MAKING SOME NOISE FOR UK PR: GONG COMMUNICATIONS WINS A QUEEN’S AWARD FOR ENTERPRISE

Gong is the first PR firm to win this prestigious award in recognition of its successful export of UK communications expertise

London, 21 April 2014: Gong Communications today announces that it has won a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in recognition of its growing international business and work with clients in Asia, Africa and the US.

The Queen’s Award for Enterprise is the UK’s highest accolade for business success with winners selected by the Prime Minister’s office and approved by HM The Queen. It is free to enter, but companies must submit extensive, independently audited information in support of their entries.

Business to business focused PR firm Gong, and its specialist arts and luxury arm, Muse generate 50% of their revenues from organisations based outside of the UK. Clients include Singapore listed agribusiness, Olam International; emerging markets private equity firm Emerging Capital Partners; Nairobi based real estate development, Garden City; and Fine Art Asia.

Narda Shirley, Gong’s MD said, “We are proud exporters of communications expertise to companies who like us, are international in their client focus. The UK undoubtedly has a language and a time-zone advantage in global communications which we have used to carve a niche working for entrepreneurial and innovative brands who make the news wherever they go.”

Gong and Muse provide clients with a blend of PR services including media relations, events, copy writing and increasingly social media support. Digital communications are a growing aspect of the business and a campaign to find a truly impressive gong using social media, will form the basis of the firm’s own celebratory campaign.

Freya Simms, MD of Muse, commented, “It is a real thrill to have won a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade. To mark winning the biggest gong of all, we are going to fulfil a long-held ambition to find Britain’s most impressive gong to bang in time for the Grant of Appointment ceremony this summer.”

12 August 2013, London: Gong Communications today announces that it has been selected to provide corporate communications services to ‘Super Boutique’ law firm MJ Hudson.

The contract is effective immediately with initial activity mainly focused on developing awareness of MJ Hudson as an evolutionary sector specific international boutique firm, focused on asset management.

Commenting on the win, Gong’s MD, Narda Shirley said, “MJ Hudson operates an innovative and client-centric business structure with some exciting news in the pipeline that will cement its place as an industry game-changer – exactly the kind of bold and dynamic client we thrive on here at Gong.”

Eamon Devlin, Partner at MJ Hudson added, ‘We have reached a key milestone in our growth and expansion and need an agency experienced in the alternative asset management space that can help us punch above our weight in terms of market visibility. Gong is also a good fit for us culturally as another international boutique.”

About MJ Hudson

 MJ Hudson was created and designed to service the legal and business requirements of the asset
management and financial services industries. From the outset, it recognised that clients wanted
timely legal advice from true specialists, with more competitive and flexible pricing. MJ Hudson advises on complex M&A transactions and fund formation mandates – offering a highly specialised alternative to traditional law firms.

MJ Hudson’s clients are GPs/managers and investors in Alternative Assets: private equity, hedge, infrastructure, energy, credit and special purpose pools of capital. We also advise HNWs, family offices and ‘aggressive’ corporates.

MJ Hudson is a new generation of law firm representing the next generation of Alternative Assets.

www.mjhudson.com

22 July 2013, London and Accra:

Gong Communications announces that it has beaten off stiff competition in a 3 way pitch to win the corporate communications brief for Invest in Africa.

The contract is effective immediately with initial activity mainly focused in Ghana’s business capital, Accra.

Commenting on the win, Gong’s MD, Narda Shirley said, “This is a great opportunity to work alongside Invest in Africa to identify and showcase a pool of local African businesses capable of operating to international best practice standards to encourage more international companies to source locally, contributing more fully to African national economies as they do so.”

Will Pollen, Invest in Africa’s Programme Director added, ‘We have reached a key milestone in our development and need an agency that can roll its sleeves up and deliver both locally and internationally, working seamlessly with us in the UK, Ghana and beyond as we plan our roll-out into wider sub-Saharan Africa. Gong impressed us for their creativity in the pitch and reputation for consistent and effective delivery.”

About Invest in Africa   Invest in Africa (IIA) is a growing group of international companies working together to address the cross-sector challenges of doing business in Africa. At present, IIA is focused on supporting local businesses by providing greater access to finance, skills and markets, making it easier for international companies working in Africa to source locally and at scale.   IIA was founded in 2012 by Tullow Oil who has since been joined by Lonrho and Ernst & Young. The experience of operating in Africa has helped IIA Partners to understand both the business challenges and the significant business opportunities on the continent.

Our united approach means that companies working in Africa can overcome these challenges and drive cross-sector growth for the benefit of all. IIA Partners are committed to sustainable investment, building long-term local partnerships and supporting the economies in which they operate.

Ends.

The 5th Annual Oxford Africa Business Conference will be held on Saturday, 18th May.

Drawing on Oxford’s experience of educating leaders for more than 800 years, the Oxford Africa Business Conference has emerged as one of the leading global platforms for engaging business and community leaders, academics and investors from around the world on significant business issues in Africa. Along with Harvard, it’s the pre-eminent Business School event focused in Africa in the annual conference calendar.

This year the event expects to highlight those companies, entrepreneurs and leaders who continue to drive the African growth story.

We look forward to welcoming you to Saïd Business School as we explore the rapidly increasing levels of intra-African trade and take a closer look at a range of topics from the tech revolution to the role private equity is playing in unlocking value on the continent.

Tickets to the event are £30 per person before 5th April and £45 per person after 5th April.

For more details, please check out: www.oxfordafricanetwork.org

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