a member of the team who is wearing a 'Small Business Britain' jacket.

This is going to be the BEST Big Netwalk! 🚶 ☕️ 🧁

Learn practical strategies for managing stress and finding balance!

Join us, BT and two amazing experts at our next Netwalk in Leeds, where we will explore ways to support your mental wellbeing.

The amazing Ellie MacDonald, founder of MacComms, will be leading our Leeds Netwalk!.

You are of course welcome to bring your dogs, and we’ll also have some delicious refreshments afterwards at Crag House Farm – what’s not to love!

🗓️ Date: Wednesday 20th March 2024
⏰ Time: 10:30am - 1:30pm
📍 Meeting Point: Crag House Farm car park, Cookridge, Leeds
🚶 Register: https://bit.ly/3STzvNm

Image description: A group of small business owners walking on a pavement by a park at a Netwalking event, with one person walking a small dog. They are wearing warm clothing while chatting and walking in an urban setting.

Small business friends, why not join us for this spectacular Big Netwalk!

A lovely, 40 minute walk in the Yorkshire countryside with free coffee and cake afterwards ☕️ 🧁

Get ready for the third NetWalk of 2024!

On 20th March we will be heading to Leeds with BT and two esteemed experts, who will be sharing their insights on wellbeing and mental health.

The leader of our Leeds NetWalk will be the amazing founder of MacComms, Ellie MacDonald. Dogs are always welcome and you can also enjoy free refreshments at the stunning Crag House Farm – on us!

🗓️ Date: Wednesday 20th March 2024
⏰ Time: 10:30am - 1:30pm
📍 Meeting Point: Crag House Farm car park, Cookridge, Leeds
🚶 Register: https://bit.ly/3STzvNm

Image description: A group of cheerful small business owners chatting and walking together in a park on a cloudy day. Some are wearing warm winter clothing and scarves, and one person is walking a dog. They are surrounded by bare trees and the mood is casual and friendly.

Following 15 years working in PR, Ellie MacDonald is running two free webinars to teach both charities; and entrepreneurs and small businesses how to master your own media coverage this week!

Charities and other third sector organisations are invited to join on Wednesday 29th November at 11am, link in the comments.

Businesses can come along on Thursday 30th November at 11am.

See you there?

FREE webinar: how to secure media coverage and promote your small business Do you want to grow your business? Then you need to get noticed and we'll show you how!

We love supporting charities with their promotions, they’re so PRable and often don’t know it!

This is why we’ve created a ‘PR for Good’ course and have a completely free webinar coming up to provide third-sector organisations with our top tips.

To practice what we preach, here’s a case study (one of the greatest PRable assets available to any organisation)…

Ellie MacDonald says:

“I first came across Simon on the Streets in 2015 – it was a tiny, unknown charity and I immediately loved what they stood for and how they helped homeless and vulnerable people on the streets of West Yorkshire.

“Initially supporting ad-hoc with PR and social media training, I’ve also personally supported them in fundraising initiatives. Taking part in the Big Sleep Out (twice!) was an eye-opening experience and it remains one of the best campaigns to support professionally.”

Just last month the charity’s annual Big Sleep Out returned to the streets of Leeds and we helped promote it and secure media coverage both ahead of and shortly after the event.

We achieved:

📰 30 pieces of media coverage across various press, radio, video and social media

📢 This reached 3.6 million people

🌟 Achieving 146 brand mentions

💰 The total raised was over £25,000!

View the PR report at https://ace.media/dashboard/acebook/view/M24kJP?from=2023-09-01&to=2023-11-03

If you are/know a third sector organisation who’d benefit from this free webinar, please tag them or send them the link in the comments to book their place on
📅 Wednesday 29th November at 11am

Analysis: Big Sleep Out 2023 PR coverage report - Simon on the Streets

We have lots of exciting and completely FREE events coming up and you’re invited!

