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Communique confirms Canal Street departure

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By The Drum Team, Editorial

August 16, 2007 | 2 min read

Communique PR is set to move out of its Canal Street offices in Manchester, with insiders describing it as “the end of an era”.

The agency, which is also based in London, has said it will be leaving over the next few months and is currently looking at properties in the King Street area of the city. The agency was understood to have been involved in discussions about renewing its lease right up the decision to find a new base.

The Canal Street building is still owned by Communique founder Paul Carroll, who sold the business in 2005 to Burson-Marsteller. Carroll has since launched consultancy business, Zuma 011, which he runs from Manchester’s Barton Arcade. He was unavailable to discuss the developments as The Drum went to press.

There have been reports regarding staff cut-backs over the past 12 months and suggestions that the agency is looking for a smaller space than the 7,500 sq ft Canal Street premises. However, Communique managing director Nigel Sarbutts said the move “has more to do with the inflexibility of the space” and that the agency was currently staffing up.

Further explaining the agency’s decision to move, he added: “To be honest, Canal Street is a bit of a dump. It was very trendy 10 years ago, but now it’s a bit scruffy and we’re looking for something more suitable.”

Meanwhile, the agency has been appointed by global human resources law alliance Ius Laboris and lager brand Castlemaine XXXX.

Ius Laboris, which is based in Brussels, has tasked Communique with the copywriting brief for its website, corporate brochure and other marketing materials.

Miki Lentin, a director at the agency, said:”Many leading brands work closely with the organisation to ensure that they receive the most authoritative advice when it comes to employment law.

Meanwhile, the agency is developing a consumer PR campaign entitled Desperate Worklives that aims to promote the Castelmaine XXXX brand in key sales areas. It also plays on the popularity of the Ute in the brand’s native Australia.

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