From netwalks, socials and learning, there’s something for everyone…

Ellie MacDonald has spent a loooong time taking her 15 years+ experience in PR and marketing to create training courses for small businesses and charities and is delivering 2 free webinars coming up as follows…

📣PR for Good: learn how to promote your charity or other third sector organisation during a free webinar on 29th November at 11am (link to book in comments)

📰 PR for startups, small businesses and entrepreneurs – a free webinar to teach you how to master your own media coverage and promotions on 30th November at 11am (link to book in comments)

🚶🏼‍♀️Netwalks! November’s netwalk is in Golden Acre Park 10am on 14th November – includes FREE coffee and cake! And/or join us for a festive netwalk in December at Roundhay Park with mulled wine and a mince pie (or drink and cake of your choice) on 12th December at 11am (link to book onto either/both netwalks now live via Small Business Britain in the comments)

🎄And finally, a festive social! Join Ellie and Craig Smith for a solopreneurs Christmas get-together in Leeds (5 mins from the train station) from 7pm on Friday 8th December. Message Ellie or Craig to confirm your place for this!

Hope to see you soon!

Very proud to be helping spread the word about Simon on the Streets’s upcoming events at Leeds Light Night and it’s own Big Sleep-out 📰

Yorkshire charity encourages people to ‘walk in their shoes’ as they highlight homelessness Yorkshire based independent charity Simon on the Streets has announced a series of flagship events in October to shine a spotlight on homelessness in Leeds.

What an incredible day for a netwalk!

It was so lovely to see lots of new faces, a couple of regulars and people we haven’t caught up with for years!

The sun shone as we headed up the hills in Rawdon, past a boating lake for great views across the city before enjoying coffee, cold drinks and cake thanks to local cafe SIO Coffee & Shakes (check them out for yummy treats if you’re local 😋)

If you’d like to attend the next netwalk in Leeds, we’re back in Meanwood on Tuesday 10th October. Book at https://smallbusinessbritain.uk/netwalks.

☀️ ☕️ 🍰 🥤 🚤 🌲

Happy Yorkshire Day!

We're proud to be Yorkshire-born and bred and support awesome Yorkshire-based firms too.

Just some of them include:

🐱Vet-AI and Joii Pet Care - starting by supporting the Nexus Leeds-based company 5 years ago, we launched the company's innovative app to help pet parents access affordable & accessible vet care. We've secured dozens of award wins and hundreds of pieces of media coverage and they've gone on to roaring success

🎶Sound Leisure Ltd - think jukeboxes come from the USA? These musical beauties are produced right here in Leeds. Now run by the nicest man in manufacturing, Chris Black, I'd highly recommend a tour of the manufacturing facility & showroom

🥃Cooper King Distillery - we had a merry old time promoting this self-built distillery, securing coverage in The Guardian, getting listed as the number 1 sustainable spirit in the i & featuring on the front cover of the Yorkshire Post magazine, to name just a few. We also took influencers for tours of the beautiful gin and whisky distillery based outside of York, boosting awareness of the distillery, tasty products and the founders' inspirational story behind the business

📱KwizzBit - we helped our friend and neighbour from Entrepreneurial Spark, Mark Walsh as the phone-based quiz startup appeared on Dragons Den. A lack of investment in the den hasn't stopped this top Leeds tech firm from achieving bigger, better things ever since

🧠Champion Health - we met impressive young entrepreneur Harry Bliss during the first Covid lockdown and offered pro-bono support to further help the company provide top workplace wellbeing support to employees. We've since gone on to enjoy a great partnership, securing coverage across key HR and business media, with a few national newspapers too, focusing on securing those all-important backlinks from top-tier publications to a variety of key guides to help both employers and employees

👷🏼‍♂️Widd Signs - having started in Bradford in 1888, the long-standing signage firm now boasts a Leeds HQ and a St Helens manufacturing facility. Working with top retailers, construction companies and more, Widd can bring any branding to life and we have a lot of fun supporting them with various marketing and PR activities

🖤Simon on the Streets -we love to support charities and we’ve worked with this hardworking homelessness charity for several years through PR and fundraising (we’d highly recommend taking part in the annual sleep-out for a humbling, eye-opening experience)

☀️Xerogrid - another friend from E-spark, we've supported Ian Emberton's mission to bring with its off-grid energy. We're currently hard at work announcing a partnership with a Forbes China top 50 business, securing this coverage over on MSN.com: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/smallbusiness/yorkshire-company-joins-hands-with-forbes-china-top-50-business-to-introduce-off-grid-energy-solutions-in-the-uk/ar-AA1eCSWT

Another netwalking success!

Friday saw the second Leeds netwalking event, this time around the stunning Roundhay Park with sunshine, swans and cygnets, ending with good coffee (tea for Ellie MacDonald!) cake and friendly conversation.

Date for your diary…

The third Leeds netwalking event we’ll be leading on behalf of Small Business Britain and BT Business is on Friday 7th July, 10am at Golden Acre Park.

All friendly folks in business are most welcome!

🚶‍♀️☀️☕️ 🍰

Join Ellie MacDonald one week today for the second Leeds netwalk, led by me, powered by Small Business Britain and BT Business.

10am on Friday 9th June will see us netwalking around the beautiful Roundhay Park for a moderate 40-minute stroll before FREE coffee and cake in the Lakeside cafe.

We’re looking forward to seeing the sun and some great people at this one!

Book at https://smallbusinessbritain.uk/netwalks🚶‍♀️☕️ 🍰

Small Business Britain | Champion. Inspire. Accelerate. Netwalks, created by Small Business Britain and led by engaging local small businesses, give you a chance to get out of your usual workplace and meet up with other local businesses. Share ideas and experiences, build your small business support network and make time to walk and talk.

We’ve had a super fun first netwalk in Meanwood Park today!

Thanks to all who joined us and look out for details of the next - 9th June in Roundhay Park 🚶‍♀️ ☕️ 🍰

Small Business Britain BT

Fancy a netwalk in Meanwood Park this Friday?

Our founder Ellie MacDonald has teamed up with Small Business Britain and BT to bring netwalks to Leeds!

Commencing this Friday 5th May at 10am, Ellie will guide a group of friendly business folk around Meanwood Park and the Hollies for a 40 minute netwalk before attendees enjoy free coffee and cake in the local Three Cottages cafe.

Can’t make this one? Not to worry we’ll be netwalking in and around Leeds every month!

*George the cat won’t be attending*

to 7 years ago today when we landed this press coverage on our first years success having formed in Huddersfield before we moved to Leeds and continued to grow from there.

A lot has happened since then!

As we enter our eighth year in business we remain committed to supporting startups, charities and SMEs to grow by getting them noticed and creating credible brands through media coverage, awards and more.

💞 📰

Why are the first few weeks of the year in PR land so crazy busy?

Well, any company which truly wants great PR should be collecting great data. This allows us to release interesting reviews of the previous year and this can be for both light-hearted consumer media or robust data suitable for B2B and trade media.

So how have we done this in 2023?

We released Vet-AI’s app Joii Pet Care’s review of the most popular cat and dog names in 2022 for consumer media, gaining coverage on the likes of Yahoo! News and aol.com

We've also taken a more serious approach to secure business and HR media coverage for Champion Health’s 2023 Workplace Wellbeing report packed full of data from over 4,000 employees.

If you want to capitalise on the next new year's media frenzy ensure you’re collecting data this year which can be made newsworthy, with a plan confirmed by December so you’re ready to go early in the new year and see the fruits of your labour by the end of January.

Learn more including some quick top tips over on Ellie's first Founders Thoughts blog of the year:

https://www.maccomms.net/new-years-pr-campaigns-how-you-can-use-to-data-to-gain-media-coverage/

New Years PR campaigns; how you can use to data to gain media coverage | MacComms - PR Agency Leeds Companies which want great PR need to collect data to release interesting reviews of the year to secure consumer media, B2B and trade media coverage through new years PR campaigns.

to 5 years ago today when we delivered a super successful golden ticket treasure hunt experiential campaign for Victoria Gate Casino’s first birthday.

The PR stunt was a roaring success, achieving lots of media coverage and a genuine buzz across Leeds with people running around solving riddles to find prizes.

We’d love to support with more than exciting events like this. Want to discuss how we could help you? Get in touch!

Yesterday we attended Champion Health’s launch event of its Workplace Wellbeing Report: 2023 at the original Ivy, London.

It was such a fabulous event meeting the ever growing enthusiastic Champion team and a great number of attendees with a genuine buzz in the room.

It’s a dream to work with such impressive scaling businesses which I’ve supported since fledgling beginnings and seeing so many incredible people joined by a shared mission.

Well done to all involved in organising a cracking event. Now over to us to create a media buzz and secure lots of press coverage in all the right places!

We're delighted to have been appointed by another pet health startup!

Following the PR success of Vet-AI and Joii Pet Care since 2018, we met Biscuit Pet Care who has now appointed us to promote their rewards app which supports dog owners to earn 'Biscuits' which are traded for rewards across 30 leading brands and animal welfare companies including Joii!

Here's some of the first coverage we've achieved for this exciting fledgling business. Thank you Pet Gazette!

Biscuit Pet Care users rise following £3m investment | Post A start-up pet care app which launched in March this year has reached 50,000 registered users after securing £3m in seed funding. Biscuit Pet Care is part o ...

We’ve been hard at work promoting Simon on the Streets Big Sleep Out which returns this Thursday. As well as local and national charity media coverage ahead of the event, we have journalists attending on the night and an interview with The Lord Mayor lined up on Sky News! 📰 📺

Lord Mayor of Leeds to Open Simon on The Streets Big Sleep Out | Leeds Living The 2022-23 Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Robert W Gettings MBE JP, is set to attend and deliver a keynote speech at an upcoming charity sleepout and is asking the public to sleep outside for the worthy cause. For the first time since 2019, Simon on the Streets returns on Thursday 20th October ...

Did you know as well as managing the PR and marketing for businesses and charities, we also provide strategy sessions to support you to manage your own promotions?

recently supported
Tarik Hirst of Discover Talent and here's what he had to say:

“My PR and marketing strategy session was really useful. Ellie sent over a number of documents before we met including an agenda with the questions she asked me in the session so I could prepare, plus a key awareness days calendar and an editorial calendar template to help me shape my future content.

"She asked some great questions which, having only recently formed my recruitment agency, was valuable to understand what I need to do to help grow the business.”

From small beginnings in Huddersfield to fast growth in Leeds, Yorkshire is a fine place to live, work and run a business from.

Happy to one and all!

“West Yorkshire on a mission to be the best place to be a manufacturer”

Exciting plans on the horizon for local manufacturing firms thanks to West Yorks Mayor Tracy Brabin.

News by Thebusinessdesk.com Yorkshire

https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/yorkshire/news/2096525-west-yorkshire-on-a-mission-to-be-the-best-place-to-be-a-manufacturer-in-the-uk?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Yorkshire_13th_Jul_2022_Daily

West Yorkshire on a mission 'to be the best place to be a manufacturer in the UK' | TheBusinessDesk.com Mayor Tracy Brabin pledges to 'work at speed' to implement task force's recommendations for change

Wohoo, we've secured 2 out of 2 award shortlistings in the Great British Entrepreneur Awards!

Massive congratulations to Vet-AI / Joii Pet Care's Paul Hallett shortlisted for disruptor and Zest Mixology's Murdo MacLeod who is up for service industries entrepreneur of the year. Both businessmen are truly exceptional, innovative entrepreneurs who deserve this recognition.

We're looking forward to the finals in London in November!

https://www.greatbritishentrepreneurawards.com/news/2022-great-british-entrepreneur-awards-finalists-announced-north-west/

2022 Great British Entrepreneur Awards finalists announced - North West - The Great British Entrepreneur Awards & Community We are delighted to announce the 2022 North West Great British Entrepreneur Awards finalists.  This year we received over 5000 incredible applications, from talented and standout businesses across the UK – and we are so excited to announce that 72 of those businesses have made it to this year’s...